Press Release - North Pole Marathon - 4/6/05

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                   Contact: Richard Donovan (Race Director)
                                            Tel: +353-91-566077 (Ireland) 
                                            Fax: +353-91-566082 (Ireland)
                                            

              
      The North Pole Marathon has been postponed until next year 


The North Pole Marathon, due to take place on April 13th, has been 
postponed until next year due to events beyond the control of the marathon 
organisers. Other expeditions to the North Pole have been similarly 
affected. Next year’s marathon is now provisionally scheduled for April 8th 
and will see a merging of this year’s race field with those already 
registering for 2006. As a result, more than 50 people from around the 
globe are expected to take part in the 2006 event. 

The 26.2-mile race was ultimately suspended on the grounds that appropriate 
safety measures could not be guaranteed in the midst of an ongoing dispute 
between French and Russian logistics operators. Indeed, all trekking 
expeditions in progress from Russia to the Geographic North Pole had 
already been evacuated from the ice for similar reasons. Included among 
those evacuated was Ann Daniels, a British woman who was attempting to be 
the first female to walk solo to the Pole from Russia. 

According to the marathon race director, Richard Donovan, it would have 
been unwise to bring the marathon team to the Pole while any uncertainties 
regarding emergency evacuation cover existed. Instead, he guaranteed all of 
this year’s competitors a place in next year’s race field and more than 
twenty of the twenty-six competitors immediately took him up on the offer. 
“While there was obviously some initial disappointment, everybody 
appreciates the decision to suspend the race and are looking forward to 
competing next time. It will certainly be the biggest polar marathon ever.” 

The following nations already have entrants in the 2006 race: Australia, 
Canada, England, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, 
Taiwan, USA and Wales. It is expected that the current unprecedented 
international dispute will be long resolved before next year’s polar season 
begins. 

Last year’s North Pole Marathon was won by Sean Burch (USA) and the 
contestants included polar explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes of Great Britain.

For more details, see www.npmarathon.com



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