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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
PARALYMPICS: DISAPPOINTMENT FOR LYNCH IN TIGHT BATTLE FOR BRONZE
By Cycling Ireland
1 Sep 2012,
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DISAPPOINTMENT FOR LYNCH IN TIGHT BATTLE FOR BRONZE
Colin Lynch narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the velodrome this evening
In a day which saw multiple World and Paralympic records being broken, Ireland’s reigning World Champion Colin Lynch was narrowly beaten by Beijing Paralympic Champion, Laurent Thirionet, out of the bronze medal position in the Men’s Individual C2 Pursuit.
Lynch took the lead in the race from the start, intent on stamping his mark on the race, holding an advantage of between 1.5 and 2 seconds for the first 2000m. However, the experience of the Frenchman came through when he crawled back over the following 1000m to edge Lynch out of the medals by a heartbreaking 0.12 second.
After his race Lynch said “I hadn’t met Thirionet on the track before, but I knew I had the measure of him on the road. I am very disappointed with the result, I tried a strategy and it didn’t work. Next up is the team sprint, and after that I will switch my focus to the road.”
The Gold medal went to the Chinese World Record holder Guihua Liang with Germany’s Tobias Graf taking the silver medal.
More action tomorrow morning when the men’s tandem of James Brown and Damien Shaw race in the 1km TT. At 11.38 Cathal Miller makes his debut on the track in his priority event the 4km Kilo. In his qualification round he will be starting opposite GB rider Jon-Allen Butterworth, who won a silver medal in today’s C4-5 1km TT. He will be looking to get one of the fourth fastest times in order to challenge for the medal ride off.
Saturday 1st September:
Men’s Individual B 1km TT
9.30am James Brown and Damien Shaw (heat 4)
Men’s Individual C5 4km Pursuit
11.38am Cathal Miller (heat 4)
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IRISH PARALYMPIC TEAM IN TOP FORM IN LONDON
Irish National Records continue to tumble in the Velodrome
In a morning of mixed fortunes Irish records and personal bests continue to tumble in the velodrome, where several World Records have been broken today.
First up this morning were the tandems in the Women’s Individual B 1km Time Trial, where Ireland had two entries. World Champions over 3km, Catherine Walsh and Fran Meehan, produced a new Irish record of 1.12.864 to finish in 5th position overall. After the race Meehan said “We are delighted with how we went, this is just a dress rehearsal for the Pursuit on Sunday, and we broke the Irish Record”. Their race had added drama when Meehan’s shoe clipped out within metres of the start gate and they were granted a re-start. Speaking about this six time Paralympian Walsh said “we just stayed calm, it didn’t affect our performance as it was a mechanical, these things happen”. The new pairing of previous rowing world champion Katie-George Dunlevy and her pilot, top domestic rider, Sandra Fitzgerald beat their personal best to get a time of 1.14.315, which put them in 7th position over all. Australian, who were pre-race favourites, took the Paralympic title in a time of 1.08.919, just outside world record pace.
Last up this morning was Enda Smyth in the Men’s Individual C3 Pursuit, where he knocked an incredible 5 seconds off the National Record, completing the 3km event in a time of 3.47.542, putting him in 7th place. This result is all the more exceptional considering Smyth broke his elbow a mere two months ago, and today was carrying a second injury, having pulled a muscle as he exploded off the start in the 1km time trial yesterday. An ecstatic and emotional Smyth said “I am over the moon, I am producing times that I have only ever dreamed of, I just did a 3.47, that’s unbelievable” adding that “none of this is possible without the strong support team that we have, I mean, I have the easy job, I just have to race, these guys piece me together, they make it all happen”, referring to the large team including coach Brian Nugent, team manager Denis Toomey and Gerry Beggs.
THUMBNAIL PICTURES COURTESY OF SPORTS FILE - BRIAN LAWLESS
Saturday 1st September:
Men’s Individual B 1km TT Final
9.30am James Brown and Damien Shaw (heat 4)
Men’s Individual C5 4km Pursuit Qualification Round
11.38am Cathal Miller (heat 4)
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