Irish records tumble in Beijing

ON A day that will be remembered at the Paralympic Games for the bronze medal- winning performance of Gabriel Shelly in the individual Boccia competition, Ireland’s other paralympians were not to be outdone, setting new Irish records in the velodrome, and the Water Cube.

At last night’s session in front of a capacity crowd, 13-year-old Dubliner Ellen Keane displayed considerable composure at her first Paralympics in the final of the women’s 100m Breaststroke (SB8 Class). Keane touched the wall in sixth position overall with a time of 1:29.72 while another debutant, Tyrone’s Johnny Cummings, saved his best ever performance for last night’s final of the S6 100m backstroke, setting an Irish record time of 1.29.26 to finish eighth overall.

Dubliner Cathal Miller was back in the velodrome competing in the Men’s 1km Time Trial (LC1) class, where he excelled to set a new Irish record of 1:11.824, shaving over one second off his previous mark to place seventh overall. This ends Miller’s tremendous track campaign, as he now turns his attention to Thursday’s road events.

Both Irish sailing crews were on the water again in Qingdao.

In the Sonar class, Paul McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Richard Wheeley finished 13th, 12th & 11th in races three, four and five respectively, leaving the team lying in 10th place overall with six races left.

Meanwhile, in the Skud 18 (2 person keelboat) class, Amy Kelehan and John Twomey placed 10th in races three, four and five and lie 10th overall, also with six races remaining.

Patrice Dockery commenced her sixth Paralympic campaign in damp conditions at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, finishing fifth in the second heat of her 400m (T53 Class) with a time of 1:08.95. With the first three plus the two next fastest to qualify, Dockery did not progress to today’s final and now looks forward to the heats of her favoured event, the 100m, tomorrow.

Archer Sean Heary was in action on the Olympic Green Archery Field in the Men’s Individual Compound Open event. Heary progressed through the ranking round and will face Michael Arenz of Germany in the direct elimination round this morning.

Kathleen Reynolds was in action twice yesterday in the Table Tennis at Peking University, facing Korea’s Hyun-Ja Choi in the first of her two pool matches. However, the Korean proved too strong, coming through to win 3-1.

d in five sets by Yenelis Silva of Cuba, bringing to an end her individual campaign. Kathleen will pair up with fellow Dubliner Eimear Breathnach for the team event on Saturday.

Day four of these Games today sees Ireland’s Equestrian representative Eilish Byrne compete in the Dressage competition.

Michael Delaney and sighted pilot rider David Peelo will contest the men’s sprint (B & V1 1-3 class) qualification in the Laoshan Veledrome. Elsewhere, tThe 7-a-side football team faces a massive challenge to get a result in their second pool match against reigning world and Paralympic champions Ukraine at the Olympic Green Hockey field.

Three-time Paralympic medalist and Irish swim team captain Dave Malone swims in the heats of the S8 class 100m backstroke, bidding for a place in the evening final. The Boccia team, led by Shelly, begin their quest for more glory with their two opening pool matches in the BC1-2 team event.

Tonight in the Bird’s Nest, three Irish athletes will be looking to feature. Sydney Paralympian Catherine Wayland goes in the F32-34/51-53 discus with three-time Paralympian Lisa Callaghan contesting the F35-38 combined javelin final.

T37 800m world record holder and reigning world champion, Antrim teenager Michael McKillop, will bid for glory in the final of the event just before 8pm (1pm Irish time).