A look ahead to the Irish athletes in action over the weekend
SATURDAY
Catherine O’Neill
Athletics (Club Throw)
Olympic Stadium, 10.00am
Competing at her third Paralympics, she finished fourth in the discus in Sydney and sixth in the same event in Beijing. Brings good club form with her here, having taken silver at the IPC World Championships last year.
Ailish Dunne
Athletics (Discus)
Olympic Stadium, 11.45am
The 27-year-old from Mountmellick lost her sight nine years ago and this is her first visit to the Paralympics. Rose to fifth in the discus world rankings last year and her form is on an upward curve.
Jason Smyth
Athletics (100m)
Olympic Stadium, 7.15pm
See panel
Michael McKillop
Athletics (800m)
Olympic Stadium, 8.58pm
See panel
Ray ODwyer
Athletics (Javelin)
Olympic Stadium, 7.03pm
A 22-year-old from Kilkenny who is just setting out on his Paralympics career. Took a silver medal at the IPC European Championships in June and will be looking for a personal best here.
James Brown Damien Shaw
Cycling (1km TT)
Velodrome, 9.30am
After only just missing out on a bronze medal in Thursday’s individual pursuit, Brown and Shaw will have their work cut out here to live with the British entrants who are the world and Paralympics record holders.
Cathal Miller
Cycling (Individual Pursuit) Velodrome, 11.38am
The flag-bearer from the Opening Ceremony came fifth in this event four years ago in Beijing and has been improving steadily since then. Could well perform better in the road events next week.
Eilish Byrne
Equestrian (Individual Championship)
Greenwich Park, 9.00
After her seventh place finish in the team test event on Thursday, she goes in the individual championship today with her horse Youri. Finished 11th in this event in Beijing and will look to improve on that.
Kevin du Toit, Anne Marie McDaid, Shane Ryan, Sarah Caffrey, Helen Arbuthnot (Cox)
Rowing (Mixed Coxed Fours Repachage)
Eton Dorney, 11.30am
Yesterday was the first ever Irish boat in a Paralympic rowing heat and they found the competition pretty tough, finishing fifth in their semi-final and posting the 10th best time overall.
John Twomey, Anthony Hegarty, Ian Costelloe
Sailing (Sonar)
Weymouth, 11.00am
Day one of the sailing at Weymouth and the one thing Ireland won’t lack is experience as helmsman John Twomey competes in his 10th Paralympic Games. There will be 11 races throughout the week, finishing up on Thursday.
Seán Baldwin
Shooting (10m Air Rifle Prone)
Royal Artillery Barracks, 1.15pm
As expected, the standard of shooting at these games has been very high and Baldwin was well outside a final place on Thursday. Even allowing for the standard, he shot very poorly and needs a huge improvement to do himself justice.
Darragh McDonald
Swimming (400m Freestyle)
Aquatic Centre, 9.49am
See panel
James Scully
Swimming (200m freestyle)
Aquatic Centre, 10.47am
Was beaten from the dive in his 50m heat on Thursday as someone his size finds the shortest distance very sharp. He will be better at 200m and should expect to make the final here, which is at 6.50 this evening.
SUNDAY
Catherine Walsh Fran Miller
Cycling (3km Individual Pursuit)
Velodrome, 10.00am
After taking a full two seconds off the Irish record in their time trial yesterday, this is their specialist event. They took gold in LA in this event in the UCI track cycling championships last year. Their best form should get them into a medal race at least.
Katie-George Dunleavy Sandra Fitzgerald
Cycling (3km Individual Pursuit)
Velodrome, 10.00am
Didn’t disgrace themselves in the time trial where they finished seventh. Also placed seventh in this event at the world championships in their first event together earlier this year. Any improvement on that would by a fine performance.
Heather Jameson
Athletics (100m)
Olympic Stadium, 11.05am
Recovered well from an understandable early wobble in front of a packed crowd in the Olympic Stadium yesterday to finish seventh in her long jump event. Goes in the 100m but unlikely to make the final.
Colin Lynch, Enda Smyth, Cathal Miller
Cycling (Team Sprint)
Velodrome, 11.35am
The cycling team have been coming down with personal bests in the Velodrome but since the competition is so hot and some of the other countries’ squads are so deep, that’s probably the best this team can hope for as well.
Helen Kearney
Equestrian (Individual Championship)
Greenwich Park, 4.15pm
The 23-year-old from Dunlavin, Co Wicklow broke new ground last year when she won Ireland’s first ever medal in para-equestrian sport, a bronze at the European Championships in Belgium. Competes here aboard her horse Mister Cool.
Geraldine Savage
Equestrian (Individual Championship)
Greenwich Park, 4.15pm
Quite new to the sport, having only been diagnosed with a neurological disorder in 2006. Posted two top-10 finishes at the European Championships last year and would be delighted with a repeat performance here.
James Dwyer
Equestrian (Individual Championship)
Greenwich Park, 9.00am
Based in America, he came aboard the Irish team for the World Championships in Kentucky in 2010 and finished a creditable fifth. Will aim for a top 10 here on his horse Orlando.
Roy Guerin
Powerlifting (67.5kg)
ExCel Arena, 3.00pm
Ireland’s first powerlifter at the games since 1968, Guerin is a Kerryman who suffers from Spina Bifida. Has been to the Paralympics before as an athlete, finishing sixth in the 100m in Atlanta.
John Twomey, Anthony Hegarty, Ian Costelloe
Sailing (Sonar)
Weymouth, 11.00am
Races three and four.
Bethany Firth
Swimming (200m freestyle)
Aquatic Centre, 10.00am
After her heroics yesterday, Firth gets down to her best event now with the 200m freestyle. She won a silver medal in this race at the European Championship last year. at just 15 year of age, a big future clearly awaits.
