Press Release - London Marathon - 4/20/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


               Fearnley "Gutted" To Miss London Marathon

Paralympic marathon champion Kurt Fearnley is "gutted" that he will not be 
able to defend his London Marathon men's wheelchair title on Sunday.

The Australian who broke the course record last year has been forced to 
withdraw from this year's race because of the flight disruption caused by 
the cloud of volcanic ash hanging over northern Europe. Fearnley was 
planning to travel directly to London from Australia but has had to accept 
that he won't be able to get to Britain in time to compete.

"I am feeling pretty gutted at not being able to come to London but there 
is nothing I can do," said Fearnley, who defeated Britain's David Weir last 
year to win the London crown for the first time.

"I have worked really hard over the last eight weeks to be ready for this 
race and can't believe it's not going to happen. The London Marathon 
organisers have done everything they can to get me there but it's just not 
possible. I will really miss being there but good luck to everyone else."

Fellow Australian Christie Dawes has been forced to pull out of the women's 
race for the same reason. Dawes, who was fifth in 2009, was hoping to 
challenge for a podium place this year.

Virgin London Marathon Race Director Dave Bedford said: "We are very 
disappointed to lose our reigning champion. Kurt has raced here for the 
three years and we were looking forward to welcoming him back as champion 
and course record holder. Unfortunately, circumstances have conspired 
against us this time.

"However, despite losing Kurt and Christie both the men's and women's 
wheelchair fields remain top quality and we fully expect two thrilling 
races on Sunday."

Fearnley's absence leaves Weir as favourite to win his fifth London 
Marathon title. The Briton, who was London champion three years in a row 
between 2006 and 2008, was devastated to lose his crown last year. He will 
still face a stern test, however, not least from South African Ernst Van 
Dyk, the fastest man in history, who won an incredible ninth Boston 
Marathon title on Monday.

Van Dyk will be travelling from Boston to London via Spain along with a 
number of other elite wheelchair competitors, including Wakako Tsuchida, 
the Japanese athlete who won the women's race in Boston for the fourth 
consecutive year this week, and London's reigning women's champion Amanda 
McGrory who was third.


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