Ahern joins Radcliffe fan club

Radcliffe (centre) was a popular winner in Ireland

By BBC Sport Online's John Haughey

Paula Radcliffe's fans in Ireland include Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

Government business prevented the Taoiseach from being at the World Cross Country Championships on Saturday, when the British star successfully defended her long-course title.

However, Mr Ahern watched Radcliffe's victory live on television.

And he was hoping to grab a word with the British star while attending the second day of the championships at Leopardstown, Ireland.

Championship director Chris Wall happens to be a personal adviser to Mr Ahern and tells a story about a trip both men made to Newcastle a couple of years ago.

"He instructed me when we were going to a Newcastle United v Manchester United match to get there early because he wanted to see Paula run in the Great North Cross Country in the afternoon before the Premiership game," recalled Wall.

What we've done here is to show that it is possible to set up the short course properly as a cross-country test

Championship director
Chris Wall

"We stood out in the snow while he watched every inch of the race. She does have support from the highest of places on this island."

To a man and woman, the 7,000 crowd seemed to be cheering on Radcliffe on Saturday.

Wall revealed that UK Athletics chief executive David Moorcroft and BBC commentator Brendan Foster commented on Saturday night on the great support given to the British runner.

"That was superb from our point of view and it showed that sport really does cross every boundary," said Wall.

The Leopardstown course has been acclaimed by athletes and coaches for achieving the near impossible of a true cross-country course over 4 km.

Paula Radcliffe successfully retained her title

"The praise we were getting last night from the IAAF, about getting the men's short course right for the first time ever, was very pleasing," said Wall.

"Technical delegate Alan Warner was absolutely delighted.

"Tom McCormack looked after the course and what really solved the problem for us was that hill coming up at the finish.

"It's a deceptive hill and it slowed them down a bit.

"What we've done here is to show that it is possible to set up the short course properly as a cross-country test.

"It encourages 1500m runners to compete in the World Cross Country Championships and that has to strengthen the event," added Wall, who is Athletics Ireland's International Secretary.

I'm not sure having this event every year is the best way to promote cross country

Chris Wall

The Irish official acknowledged that staging the event was a much bigger undertaking than he had imagined.

"From an organisational point of view, the event was an absolute nightmare," he said.

"I've worked harder in the last three or four weeks than I've ever worked in my life," said Wall, who retired from his nine-to-five job three years ago.

"When we lost the event last year because of foot-and-mouth that was a setback, but when we were awarded the event again we had to redouble our efforts to make sure everything was in place.

"We've had one or two hiccups. Anybody who tells you that they run an event like this without having a problem or two is not telling you the truth," he added.

Race report

After the event finishes, Wall and his colleagues in Athletics Ireland will have to submit a report to the IAAF within 30 days.

In the report, Wall will suggest that the IAAF considers hosting the event every two years as opposed to annually.

"I'm not sure having this event every year is the best way to promote cross country," he said.

"Maybe the event should take place every other year, with the area championships such as the Europeans taking place in the other year.

"We're one of the few countries that, since the two-day World Cross Country event started, has sent full teams to all four senior races.

"There are fewer and fewer countries doing that," concluded Wall.