Paula's classic Dublin gallop

Once described as a 'nodding donkey' by the Irish press, Paula Radcliffe demonstrated her thoroughbred qualities on a Leopardstown racecourse graced on many occasions by Arkle and Istabraq when she retained the world cross country title here yesterday.

In a stunning confirmation that her preparations for the London Marathon next month are well on course, Radcliffe easily became the first British-born runner to win for the second time a race she has described as the toughest in the world.

In Ostend 12 months ago, Radcliffe won after digging deep to outsprint Ethiopia's Gete Wami. This time it was far more comfortable.

The Bedford athlete beat America's Deena Drossin by nine seconds over an 8km course set around the famous circuit, and no one ever really doubted she would win, especially not the bookies, who had her at 4-6. That was because of the absence of the top Ethiopians for reasons ranging from pregnancy to being left at home for failing to run in the national trials.

'I think this was my race to lose,' admitted Radcliffe. That never appeared a likely scenario from the moment she finally forced her way to the front after an opening kilometre where she found herself pinned on the rails.

Drossin, a 29-year-old Californian, tried on many occasions to break Radcliffe's resistance without success, and finally had to concede defeat in the last kilometre.

'Going into the last lap I got a bit of a gap when I didn't really mean to,' said Radcliffe.

That gap quickly stretched to five metres, then 10, and by the time she crossed the finishing line in front of the main stand it had grown to nearly 20, even into a strong wind. 'This was a tough person's race,' she said.

But Radcliffe has had too many disappointments in this event to take anything for granted, so when she heard someone in the crowd shouting that Drossin was closing she pressed on.

This was Radcliffe's seventh medal in these championships, and victory came 10 years after she collected her first. The only other runner wearing a British vest to retain this title was South African-born Zola Budd, winner in 1985 and 1986.

Radcliffe, 28, is having the time of her career. Having won the last two world half-marathon championships, this was her fourth global title in 17 months. Not bad for a runner labelled a 'nodding donkey' by The Irish Times during the Sydney Olympics because of the unusual way she moves her head while running.

Radcliffe now stands on the threshold of an exciting new challenge when she runs her first marathon in London on 14 April. 'I've always said this year was about the London Marathon but if you had asked me to choose between winning that and winning here it would have been very tough to choose,' she said. 'The world cross country is so important to me.'

Nevertheless, Radcliffe's is the most anticipated marathon debut by a British runner since Liz McColgan in 1991 and expectations are high. She will resume her rivalry with Deratu Tulu, the woman who beat her to the Olympic 10,000m gold medal in Sydney and at the world championships in Edmonton last year. The Ethiopian will be defending her title in London.

Radcliffe has prepared by spending two months training at altitude in Albuquerque where she has been running up to 130 miles a week. That has taken its toll on her frail body and she has a couple of niggles she is hoping to iron out.

Radcliffe is the first athlete seriously to attempt the world cross country/London Marathon double since her heroine Ingrid Kristiansen 17 years ago. Then, the Norwegian finished second in Lisbon to Budd but came back a few weeks later to set a world best for the marathon, which stood for 13 years. A similar outcome in London would complete a successful accumulator for Radcliffe.

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