Well known marathon runner Liam Fenelon from Longford who has completed 303 Marathons joined Tony Ghee in studio on Sportsbeat on Shannonside FM to pay tribute to a stalwart of Irish athlethics and a former National Marathon winner in 1963. Noel Henry passed away last weekend aged 86. He was a bank manager in Lanesborough for many years and the honour was given to him to be the official starter for the inaugural Longford marathon 16 years ago as he fired the starters pistol. Internationally, Noel narrowly missed out by one place for a place in the Irish Olympics team in 1960.
‘He was one of the best characters in Irish running ever. He was less than selfish and a great man for helping others. He raised a lot of money for guide-dogs and He also completed many marathons with visually impaired athlete Jim Gallagher where they would be joined by an arm band to run the race’. Liam told of how there is a plaque dedicated to Noel on the bridge in Lanesbourough as he ran 100 miles from O’Connell Street in Dublin to the Bridge raising funds for women Olympians. The 82 miles was completed in 12 hours and four minutes as funds were collected along the way.
Noel was one of the first Irishmen to run the famed London to Brighton run. It was 52 miles long .It remains that he is the only debutant to win the race and that’s a feat that has never been broken. Liam explained that the Clonliffe harriers club man was also a founder member of a number of 100 mile ultra runs in the country, where the objective was to run a hundred miles in 24 hours.
Liam noted that it should be remembered that Running Shoes were not the same back then which makes his feats even more remarkable. Liam was then asked about the upcoming 16th Longford marathon this year and he said they have begun preparations already.
