Report: GB Paralympic Team in Australia

 

Posted 27 Jan 2007

Report & Pics - Team Manager Dave Mellor

 

Team Manager Dave Mellor reports from Australia where it's great to be a cyclist, but not an England cricket fan!

 

In the week that the International Paralympic Committee announced 44 medal events for Cycling at the Beijing Paralympic Games, a major part of the GB team travelled to Australia for training and to compete in the Australian Open Track National Championships in Sydney. Bendigo, an hour or so north of Melbourne was chosen for the training camp element and now on day 4 and the initial effects of jet lag have worn off we are into split days. Road rides in the morning and Track in the afternoon for the two groups of cyclists plus handcyclist Rachel Morris.

 

Gary Rosbotham-Williams on the front

Temperature recorded on our equipment has been almost 40 degrees in the afternoon but the Meteo reports have a very understated 28 degrees, a great deal better than the cold snap that you are experiencing in the UK. Today we experienced "Australia Day" no one seems to know what it is but there are lots of Barbeques, Fireworks, Concerts and Flag waving and the announcement of Australian of the Year, a Professor, akin to David Attenborough for his work on saving the Environment. We also experienced the Aussie humour and gracious in victory bears no part of the Aussie make up. Watching TV the sports reporter announced the piece on today's one day cricket match as "now to the Cricket where the England team give us some catching practice."

 

Jody Cundy in action

 

Rachel Morris enjoying the sun

Under the direction of National Coach Chris Furber our staff team includes: Dr Gary Brickley from the University of Brighton to monitor the effects of jet lag as many of our athletes have never travelled long haul. All in preparation for our travel into Beijing in 2008. Heather Deller from Bulla Road, Melbourne who has worked for GB teams for many years when we have travelled to Australia is our masseur/carer for the camp. Pete Taylor one of our GB mechanics is here and is really pushing on modifications to bikes to get the best out of any adaptations we can make within the rules, spend some time with the riders to really see what makes a difference.

 

Heather Deller working with David Stone

 

Warm-up time for the whole team

 

Tomorrow Saturday sees performance tests out on the road for the endurance athletes and a 3hr ride for the Sprint group before a day off on Sunday.

Team
Aileen McGlynn & Ellen Hunter
Anthony Kappes & Barney Storey
Darren Kenny
David Stone
Gary Rosbotham - Williams
Jody Cundy
Rachel Morris
Rik Waddon
Sarah Bailey

Staff
Dave Mellor
Chris Furber
Gary Brickley
Heather Deller
Peter Taylor