Sean Hehir of 
Rathfarnham WSAF defending champion Maria McCambridge made it a Dublin club double at today’s Airtricity Dublin Marathon incorporating the Irish Marathon Championships.
For Hehir, a previous national half marathon champion, it was his first marathon victory and a second attempt at Dublin after finishing second Irish last year. His time of 2:18.19 saw him almost a minute clear of early leader Joe Sweeney from DSD, who was making his marathon debut. Clonliffe’s Sergiu Ciobanu, who had run the marathon at the World Championships in August, was third in 2:22.02, with Thomas Frazer fourth in 2:22.34; brother John also ran.
McCambridge was trailing Leevale’s Clare McCarthy at 21 miles after an e
nforced pit stop at 18 miles. Only in the last half mile of the race did she catch McCarthy for her third Irish marathon title, crossing the line in 2:38.51. McCarthy was second in 2:39.27 – her first time under 2 hrs 40 mins.
Former Olympian and multiple Irish champion Pauline Curley of Tullamore Harriers finished third place in 2:42.57 – her best time in some years. In fourth place was Fiona Stack in 2:49.07.
In the wheelchair race, Paul Hannon was first in 2:34.48, followed by Patrick Monahan in 2:38.54 and Ciara Staunton in 3:06.21. The amazing Jerry Forde, who is in the M60 age group, was fourth in 4:13.57. We saw him battling up the hill at 20 miles – still with a smile and a joke.
In the veteran age groups, Gary O’Hanlon of Clonliffe was first M35 in sixth place, with a time of 2:23.54. Next master was Ismael Pereira Da Silva who was first M45 in 2:32.05, beating Inishowen’s Pauric McKinney who finished in 2:33.05. Cathal O’Connell of St Finbarr’s was 1st M50 in 2:35.19 and Clonmel’s David Ryan first M40 in 2:35.52.
* Pics at www.lindie.zenfolio.com and www.flickr/lindie
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