Kealy regains women's title after long battle with Curley

ATHLETICS MARATHON:RUNNING 26.2 MILES is fraught with enough hazards – muscle cramping, dehydration, etc – without having to worry about disqualification.

But in the race to become the first Irish woman home in Dublin yesterday, Annette Kealy and Pauline Curley found themselves in danger of finding the dreaded DQ next to their names once they got to the finish.

The problem was both athletes had their husbands following by bicycle, and although there are no rules against that, they aren’t permitted to pace the runner, nor offer any coaching advice.

When the race judge was alerted to such infringements, he warned both runners – twice – and if they had received a third they would have been disqualified. Fortunately, their husbands backed off, leaving Kealy and Curley locked in combat over the final six miles.

Kealy edged in front in the last two miles, and held a marginal lead until the finish – which she reached in 2:45.43. It was a courageous run for the 41-year-old mother of four, who combines the slog of marathon training with her career as a barrister in Dublin’s Four Courts. Curley, who recently turned 40, came home in 2:46.13.

“I heard something about the warnings,” admitted Kealy, “but I wasn’t quite sure what it was about. We were being following on bikes alright, but they weren’t pacing us. It was a little upsetting not knowing what was going on, and it did knock me off my stride for a little while. But it’s just great to win back the title again. I’d thought I’d got off too fast.”

Kealy won the title in 2003, while Curley, from Tullamore, won it two years ago. Although Kealy started the better, they were level again at 17 miles, and stayed together until mile 24, Curley admitting her legs gave way.

Taking the national bronze was Cork’s Claire McCarthy, wife of former national cross country champion Martin McCarthy, and who at 33 is rediscovering her best form which suggests she is a potential champion in the years ahead.

The race for the Irish men’s marathon title went to an overseas runner as Sergiu Ciobanu was first home in 2:22.06.

Originally from Moldova, Ciobanu has been living in Ireland for the past four years, and works in Cahir, Co Tipperary. Running for Clonliffe Harriers in Dublin, he arrived home four minutes clear of Donegal’s Pauric McKinney, who maintained his remarkable record by again getting into the top three, taking second in 2:26.21. Third place went to Owen Gahan in 2:28.16.

Ciobanu is considering seeking Irish residency which would allow him compete internationally for his recently-adopted country.