Medals aplenty for NZ Para-Cyclists in Netherlands

Image:  Kate Horan

New Zealand Para-Cycling team had the full contingent of 3 athletes (2 bikes) competing today at the 2015 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in the Netherlands.

Kate Horan was first to compete in the Women’s C4 500m Time Trial Final. Kate had a great race winning the Silver medal.  Kate said, “My coach set me up for the perfect race. We are really happy with my performance and my time.”

Coach Jono Hailstone said, “Kate executed a good physical & technical performance which resulted in a Silver medal. Pleasingly, she has closed the gap to the Gold medal since last year’s World Championships which is promising 18 months out from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.”

The Gold medal was won by China’s Jianping Ruan and Bronze went to Megan Fisher from USA.

The New Zealand tandem pairing of Emma Foy and Laura Fairweather (sighted pilot) were next to take to the track in the Women’s B 1km Time Trial. Coach Brendon Cameron was confident of a podium finish if the pair could repeat their recent training achievements.  And this they did – winning a Bronze medal in 1:10.

The Gold was won by British pairing of Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott after setting a blistering pace in the first 500m and a final time of 1:07. They were followed by Larissa Klaassen and Haliegh Dolman of Netherlands for Silver.

The team will now have a rest day with further racing on Sunday 28 March NZT (see schedule below) where Emma Foy and Laura Fairweather will look to defend their World Championships title in the Women’s B 3km Pursuit.

A great start to the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships with New Zealand having 2 bikes racing and winning one Silver and one Bronze medal.