July 4/05 12:16 pm - Road Nationals Update, Canadians Win Medals at World Championships for Athletes with Cerebral Palsy

Posted by Editoress on 07/4/05
 

Road Nationals Update
from Mike Shea, Chief Commissaire for Road Nationals

Riders are reminded that there is no day of race number pick up at Road Nationals. They must get their race numbers before noon on the day before.

ALL information pertaining to the upcoming nationals in Kamloops BC (July 7 - 10) can be found HERE


Canadian Cyclists Win One silver and Four Bronze at World Championships for Athletes with Cerebral Palsy
from Canadian Sport News

NEW YORK- Cyclists Jean Quevillon of Ste-Adele, Que., and Ryan Arbuckle of Victoria combined forces on Saturday for Canada's first five medals at the 38-country world championships for athletes with cerebral palsy.

These world championships, which started Thursday are a multi-sport competition held every four years, in the year after the Paralympic Games. Canada is competing in four of the eight sports: besides cycling Canada is entered in soccer, swimming and track and field.

This year marks the first time these worlds are being held outside of England. Originally, this competition was called the Robin Hood Games, and was held in Nottingham.

Canada has sent a team comprised of 37 athletes and 18 support staff (including coaches) to the event which is officially hosted by New London, Connecticut. It's the biggest team that the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sport Association (CCPSA) has ever sent to an international competition. The CCPSA is working in partnership with the national associations for all four sports.

Quevillon won the silver medal in the 3,000-metre inividual pursuit and bronze medals in the 200-metre flying start and one-kilometre race under hot and humid conditions on the asphalt track at the Kissena Veledrome outdoor track in Queens.

"It was a hard day," said Quevillon. "We raced for qualification for the individual 3000m pursuit in the morning, and I was second. The final was at the end of the day. I'm really tired - five races in one day is a lot. Pursuit is actually not my best event - my best is the road race and time trial."

Arbuckle posted third place finishes in a different category in the 200 flying start and one kilometre race. He was also sixth in the 3,000 individual pursuit.

"I trained a lot harder for this event than I ever have before," said Arbucle. "I have been working really hard with my coach (Houshang Amiri at Pacificsport in Victoria), and I've gotten a lot stronger. I've also received a lot of support from my employer, who has worked around my training schedule and given me time off for competitions."

Brayden McDougall of Calgary was fourth in the 200 flying start, fifth in the 3,000 individual pursuit and one kilometre race.

"The first race was a little nerve-wracking, but the guys helped me relax, get through it," said McDougall. "I was a little surprised. This is my first world championships and coming here from Calgary, I had no idea what to expect. Stephen Burke is also my personal coach, and he's been working with me in Calgary on building my confidence and going faster, which has paid off here at worlds."

In the team pursuit, Canada with McDougall, Quevillon and Arbuckle came third but was not awarded a medal because three countries were entered in the race. Britain won the gold and Australia the silver.