Disability Grand Prix of Wales 2007
Wednesday 9th May
Wales National Velodrome
One week before Wales’ World Champion disability cyclists, Jody Cundy and Ellen Hunter, go on show at the VISA Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, the pair of medal-hungry track stars will test their nerve against world rivals, Australia, in a fast and furious grand prix challenge on home tracks.
The Disability Grand Prix of Wales hits Wales National Velodrome on Wednesday 9th May, and has been organised by the Federation of Disability Sport Wales and the Welsh Cycling Union to coincide with the Paralympic World Cup meet.
Featuring over 40 riders from Australia, Ireland and GB, offering a fantastic opportunity to see Wales’ top athletes pitch themselves against the cream of disability cycling just days before World Cup medals go up for grabs.
Following on from the success of the inaugural event in 2006, the Grand Prix is becoming established as a major event in the disability cycling calendar.
The 2007 event will also be a training ground for Disability Sport Wales’ very own Young Talent Academy riders, where world-athletes will meet the rising stars of disability cycling as they come to utilise the facilities in Wales.
Events will be broken into specific categories to cater for a range of disability, with loco-motive (LC) amputees like Swansea’s Jody Cundy (standard bike), and cerebral palsy (CP) competitors (standard bike) riding a number of time trials and individual pursuits ranging from 500m to 4000m.
The visually impaired (VI) event features Welsh Paralympic cyclist Ellen Hunter who will pilot Scotland’s Aileen McGlynn in the tandem sprint. McGlynn will ride a 200m individual time trail sprint prior to racing, to seed the pair for competition.
There will also be an additional endurance time trial – 3000m for men, and 2000m for women – and specialist events for hand-cycling, before which the Mayor of Newport will present the awards to world-class winners.
The Federation of Disability Sport hopes to secure a future sponsor for the Grand Prix, enabling it to grow with an eventual aim to see it grow and possibly flourish into a European Cup round, where it act as a catalyst for both grass root and performance disability cycling in Wales.
- Ends -
For further information about the event please contact the event organiser, Welsh Disability Performance Cycling Coach with the Federation of Disability Sport Wales, Neil Smith, on 07919 108 650 or at neil.smith@btinternet.com
For interview opportunities with either regards to the Welsh Cycling Grand Prix or the VISA Paralympic World Cup, or to attend the event, please contact Hannah Pole at the Sports Council for Wales on 02920 338 330 or email hannah.pole@scw.co.uk
Notes to Editors: -
• The VISA Paralympic World Cup takes place in Manchester from Monday 7th – Sunday 13th May 2007, with track cycling taking place at the Manchester Velodrome on Friday 11th May
• The Wales Disability Grand Prix offers a good opportunity to interview athletes prior to World Cup competition and see them training against Australia’s top disability cyclists
• Refreshments will be available for all VIP guests and media at the Grand Prix from 19:00
• Alternative interview times may be arranged during the day-time on Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th and possibly Wednesday 9th May when team Australia will also be present during GB training
• Please contact Hannah Pole on 02920 338 330 for further information.
Timetable of Grand Prix (all times approximate)
16:00 Track open for Practice and Warm up
17:00 First Event
19.00 VIP Hospitality Guests arrive
21:00 Trophy Presentation (Mayor of Newport)
Sponsor
The event has been sponsored by the Federation of Disability Sport Wales and Welsh Cycling
Events
Each of the disabilities compete in specific categories, these can be broken down into three main groups
- Loco Motive amputees (LC) ride standard bikes
- Cerebral Palsy (CP) ride standard bikes
- Visually Impaired (VI) ride tandems
- Hand cycling Specialist bicycle
Main Competitors
Team GB
Aileen McGlynn MBE & Ellen Hunter (Women's Tandem) - Paralympic Gold Medalists
Darren Kenny (CP Div 3 Men) - Multi Paralympic Medalist, World Record Holder and World Champion
Anthony Kappes & Barney Storey (Men's Tandem) - Multi Paralympic Medalists, World Record Holders and World Champions
Jody Cundy (LC2 Men) – Multi Paralympic Medalist, World Record Holder and World Champion
Gary Williams (LC1 Men) Paralympian
Sarah Bailey (LC1 Women) - (LC2 Men) – Multi Paralympic Medalist, World Record Holder and World Champion
Darren Kenny (CP3 Men) – Multi Paralympic Medalist, World Record Holders and World Champion
Rik Waddon (CP Div 4 Men) Multi Paralympic Medalist, World Record Holder
Mark Bristow (LC1 Men) Multi Paralympic Medalist
Team Australia
Christopher Scott (CP Div 4 Men) - Multi Paralympic Medalist
Andrew Panazzolo (CP Div 3 Men) - Paralympic Medalist
Kieran Modra & Robert Crowe (Men’s Tandem) - Multi Paralympic Medalists
Angela Fleming (LC2 Women) - Paralympic Medalist
Jane Armstrong (LC3 Women) - Paralympic Medalist
Lindy Hou & Janelle Lindsay (Women’s Tandem) - Multi Paralympic Medalists
Kevin McIntosh – Australian Head Coach
Team Ireland
Cathal Miller (LC1 Men)
Mark Kehoe & Malcolm Goggin (Men’s Tandem)
Team Wales
Russel White (LC1 Men) – GB Road Team Member
Simon Richardson (LC3) - GB Road Team Member
James Brookman (CP3) – Disability Sport Wales Academy
Emma Sulivan & Becky Rimmington (Women’s Tandem) - Disability Sport Wales Academy
Other GB Riders
Richard Davies (CP4)