A Galway man who ran a marathon across the Antarctic has been given part of the prize money denied to him when he completed the race.
After apparently winning the world's first South Pole marathon last January, Mr Richard Donovan learned he was to be given joint first place with another competitor over issues relating to footwear. The race co-ordinator declared the winners should be divided according to those who had worn snow shoes and those who had worn running shoes.
Last week, Mr Donovan was awarded $22,000 of the South Pole marathon prize money plus costs by the Supreme Court in Canada against the organisers of the South Pole race, Adventure Network International (ANI).
Previously the South Pole organisers had given several athletes who completed the race, including Mr Donovan, €3,000 each.
ANI's director Ms Anne Kershaw, originally advertised the icy marathon as a race but later stated it was a "fun" run.
The day after Mr Donovan had been congratulated and announced as the winner to the world's media, the South Pole results were changed.
A Californian, backed by a lucrative sporting company, was given joint first place with the Irishman over issues relating to footwear.
But Mr Donovan and other competitors of the South Pole 26.2-mile challenge claim there were no stipulations relating to footwear at the Antarctic site.
Mr Donovan, now recovering from pneumonia in his Galway home after a more recent polar competition, said last week's court ruling makes him the rightful winner.
"I have been vindicated and acknowledged as the winner, the only person entitled to the prize money."
The Galway economist started legal action against Adventure Network International in July last year.
"I was treated like a naïve country lad from Ireland.They were shocked when I came in first," he said.