Cyclists hit a high five in Team GB haul

Sep 10 2008 From Matt McGeehan in Beijing

GREAT Britain won nine golds in a spectacular day at the Paralympics to take their total to 16 and draw level at the top of the medal table with China.

The cyclists led the way once again with five triumphs at the Laoshan Velodrome in Beijing, while equestrian riders Lee Pearson and Anne Dunham each won two golds – their individual titles and the team crown.

Swimmer Sascha Kindred added a ninth victory at the National Aquatics Centre, while Britain also picked up six silvers and four bronze medals to take their total tally to 33, trailing only the hosts, who have 53 medals in all.

Seven out of 10 track cycling gold medals returned to British soil after last month’s Olympics and the Union flag continues to fly high above the velodrome after victories in nine out of 10 Paralympic events.

Darren Kenny, Simon Richardson and Aileen McGlynn – with tandem pilot rider Ellen Hunter – each won their second track cycling titles of the Games. Mark Bristow and Jody Cundy were also victorious.

Kenny, from Dorset, clocked his second world record of the Games, finishing in a time of one minute 08.668 seconds, while Manchester’s Waddon won silver in 1min 11.161 secs.

Essex’s Bristow, a relative of darts legend Eric Bristow, then won gold in the men’s LC one-kilometre time-trial in a world record of 1:08.873.

As the cyclists were exerting their stranglehold on the velodrome, Britain won four further golds.

Anne Dunham, on her horse Teddy, claimed gold in the individual test grade Ia ahead of team-mate Sophie Christiansen, who took silver on Lambrusco III. Lee Pearson won the individual test grade Ib on Gentlemen andadded to that in the in the team event.