Claire Cashmore set to turn on the heat

Sep 9 2008 From Stephen Bond in Beijing

REDDITCH’S Claire Cashmore insists she is ready to hog the headlines after turning on the style to reach the 100m breaststroke final today.

The 20-year-old, who landed double bronze in Athens, set a new British record inside the Water Cube as she progressed through her heat in a time of 1.25.19 minutes.

It took a Games record from Russian Olesya Vladykina to prevent the 2006 world silver medallist from qualifying in the quickest time as the duo confirmed their status as the medal favourites.

And after finishing eighth in Sunday’s 100m butterfly final, Cashmore is adamant she is fully prepared to deliver in her main event.

“All I can ask is that I perform to the best of my capabilities in the breaststroke,” said Cashmore.

“I have prepared for it for so long but all the other competitors are in the same position and you never know what they will pull out of the bag.

“I know what I am capable of and that is all I can focus on.

“The Games have already shown that people can produce the race of their life to get a medal.”

Worcester’s Nyree Lewis smashed the Games record to qualify for the 100m backstroke final.

The world record holder – who finished sixth in the 200m individual medley – underlined her status as the swimmer to beat with her time of 1.30.34 minutes, two seconds quicker than any other competitor.

Harborne’s Andrew Brian helped Britain’s blind footballers win their first match with a 2-1 victory over Korea in the five-a-side tournament – a must-win game after losing their tournament opener to hosts China.

Meanwhile, cyclist Darren Kenny won gold to lead a highly successful morning for Britain.

The 38-year-old from Dorset won his second gold of the Games – defending a title won in Athens for a second time – with victory in the men’s CP3 one-kilometre time-trial ahead of compatriot Rik Waddon.

Kenny clocked his second world record of the Games, finishing in one minute 08.668 seconds, while Waddon won silver in 1min 11.161.

Britain also won two athletics silvers, with Ben Rushgrove and Libby Clegg finishing second in their respective 100 metres sprints.

Woods, who finished second in the 5,000m last night, has had to return her medal after a late crash prompted the International Paralympic Committee to ask for the race to be re-run later this week.

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