GOLDS FOR GB PARA TEAM

There was more success for the GB Para TT team as they played in the Slovenian Open in their penultimate Factor 40 event before the Paralympic Games

In the singles, Ross Wilson won gold in Class 8 with 3-2 wins against the European Champion in the semi-final and another higher ranked player in the final; this should help to move him into the top 4 in the world and is another major step forward on the road to London.

Victoria Bromley won silver in Class 11 beating three French players including the world number 9. She had previously been very unlucky in her group matches in events like the European Championships where she played the two finalists in her group so at last in a round robin she was given a good draw.

There were fourth places for Rob Davies in Class 1, Jane Campbell in Class 3 and Scott Robertson in Class 5, all of which could well have been bronzes with Rob and Jane losing narrowly in five games.

There were last eight places for Paul Davies (Class 1), Sara Head (Class 3), Sue Gilroy (Class 4), David Wetherill (Class 6), Will Bayley (Class 7), Aaron McKibbin (Class 8) and Kim Daybell (Class 10) – with Paul, David and Kim losing to the gold medallists and Aaron to the European Champion.

In the team event there were three golds: for Scott Robertson, Jack Hunter-Spivey playing with a Norwegian in Class 5 and for David Wetherill playing with a Dane in Class 6.

Silvers were gained by Paul Karabardak and Sue Gilroy playing with a Spaniard and a Slovak in Class 7 and Class 4 respectively as well as by Paul and Rob Davies playing together in Class 1.

Bronze medals were also picked up by Kim Daybell and Adam Thompson (his first medal) playing with a Hungarian and a Frenchman in Class 10 and 11 respectively as well as by Jane Campbell and Sara Head playing together in Class 3.

In all, 14 out of the 16 players won medals amongst very tough competition. Next it’s onwards to Bratislava for the Slovakian Open – the last Factor 40 event before London!

Mike Smith