British trackies on top at IPC European Championships

Great Britain has topped the medal table with seven gold and four silver medals after the completion of the track events at the IPC European Championships (for Athletes with Disabilities) in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. In second place was Australia, which bagged four gold, two silver and three bronze medals for a total of nine.

Of the Australians, Athens Paralympic triple gold medallist Chris Scott bettered his own world mark for gold in the 1km time trial for Division CP4 (Cerebral Palsy). Scott also won the Individual Pursuit with a time of 3:35.947. West Australian Jane Armstrong claimed gold and a world record for the 3km individual pursuit in the LC3 competition, posting a time of 4:34.553 in the final to better the mark of 4:36.333 she rode in the qualifying round. Armstrong backed up to also win gold in the LC3 500m time trial in a time of 48.217.

Victorian Martin Vcelka, took silver in the LC2 kilometre time trial in 1:13.672. South Australian Angela Fleming (LC2) was second in the Combined LC2/CP3 Individual Pursuit and collected bronze in the 500m time trial. LC1 competitor Claire McLean from Western Australia picked up bronze in the 500m time trial in 43.428 and was also third in the individual pursuit.

In the men's LC1 4km Individual Pursuit, Michael Gallagher from Victoria placed fourth with a time of 5:07.960 while in the CPDiv4 Individual Pursuit, Tasmanian Trent Deacon was fourth in 3:57.520.

The first of the road events got under way on Wednesday with Peter Allen and Karl Livingstone making their international debut in the handcycle events. Livingstone completed the 41km, five lap distance 2:50 behind the winner's time of 1:25:34 for ninth place, with Allen 5:30 off the lead in 13th place.

The Championships run until August 21.