The England women’s rugby team stepped up their preparations for the forthcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup with a training camp at the University of Bath. The squad both stayed and trained on campus during the four-day ...
Kelly just misses out on podium in Vancouver
University of Bath graduate Kelly Gallagher just missed out on the medals in the visually-impaired giant slalom at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games, finishing fourth.
The result was the best finish by a British visually-impaired skier since 1994.
Gallagher (pictured), who has a degree in Mathematics from the University o
f Bath, completed her first run in 1:38.65 to put her eighth, then had a fantastic second run which raised her four places in the rankings into fourth. She finished just three seconds off a podium position.
“The first run was really slow, I didn’t think I was nervous until I started skiing but it turned out I was really nervous because I didn’t ski to my full potential,” said the 25-year-old, currently living in Bangor, County Down.
“We just tried to go up here and ski fast and have fun and try to pull some time back,” said Gallagher, who skis with guide Claire Robb.
“The second run I skied better, like I normally do in training. I’m really happy me and Claire produced two really good results [in giant slalom and slalom] here.”
She is now setting her sights on next year’s world championships and the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
“Next year is the world championships and then Sochi is definitely close,” said Gallagher, who also finished sixth in the slalom earlier in the Games.
Meanwhile Bath’s Talan Skeels-Piggins, who does some of his land-based training at the University of Bath and is also making his Paralympic Games debut in Vancouver, finished 15th in the sitting giant slalom. Twentieth after the first of two runs, he climbed five places with a good second run.
The University of Bath has one of the leading university sports departments in the UK. Under its TeamBath brand, its success is based on the expertise and dedication of staff, and its excellent facilities, used by the community and Olympic medal winners alike.
Members of the media who require further information can contact the TeamBath Press Office at Matchtight Ltd on (01225) 383518 or 01225 443998 or see the TeamBath website at www.teambath.com