Widely Acclaimed Author wins 2006 North Pole Marathon

Widely Acclaimed Author wins 2006 North Pole Marathon

The certified 26.2-mile (42km) event, dubbed the world’s coolest marathon, took place at a temporary Russian North Pole camp in the high Arctic Ocean at the Geographic North Pole. Despite extremely challenging underfoot conditions, comprising soft snow and hillocks of ice, as well as temperatures that dipped to –23C, all fifty-four participants successfully completed the event

In the men’s division, Collins and Carsten Kolle (Germany) forced the pace at the outset, crunching through the hushed indomitable surroundings and matching each other stride for stride over the initial 10km. A polar bear was spotted but fortunately it was one of the other competitors donning a costume for 2km. Despite the scare, Collins was relentless in his efforts and went on to win by a comfortable margin in a time of 4.28.35 on the toughest ever terrain for the race.

Meanwhile, in a perfectly judged effort, Marcel Kasumovich (Canada) overhauled the German for second place with France’s Philippe Moreau and Herve Taquet finishing together in 4th position.

The women’s race saw Alison Hamlett (England) set a new world record for the event, finishing ahead of 2006 Antarctic Ice Marathon winner, Wendy MacKinnon (Scotland), with Ireland’s Caitriona Strain in third place. Hamlett’s time of 5.52.56 was good enough for sixth place overall.

This amazing race – operated at the top of the world and run on the ice floes that overlay 12,000 feet of Arctic Ocean - attracts a diverse range of participants each year. While some were attempting to join the Marathon Grand Slam club by running a marathon on all seven continents and the North Pole, others were making their marathon debut. Hundreds of thousands of euro were also raised for various charities through participants’ heroic efforts in completing the race.

To find out more about the North Pole marathon, or to register for next year’s event, log on to www.npmarathon.com. Places are limited due to aircraft capacity constraints.

MEN'S RACE

1. Michael Collins, Ireland 4.28.35
2. Marcel Kasumovich, Canada 5.00.26

3. Carsten Kolle, Germany 5.06.54
4. Philippe Moreau, France 5.51.50
4. Herve Taquet, France 5.51.50
6. Brent Weigner, USA 6.13.15
7. Henri Alain D'Andria, France 6.18.26
8. Mark Tointon, England 6.18.47
9. Johnny Donnelly, Ireland 6.40.30
10. Mark Howe, England 6.41.35
=10. Hal Salveson, Scotland 6.41.35
12. Neil Rhodes, England 6.49.57
13. Stephen Murphy, England 7.00.50
14. Brendan Smith, Australia 7.13.40
15. Jim Montgomerie, Scotland 7.14.10
16. Tony Copp, England 7.31.05
17. Gareth Hughes, Wales 7.41.54
Alison Hamlett

18. Stuart Codling, England 7.43.04
=18. Will Knight, England 7.43.04
=18. Harvey Smyth, England 7.43.04
21. Nigel Haigh, England 7.50.59
22. Simon Pinchin, England 7.57.48
23. Johan Soderstrom, Sweden 8.07.03
24. Simon Chester, England 8.17.38
25. Clyde Shank, USA 8.17.40
26. James Sams, England 8.23.31
27. Peter McGarry, Ireland 8.29.36
28. Phil Murray, England 8.35.26
29. Huw Jones, England 8.36.36
=29. Mark Sinclair, England 8.36.36
31. Giles Griffiths, England 8.37.20
=31. Jim Summers, England 8.37.20
PizzaExpres

33. Roobik Eskandari, England 8.49.50
34. Chris Jonns, England 8.50.43
35. Mark Clifford, England 8.56.33
=35. David Donnell-Jones, England 8.56.33
37. Vir K. Nanda, USA 9.16.29
38. Osy Waye, England 10.06.42
39. Paul O'Dwyer, Ireland 10.33.01
40. Gary Baron, Canada 11.39.40
41. David Justin Ross, USA 12.14.57
42. James Falconer Ross, USA 12.14.57
43. Jim Lawrence, USA 12.26.20

WOMEN'S RACE

1. Alison Hamlett, England 5.52.56
2. Wendy MacKinnon, Scotland 6.36.28
3. Caitriona Strain, Ireland 7.41.47
4. Colleen Antrobus, New Zealand 9.03.32
=4. Joanne Gowing, England 9.03.32
6. Kenwynne Barber, Wales 10.31.50
7. Kimi Puntillo, USA 10.41.35
8. Evelyn Haran, England 11.12.58
9. Terri Straiton, Canada 11.39.40
10. Ginny Turner, USA 12.26.20

TEAM EVENT

1. PizzaExpress 22.18.13 (cumulative time of top three finishers)

Press Releases

Korean wins 2008 North Pole Marathon 01 Apr 2008
Byeung Sik Ahn (Korea) won the 2008 North Pole Marathon which took place at 04:30 GMT on 1st April. The winner of the women's title was Cathrine Due of Denmark. Constant daylight and -29C temperatures greeted competitors at the top of the world.

Final Countdown to 2008 North Pole Marathon 21 Mar 2008
A field of twenty-six athletes from ten countries will participate in the 2008 North Pole Marathon on March 26th. The 26.2-mile race, known as the world's coolest marathon, will take place at the drifting Russian ice base at the Geographic North Pole.

Irishman wins Coolest Race on Earth 09 Apr 2007
An Irishman has won the world’s coolest marathon - the North Pole Marathon. Forty-three athletes from 22 nations took part in the race, which is recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's most northerly marathon.

2007 Date for World's Coolest Marathon approaches 29 Mar 2007
Forty-four athletes from 21 nations will contest the 2007 North Pole Marathon on April 7th. The race, dubbed the world’s coolest marathon, will take place on the Arctic Ocean’s drifting ice floes at the Geographic North Pole.

Widely Acclaimed Author wins 2006 North Pole Marathon 10 Apr 2006
On Saturday 8 April, Irish novelist Michael Collins led home a record 54-person international race field to win the 2006 North Pole Marathon.

World's Coolest Marathon to begin at North Pole 03 Apr 2006
The North Pole Marathon, which is scheduled to take place on April 8th, will see a record field of 54 competitors from across the globe.

Record Race Field for 2006 North Pole Marathon 14 Dec 2005
The world's most northerly marathon, the North Pole Marathon, is set to have a record race field of fifty athletes in 2006. This amazing race is run entirely on the frozen ice that overlays the Arctic Ocean at the geographic North Pole.

Page tools

Printer Friendly

Email link

Bookmark this Page

In this Section

Korean wins 2008 Race

Countdown to 2008 Race

Irishman wins 2007 Event

One week to 2007 Race

Author Wins 2006 Race

Final Preps for 2006

Record field for 2006