Posted: August 28, 2005

Paralympics: B.C.’s Alan Bergman wins men’s wheelchair marathon at European Paralympic track and field championships

ESPOO, Finland-Alan Bergman of Cobble Hill, B.C., won the gold medal in the men’s wheelchair marathon Saturday which concluded the European Paralympic track and field championships for athletes with a disability.

Bergman clocked one hour and 29 minutes and 51 seconds in the 42 kilometre race. Tomasz Hamerlak of Poland earned the silver in 1:29:52 and Roger Bardaguer of Spain was third in 1:29.53.

“I felt really good all the way through the race,” said Bergman. “In the latter stages, being in the lead group, I was really able to push hard for the finish.”

Bergman praised his coach Peter Lawless. “I have great trust in the programs he works out for me and the way in which he encourages me to train hard and always thinks of success.”

Michel Filteau of St-Jean-Baptiste, Que., overcame two flats to finish 12th. Kelly Smith of Vancouver rolled on a slow leak and eventually had to change a tire after being in the lead pack for the first 30 kilometres and wound up 17th. Mark Ledo of Maple, Ont., was 25th and Mathieu Blanchette of Quebec City 29th.

There were no Canadians in the women’s marathon.

The 37-member Canadian team completed its first-ever participation at the competition with nine gold, eighth silver and three bronze for sixth in the overall medal standings over six days of competition. The big stars for Canada were Chantal Petitclerc of Montreal with three gold and Dean Bergeron of Quebec City with four medals.

Petitclerc earned her victories this week for Canada in the 200, 400 and 1,500 wheelchair races for paraplegics. Other Canadian gold medallists this week besides Bergman were Bergeron in the 400 wheelchair race for quadriplegics, Diane Roy of Sherbrooke, Que., in the women’s 5,000 wheelchair race for paraplegics; Eric Gauthier of St-Faustin Que., in a men’s wheelchair 100, Jason Dunkerley of Hamilton in the men’s 1,500 for visually impaired and Andre Beaudoin of Cowansville, Que., in the men’s 200 for quads.

Canadian silver medallists were Bergeron in the 200 and 1,500, Beaudoin in the 400, Gauthier in the 200, Roy in the 1,500, Blair Miller of Port Alberni, B.C., in the 800 for athletes with cerebral palsy, the men’s 4X400 wheelchair relay with Gauthier, Curtis Thom of Mississauga, Ont., Colin Mathieson of Winnipeg and Carl Marquis of Sherbrooke and Jeff Adams in the men’s 5,000 wheelchair race for paraplegics.

Bronze medals were earned by Bergeron in the 800, Miller in the 400 and Stuart McGregor of Ottawa in the 800 for visually impaired.

Britain topped the medal standings with 16 gold, six silver and eight bronze, the Ukraine was second at 15-6-8 and Poland third at 13-14-6. Germany was fourth and the U.S., fifth.

The non-European countries were somewhat disadvantaged because Europe was guaranteed five spots in every final. As well numerous entries including a handful of Canadian medal hopefuls didn’t compete on Friday as violent thunderstorms marred the competition.

Full results at: www.espoo2005.fi.