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There was no shortage of action on the second day of competition at the Paralympic Games today, Friday, 30th of August, at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome. Team Ireland riders picked up a top five finish, set one national record and two personal bests.

Women’s B 1000m Time Trial

Team Ireland had two bikes contesting the Women’s B 1000m Time Trial – Katie-George Dunlevy, piloted by Eve McCrystal, and Josephine Healion, piloted by Linda Kelly.

Dunlevy and McCrystal posted a time of 1:09.094 to come fifth in qualifying which saw them progress to the final.

In the final, the pair finished fifth overall, in a time of 1:09.447.

“We’re happy with the ride, it was a better ride than this morning even though it was slower, but that’s track racing for you,” Dunlevy said with a giggle.

“Fifth in a 1km is great, a lot of the other girls are specialists in this event and it’s not our event, and we don’t get much track time. It just gives us confidence that we are doing well, and our power is good for Sunday.”

Talking about some the challenges she has overcome in preparation for these Games, Dunlevy added, “Preparations were not ideal coming to a Paralympic Games. Three months ago I broke my collarbone in a Road Race with Eve in Italy. Shattered it, had an operation, so I have the recovery from that and trying to get myself fit on a bike and ready for the training camps, and ready to get in a Time Trial position with a lot of pins and plates in arms and shoulder.

“I’m still working hard on my shoulder now and doing rehab for it and it still gives me pain, but that eases every day. I’m controlling what I can control, that’s just working on what I can do and trying to get myself ready.

“I’m a very positive person, very optimistic, I never look back, just looking ahead that I’m going to be in Paris. I’m lucky that I didn’t do my hip, and I didn’t break my leg and that I am here in Paris because a lot of people they get injured and miss out on a Games, I’m here and I’m racing and I’m healthy. Except that a few days ago I did have a virus, and I was in bed for three days as well, so do you know what – things are set to try us and we battle on.”

McCrystal was also happy with the performance as they now focus on the Women’s B 3000m Individual Pursuit which will take place on Sunday.

“Definitely looking forward to Sunday, I think that kilo there was more like the first kilo of the Pursuit in terms of settling in, for me as a pilot finding the lines, and delivering lap after lap. So even that was probably a little bit too hot it felt like the similar settling process. It gives us confidence going in. Look we’re up against it, it’s a huge fight against three British bikes, I don’t know how the French are going but all we can do is do our own ride, see what happens and what will be will be.”

Healion and Kelly were first up of the Team Ireland bikes in qualifying, and they certainly did not disappoint. They beat their personal best by three seconds, finishing in a time of 1:10.808.

This time ultimately left them in seventh place, with the six fastest times qualifying for the final.

When asked about making her Paralympic debut, Healion said, “Absolutely phenomenal, I mean to come and now be a Paralympian and to compete at the Games and to get a PB here is absolutely amazing. Couldn’t have asked for more really.

“I’m new to this so I’m new to crowds as well but yeah this is more than what you can nearly picture in your head, you have to live it to feel it. It’s incredible and a big shout out to all the fans that came over to give Ireland a cheer on. It’s phenomenal – thank you.”

Kelly was equally as delighted and happy to have their first performance done, she said, “So happy with how today went, three seconds PB so just absolutely over the moon. To have our first competition out of the way, the nerves have settled a bit. The crowds have just driven us on as well, you could hear the Irish fans at the back straight so yeah it was absolutely amazing.”

Kelly will pilot Katie-George Dunlevy for the road events next week, speaking about what she’s most looking forward to she added, “For me to the Time Trial on the Road, that’s my favourite event. So yeah, absolutely looking forward to that on Wednesday.”

Men’s C4-5 1000m Time Trial

Ronan Grimes took to the track at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome for the opening race on the second day of the Paralympic Games, and what a start it was.

Grimes put in an incredible performance to finish in a time of 1:05.521 in the qualifying round of the Men’s C4-5 1000m Time Trial. Beating the national record and personal best that Grimes had previously set at the UCI World Championships in Glasgow last year by three seconds.

He finished in eighth place, with the top six progressing to the final this afternoon.

Grimes, who has said that he will retire after these Games, was delighted with the performance, saying, “I can’t believe it, I think going in I was nearly worried that I wouldn’t PB. I knew on the first lap, it felt like I was going fast. When I saw 1:05 on the board, I can retire from the kilo happy now.”

When asked about the atmosphere, Grimes added, “When you’re warming up and you’re underneath the track and you just hear this noise, I thought it was my headphones making this kind of beat, but it’s the crowd up above. Knowing that you’ve family in there watching you, people at home, all the messages I’ve been getting to wish me good luck, so you want to finish giving it your all and knowing that that is my all there – delighted really am!”

Grimes has an action packed competition schedule for the remainder of the Games, he outlined his plan, “I think it’s the cliché of event by event, day by day, so today was the Kilo, tomorrow the Individual Pursuit, fingers crossed I can do a good ride there, hopefully I think I should have it in me, there’s good power in me now. Then next week onto the Time Trial, then the Road Race. Finishing on the Road Race is going to be the highlight.”

Tomorrow will see Richael Timothy compete in the Women’s C1-3 500m Time Trial at 09:00 and Ronan Grimes will compete in the Men’s C4 4000m Individual Pursuit at 10:02. These are both qualifying events with finals taking place later in the day.