Kiwis Win Gold Medal At World Para Cycling Champs

New Zealand has won gold on the third and final day of the 2011 Para-Cycling Track World Championships at the Velodrome “FassaBortolo” in Montichiari, Italy.

The team of blind cyclist Jayne Parsons and pilot Sonia Waddell (former Olympic rower) went head-to-head with the Great Britain team of Lora Turnham and Fiona Duncan in the final of the Women's 3km Pursuit.

The British were the fastest qualifiers, however the Brendon Cameron coached Kiwi tandem proved too good in the final, securing gold and the rainbow jersey for the next 12 months.

Parsons from Kapiti, who was a bronze medallist at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics had earlier won a bronze medal with Waddell(Waikato) at the Para-Cycling World Champs in Montichiari in the 1km Time Trial.

In other events featuring Kiwis on the final day Phillipa Gray and Laura Thompson (pilot) finished seventh in the Women’s 3km Pursuit. Fiona Southorn was seventh in the Women’s 500m Time Trial C5 and in the Team Sprint, Stephen Hills, Nathan Smith and Chris Ross completed their race in 11th place.

Overall the team won two medals and had three top-five finishes.

http://www.mondialiparalimpicimontichiari.it/uk/news.php?codnews=16

The bulk of the team arrive in Auckland on Wednesday 16 March, 12.05pm SQ285.