Handcyclists’ Arafura Games 2009 Road Race Finishes

Fri, May 15 2009

Friday morning’s 2009 Oceania Para Cycling Road Race did not see any records broken but the field completed the course in good time.

First of the handcyclists to cross the line was Nigel Barley from Parkville, WA, in a time of 1:17:48 in the Handcycling Grade C division. He was followed by George Kambouris of Carindale, Qld, with 1:20:57 and Stuart Tripp from Elwood, Vic.

In the Handcycling B Grade division Peter Allen finished first with 1:26:29. Victoria’s Craig Barrett from Dromana was second in 1:31:30 and Brisbane’s Jarrod Moncur came in third in a time of 1:35:25.

There was only one competitor in the Handcycling A division, Robert Hooper from Canberra, and he completed the course in 1:32.44.

First to finish in the Women’s C Grade division was Kiwi Samantha Eddie in 1:49:09 and South Australia’s Melissa Leckie finished in 1:58:35 in Women’s B Grade.

This is the last in a series of five races to decide the National Handcycling Championships.

“This is race is a preparation for the European campaign,” said spokesperson for the handcyclists, and fellow competitor, Darron Shields. “It is great prep for qualifying in 2010 for the 2012 London Paralympian Games.

“We are extremely happy with the organisation and structure of the event, and all handcyclists report having a very positive experience here in Darwin.”

Editor’s note: Darron Shields can be contacted for interview on 0404 773 443.

For more information go to www.arafuragames.nt.gov.au.

Gail Liston (08) 8920 5536 or 0407 207 335.