No title

Winner of the Novice Walk Lyndsay Kernan receives her trophy from visiting Irish international racewalker & World Championship silver medallist Gillian O’Sullivan. Read Dave Griffiths’ report about Gillian’s surprise visit to the Isle of Man at the bottom of the page (photo by Steve Partington)

Left; "Mr. Welbeck" himself Michael George warmed up for the afternoon Cross Country race at Nobles Park with a 11204m walk. He is pictured with visiting Irish junior racewalker Donna Carolan Right; Peter Kaneen (50) covered 12436m in the hour and kept pace with Gillian O’Sullivan (71) over the early laps. Peter also competed in the 5½mile Cross Country race just a few hours later. (photo by Steve Partington)

Top 3 finishers in the junior mile event (l-r) Sinead Kaneen, Catreeney Gawne & Katie Norris (photo by Steve Partington)

Gillian O’Sullivan (second left) is pictured with her coach Michael Laine (far left), Irish junior racewaker Donna Carolan (centre), her father Pat Carolan and sister. (photo by Steve Partington)

Isle of Man Examiner photos

Dave Griffiths reports on the visit of Gillian O’Sullivan

A totally unexpected privilege for competitors in this morning’s 1-hour challenge walk was the company of one of the finest race walkers in the world. Ireland’s Gillian O’Sullivan, silver medallist in the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris, is on the comeback trail after a 2-year injury nightmare, and decided to take part in this morning’s event at the NSC as a low-key return to competitive action. Never one to relish publicity, Gillian and her coach Michael Lane deliberately targeted a meeting away from the attentions of the Irish press, and approached Allan Callow to ask if Gillian could take part in today’s Manx Harriers event. Irish junior Donna Carolan also took part this morning.

Gillian is no stranger to the Isle of Man, having previously taken part in the Manx Airlines meeting (now the Manx Harriers Open) on several occasions. Her last visit was in 2001, a race in which she broke the 90-minute barrier for 20 kilometres for the first time. She has since reduced her 20k pb to a quite incredible 87.22. An injury forced a late withdrawal from the Olympic Games inAthens in 2004 (where she had a genuine medal chance) , and a catalogue of complications has kept her out of competitive action since – until this morning.

Although still some way short of her best (hard as that may seem to believe!), it was wonderful to see Gillian back in action today, and we all wish her every success with her comeback. All competitors in this morning’s event, both young and not so young, will surely treasure the day when they competed alongside, and received their awards from, a World Championship silver medallist!

To read the BBC report on Gillian’s silver medal performance in 2003, click here

To read a recent report on an Irish newspaper’s website regarding Gillian’s comeback, click here

photo of Gillian from Paris 2003

results (PDF)

results (Word)

photos thanks to Steve Partington

results thanks to Bridget Kaneen

One Hour Challenge Walk 2005 results, report & photos