19 May 2009

Aviva Great Britain and NI athletes will be looking to continue the impressive form they showed in Beijing as they arrive in Manchester to compete at the 2009 BT Paralympic World Cup.

South Africa’s triple Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was one of several athletes to today officially open the event, back in action following a boating accident in South Africa in March and relishing his first major international competition in the four year cycle leading up to the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

“I have been training hard over the past couple of months and am delighted to have made a full recovery from the accident,” said the South African.

GB and NI representative Ian Jones who took bronze behind Pistorius in the 200m said in anticipation of this weekend’ athletics events:

“Beijing was the first Paralympic Games I took part in and it was great fun. I ran some good times and I really enjoyed the crowd and the atmosphere, I’ve not raced anywhere like that before.

“I was quite overwhelmed and bewildered by the whole experience but it was a great one and I enjoyed every minute of it and can’t wait for London. Hopefully I’ll keep training well and be selected again, it would be great to compete in the Paralympics in my own country.

“I have competed twice at the BT Paralympic World Cup before so this will be my third time there. I won two silver medals the first time I competed there and a gold and a bronze the second time.

“I’m confident for the competition next week, training has been going well, I’m pulling out some good times. My main competition is Oscar Pistorius – I’m not  sure what kind of form he’s in.

“The BT Paralympic World Cup is the biggest event of the year for me this year, I’ve not got an awful lot of other international competitions so it is a big part of my preparation and it will be again next year. I always enjoy competing there.”

AVIVA GB & NI TEAM:

Thomas Green:  F32/51 Club
Kieron Murphy:  F32/51 Club
Richard Schabel: F32/51 Club
Graeme Ballard:  T36 100m/200m
Lee Hunter: T36 100m/200m
Benjamin Rushgrove:  T36 100m/200m
Michael Churm: T37 100m/200m
John McFall: T42 100m/200m
Ian Jones:  T44 100m/400m
Nathan Stephens: T54-57 Shot
Daniel Nobbs: T54-57 Shot
Daniel West: T54-57 Shot
Robin Womack: T54-57 Shot
David Weir: T54 800m/1500m       

Danny Crates: T46 800m
Brian Alldis: T54 1500m
Libby Clegg: T12 100m/200m
Katrina Hart: T36/37 100m/200m
Jenny McLoughlin: T36/37 100m/200m
Hazel Simpson: T36/37 100m/200m
Sophie Hancock: F40 Shot/Discus
Kim Minett: F40 Shot
Kate Arnold: T46 100m/200m
Shelly Woods: T54 800m/1500m
Pippa Dale: F40 Discus
Victoria Silk: F40 Shot/Discus

Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup are still on sale and can be purchased via the event website: www.btparalympicworldcup.com or the ParalympicsGB website: www.paralympics.org.uk or by calling 0844 8471622. Tickets cost £3 per session.