World Champions ready for ETU Paratriathlon European Champs
12th April 2012The GE Great Britain Paratriathlon Team for next weekend’s Eilat ETU Paratriathlon European Championships (20-22 April) has been confirmed with eight athletes travelling to Israel.
The GE Great Britain Paratriathlon Team includes World Champions Jane Egan, Faye McClelland, Charlotte Ellis and Steven Judge who are also reigning European Champions and will be aiming to retain their titles won in Pontevedra. Former World Champion Iain Dawson adds further strength to the GE Great Britain Paratriathlon Team.
Melissa Reid and Joe Townsend will make their international debuts having recently been named on the affiliate squad of British Triathlon’s 2012 Paratriathlon Performance Programme, with GE Ambassador Jimmy Goddard completing the team racing in Eilat.
Paratriathlon Programme Manager, Jonathon Riall said: “We have a great mix of World Champions and relative newcomers on the team and I’m really excited to see how they perform.”
He added: “The European and World Championships are our focus this season, whilst also continuing to build the programme towards our Paralympic debut in Rio 2016.”
The paratriathlon events take place on Sunday 22 April with athletes tackling a 750m open water sea swim, technical 20km bike course and flat 5km run course. Paratriathletes from six different categories compete together in a multi-disability format.
The sport of paratriathlon will make its Paralympic debut in Rio 2016 following its successful inclusion in the Paralympic sports programme in 2010.
The GE Great Britain Paratriathlon Team for the Eilat ETU Paratriathlon European Championships is:
Jane Egan (Tri 1, Kilbarchan, Glasgow)
Faye McClelland (Tri 4, Eastbourne)
Charlotte Ellis (Tri 6, Redcar, Yorkshire)
Melissa Reid (Tri 6, Plymouth)
Joe Townsend (Tri 1, Eastbourne)
Jimmy Goddard (Tri 1, Bracknell)
Iain Dawson (Tri 6, Norwich)
Steven Judge (Tri 3, Eckington, Sheffield)