Golden Day for GB Team
Everest Scales Judo Heights To Clinch Gold
It was a golden fifth day of competition at the Shanghai Special Olympics World Games with a number of the GB Team athletes clinching medals.
There were two gold medals in judo for Donald Murray of Glasgow and Oliver Everest (East Sussex) in their respective weight categories whilst Liam Duhig (Surrey) picked up a bronze.
In the swimming Zoe Kane took to the rostrum with a gold in the 400 metres freestyle. It was a third medal of the games for the Peterhead-based athlete who had already notched two silvers. Aidan Montgomery of Grantham got bronze in the 200m medley.
There was more success in the equestrian event with four medals in the dressage. Both Leanne Peters (Drumnadrochit) and Kyle Bennett-Knell (Bedford) collected silvers. Vicki Keenan and Kristen Wrate, both from Aberdeen, each grabbed a bronze.
In the cycling Bhikhu Patel from Cardiff grabbed bronze in the 5km time trial.
The 11-a-side mens football team just lost out 2-1 to competition favorites Russia in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd. Russia scored after just a minute but that was cancelled out by a fine strike from David Daly (Scotland West) just moments later. Goalkeeper Peter Heggie of Dundee pulled off a string of amazing saves but he was unable to keep out a second half winner from the Russians.
Football coach Elaine McKenna commented: “We now have to beat Ecuador on Monday to secure a place in the final which would pit us against Russia once again.”
In the golf event at Tianma Country Club another fine round for Ruairidh Deans (Kilconquhar) put him eight shots ahead of the field at the half way point in the nine hole event with Welshman Philip Rees handily placed in fourth. In the 18 hole competition Auchterarder’s Iain Carle notched his joint best ever score of 99 whilst Matthew Sims of Cardiff carded an impressive 90 on what is a long and highly demanding course.
On Saturday evening there was a silver in the mixed doubles badminton as Craig Sharratt of Jedburgh and Rachel Thomas of Oswestry performed valiantly before losing out to the Chinese team in the final.
The medal haul for GB Team now stands at 7 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze after five days of competition at what is the biggest sporting event of 2007. The 159 strong Special Olympics Team GB squad is competing against 7200 athletes from 160 nations.
All of the athletes competing in the World Games are being featured in action on a dedicated website at www.specialolympicslive.org
For more information visit www.teamgb2007.org.uk