Organisers of VHI womens mini-marathon in Dublin reverse ban on male guide runners

Sinead Kane is a visually impaired runner who has 5% vision in both eyes. She takes part in races with the assistance of a guide runner and has competed in several races in Cork.

In February of this year, she completed a 50km Ultra-Marathon in Donadea in Kildare with Irish international ultra runner John O'Regan as her guide.

A story that has been doing the rounds in the media for the last 48 hours is the fact that after she had entered the VHI Womens mini-marathon in Dublin on the June Bank Holiday Monday, she was told that John O'Regan couldn't run with her because he is a man. Considering that there are plenty of men running in dresses and costumes and raising funds for charity in the same event anyway, it was a daft decision.

On Twitter, Sinead expressed her own feelings on it.....
As blind female runner saddens me the decision that I am not allowed male guide to "assist" me in race. If I could see I would run myself!
Can anyone in Ireland please explain 2me why as a blind runner I am denied the right 2have a "male" guide in a Dublin race??? #disability
It was picked up by several media soruces with a pretty heavy backlash against against the organisers...... http://www.the42.ie/visually-impaired-runner-womens-mini-marathon-1986440-Mar2015/

This morning, the organisers finally relented and changed the rules to allow male guide runners to participate.... http://www.the42.ie/womens-mini-marathon-1987703-Mar2015/

Both Sinead and John were interviewed on the Anton Savage Show on Today FM today. You can listen to Part 1 here
19:48 to 30:21.....Sinead and John outlining the initial ban
38:50 to 41:06.....Listeners reactions

Part 2 here
10:20 to 12:40...Organisers reversal
16:40 to 20:00...Sinead's emotional reaction

The most suprising part of the whole saga is how the race organisers thought that banning a guide runner because of their gender was acceptable anyway??

Sinead has her own website here... http://sineadkane.ie/