Disability World Championships - Day 2

 

19th August 2007

Report & pics: Dave Mellor  Chris Furber

 

Double Top in Kilo For GB Tandems

Storey and Kappes get ready for their ride

 

Anthony Kappes and pilot Barney Storey really stepped up to the plate for the defence of their World 1000m Time Trial title. They were thoroughly tested by the Aussie duo of Demery and Hopkins - third last year - who have improved dramatically and became the first duo to go inside 64 seconds for the event in recording 1:03.464. However, going off last, Storey and Kappes were up to the challenge and took a further tenth of a second off that time to clinch the gold. It was another great ride by the British duo and a typical performance from a team showing real competitive bite as they take on big fields of the best riders in the world - in this final there were and impressive 27 teams competing.

Kappes (left) and Storey celebrate

 

Afterwards, team manager Dave Mellor explained what a hectic couple of minutes it was between the Aussies' ride and Anthony and Barney's ride: "They knew they were going well and everything went well for them. Their practice starts in the Track centre had worked well. And then they literally didn't hear that the Aussies had broken their record as they were going up to the line themselves and had their aero helmets on. Anthony said he thought he'd heard that they'd done a one minute four, but wasn;t sure. What they did know for certain was that they had to be the best they could be."

Barney and Anthony enjoy the podium

 

"Even the support staff - myself, the coaches and mechanics didn't register the Aussies' time, so when Anthony and Barney crossed the line, we didn't know whether we could celebrate, so we kept our arms down. Anthony and Barney didn't know so they weren't celebrating either. It was only when we thought to look at the Aussies and their reaction that we finally knew we'd done it!"

Results

1 A.KAPPES/R.STOREY GBR 1:03.347 Gold
2 B.DEMERY/S.HOPKINS AUS 1:03.464 Silver
3 K.MODRA/T.LAWRWENCE AUS 1:05.058 Bronze

Ellen (left) and Aileen warm up in the track centre

In the Women's 1000m Tandem Time Trial there was a successful defence of their title for Aileen McGlynn and Ellen Hunter as they bettered their 2006 winning time of 1:10.795 in recording 1:10.539. But whereas they won with seconds to spare last year, this time out they only had two tenths of a second over Aussie Duo of Parker and Johnson, who also slipped inside the old record. Mel Easter and Bex Rimmington were 10th.

Dave Mellor explained that starts had been a problem for both GB pairings and that it had added to the tension: "It's a tricky track with short straights and long bends, so we thought we'd put Mel and Rebecca into the event - which they don't normally ride - to give them a feel for it. But they false-started when the commissaire who was holding them let thme go too soon. He was caught out by their technique which involves a rock back - some of the other teams just aren't as athletic as our two. So they were false-started for something which wasn't their fault. They then went off very conservatively on their second start - you can be disqualified for two false starts - and were very slow getting away.

Aileen and Ellen's moment of glory on the podium
Almost exactly the same thing happened to Aileen and Ellen with their first start. They knew that they had to go close to their world record (set at the Visa World Cup back in May) so they had to get a good start. Second time round, the commissaire let them go correctly then seemed to re-catch them before letting go again. It didn't look a perfect start at all, but the splits were actually as good as they have been in training. It was real nail biting stuff, but they did it and took the gold."

Results

1 A.McGLYNN/E.HUNTER GBR 1:10.539 Gold
2 F.JOHNSON/K.PARKER AUS 1:10.789 Silver
3 L.HOU/T.GALLAGHER AUS 1:11.639 Bronze
other
10 M.EASTER/R.RIMMINGTON GBR19751117 GBR 1:16.022

Reflecting on the day's performances, Dave was clearly delighted with his athletes who had all performed well under great pressure: "They really experienced and know how to get it out. Anthony and Aileen were both really nervous, but both Barney and Ellen are really super athletes and can really turn it on. Darren Kenny jokes around a lot, but he's also so cool and professional. He was under real pressure today from Rik and responded with a world record - I think he's broken the world record every year since the Athens games. He's so confident in what he's doing!"

 

CP3 Kilometre Time Trial: One-Two for Kenny and Waddon

Rik Waddon gets off the line on his way to Silver

Second event of the morning programme was the CP3 Kilometre Time Trial. Defending champion Darren Kenny had to sit and watch as newly classified Rik Waddon took a 6 second lead to record 1:13.765 from his early heat.

Rik Waddon shows the effects of his efforts

 

Rider after rider attempted to dislodge Waddon from the hotseat until we were left with two remaining riders, Spaniard and Tour de France legend Javia Ochoa and our own multi medallist Darren Kenny.

Darren Kenny warms up with coach Gary Brickley helping out

Darren gets lined up with the help of Chris Furber, holding bars, and Pete Taylor, back to camera

Darren gets underway on the way to a World Record

Knowing that at least a Bronze was in the bag, Waddon was able to relax and smile. Ochoa had an unsteady start on this tricky track and it was soon obvious that Waddon had at least a Silver whilst Ochoa recorded 1:18.230 for Bronze.

Darren can't hide the pain as Chris and Pete congratulate him

 

Kenny had warmed up under the watchful eye of coach Gary Brickley and was then handed over to Chris Furber trackside. Kenny started fast and for a moment it looked too fast but he held it all together for a fantastic new World record time of 1:13.011. It was a great ride by a determined champion and overall a very satisfying result for the team.

The podium with, from the left, Waddon, Kenny and Ochoa

 

LC1 Women's 500 metre time trial - Chinese break World Record as Bailey takes bronze

Sarah Bailey (right) with gold medal winner Ju Fang Zhou (centre) and Feng Zhen (left)

 

The Chinese team showed they mean business with the Beijing Games just a year away, when both their competitors broke the existing World Record in the LC1 Women's 500 metre time trial this morning. GB's Sarah Bailey started her campaign with a brave bronze medal despite a broken collarbone.

 

Sarah warms up under the watchful eyes of coaches Chris and Gary

Bailey, off third from last, was looking for a sub 41seconds time, based on seated starts because of the injury. Great competitor that she is, she did not disappoint the team or her faithful supporters' club in the stands, recording a solid 40.268 second ride to take the lead.

Sarah takes a well-earned drink after her brave ride

 

Next up was China's Feng Zhen An, who looked a very powerful competitor. Sure enough, her stature translated into impressive speed with a new World Record 37.883s. However, this was only good enough for silver!

The final rider, Ju Fang Zhou, the defending champion, took an age working with her coach preparing her bike in the gate. However, the attention to detail was rewarded with a staggering 36.724 second ride, more than a second off the new record set only minutes earlier by her countrywoman.