Last year’s winner Andriy Naumov            Course record holder
                                                                            Aleksey Sokolov
 
 
 
 

It’s the October bank holiday weekend which means one thing in Irish athletics circles; the Dublin Marathon. The races is in it 30th  year and is shaping up to be one of the biggest, both in terms of its record breaking size, which has already topped 12,500 and its quality

 
The race was founded in 1980 by a group led by Noel Carroll, who persuaded the Business Houses Athletic Association BHAA to take up the idea. In the first year, 2,100 took part, of which 1,420 finished. Dick Hooper of Raheny Shamrocks Athletic Club claimed first place, in a time of 2:16:14. The women's winner was Carey May who finished in 2:42:11. In mens second place was Neil Cusack, who returned in 1981 to post a winning time of 2:13:59.
 
30 years later and we have a more international feel to the race. Andriy Naumov of the Ukraine and last years winner will be back to try and retain his title. The event record is currently held by Aleksey Sokolov, a Russian national who ran the race in 2007 in a time of 2:09:07, the fastest Dublin Marathon since its inception. The two time winner is believed to be out out to run 2:08.
 
The national marathon title will be run in conjunction with the Dublin marathon and should see a good contest which will include the likes of Chris Cariss who will hopefully be recovered in time. Also on the start line will be Cian McLoughlan and yet another Clonliffe man Alan Horton who has recently ran 2:21 in the US. There is also Sportsworlds Paul O Connell who is in great form at the moment and could prove to be the dark horse.
 
The last man to break 2:20 in Dublin was Gerry Healy way back in 1999, so hopefully we'll be celebrating more than just the 30th anniversary.

List of Past Winners      
Year Men Time Women Time
2008 Andriy Naumov (UKR) 02:11:06 Larisa Zyuzko (RUS) 02:29:55
2007 Aleksey Sokolov -2- 02:09:07 Alina Ivanova -2- 02:29:20
2006 Aleksey Sokolov (RUS) 02:11:39 Alina Ivanova (RUS) 02:29:49
2005 Dmytro Osadchyy (UKR) 02:13:14 Zinaida Semyonova (RUS) 02:32:53
2004 Lezan Kipkosgei Kimutai (KEN) 02:13:07 Yelena Burykina (RUS) 02:32:53
2003 Onesmus Musyoka Kilonzo (KEN) 02:17:03 Ruth Kutol (KEN) 02:27:22
2002 Frederick Cherono (KEN) 02:14:25 Lidiya Vasilevskaya (RUS) 02:32:58
2001 Zacharia Mpolokeng (RSA) 02:14:03 Debbie Robinson (GBR) 02:35:40
2000 Simon Pride (GBR) 02:18:49 Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) 02:35:42
1999 John Mutai (KEN) 02:15:18 Esther Kiplagat (KEN) 02:34:24
1998 Joshua Kipkemboi -2- 02:20:00 Teresa Duffy (IRL) 02:39:56
1997 Joshua Kipkemboi (KEN) 02:15:56 Carol Galea (MLT) 02:39:33
1996 Joseph Kahugu (KEN) 02:17:42 Cathy Shum -2- 02:38:56
1995 William Musyoki (KEN) 02:16:57 Trudi Thomson (GBR) 02:38:23
1994 Steve Brace (GBR) 02:17:13 Linda Rushmere (GBR) 02:40:17
1993 John Treacy (IRL) 02:14:40 Cathy Shum (IRL) 02:38:14
1992 Jerry Kiernan -2- 02:17:19 Karen Cornwall (GBR) 02:41:58
1991 Tommy Hughes (GBR) 02:14:46 Christine Kennedy -2- 02:35:56
1990 John Bolger (IRL) 02:17:17 Christine Kennedy (IRL) 02:41:27
1989 John Griffin -2- 02:16:44 Pauline Nolan (IRL) 02:44:32
1988 John Griffin (IRL) 02:16:02 Moira O'Neill (GBR) 02:37:06
1987 Pavel Klimeš (TCH) 02:14:21 Carolyn Naisby (GBR) 02:42:08
1986 Dick Hooper -3- 02:18:10 Maureen Hurst (GBR) 02:46:29
1985 Dick Hooper -2- 02:13:48 Julia Gates (GBR) 02:41:26
1984 Svend Erik Kristensen (DEN) 02:18:25 Ailish Smyth (IRL) 02:47:30
1983 Ronny Agten (BEL) 02:14:19 Mary Purcell (IRL) 02:46:09
1982 Jerry Kiernan (IRL) 02:13:45 Debbie Mueller (USA) 02:40:57
1981 Neil Cusack (IRL) 02:13:58 Emily Dowling (IRL) 02:48:22
1980 Dick Hooper (IRL) 02:16:14 Carey May (IRL) 02:42:11