Winters may be forced out of the Kitale run.
Kenneth Winters, who is favoured heavily by the bookies to win the 2004 Kitale 20km run in Dublin, may have to withdraw from the event due to the reoccurrence of a old Karate injury to his left calf muscle. Winters first sustained the injury when he was demonstrating the art of cracking Ice with his calf in front of the Dail back in the summer of 2002 in a period when he was known nationwide for this fantastic skill.
Since then the 23 year old Ballyfermot native has been struggling to get his life back on track and had earmarked the run taking place next weekend as 'the first step in my road to rediscovering my true potential both as a person, and as an athlete'. Rumours are mounting that the new injury scare came as a result of a hefty challenge by main race rival Eddie 'Jags' Cranmer on the football field.
Date 02/10/2004
Discontent in the swimming camp
'Camp Politics' is being blamed for the cancellation of the last main training swim before the Kitale 20km swim challenge takes which place this Friday. A 10km swim was scheduled in the National Aquatic Centre on Sunday 3rd of October where the 2 competitors (O'Connor and Martin) where to finish their preparations for the challenge and also meet with corporate sponsors and supporters for their last public appearance before the big day.
However, Noel Carey, spokesman for the pair, has stated that 'there have been issues about the structure of the event on the day with both men wanting to be the last one to leave the pool and finish the swim'. It is well known that the person who finished the swim is likely to get more long term benefits from endorsements and sponsorship. Carey was critical of his men, calling them such things as 'babies', 'underdeveloped apes' (although that statement is believed to be aimed at O'Connor) and 'over-pampered primadonna's' in a deliberate reference to Martins need for a 2 hour changing and cleaning window before and after swims.
Latest news is
that although both competitors are not communicating directly anymore, they
are still fully committed to the event going ahead.
