Swords Lady Is World Champion

Swords lady, Catherine Walsh has become the first Irish person to win the UCI Paracycling Track World Championships in the women’s tandem competition over 3 kilometres. She won the Pursuit event in Los Angeles on February 9th last. Catherine, who is partially sighted, won the coveted title with her pilot, Francine (Fran) Meehan from Tullamore. In an exclusive interview with the County Leader, Catherine was overwhelmed by her victory. “I’m really thrilled about the win and it’s only sinking in now,” she said. Catherine won silver two years ago and bronze last year. “I knew we were good, having had podium finishes in the past two years. “This event was the final qualifying event for the London Paralympics. “For good measure, she also won bronze in the tandem sprint race. In the tandem event, a visually impaired athlete partners a fully sighted rider, (the pilot). Tandem racing is fast and furious, given the double power output, and is an exciting spectator sport. The Pursuit is a 3km race against the clock, with the qualifying test being all important, as only the top 4 riders get to race for medals - the top two race for the gold medal. Catherine and Fran achieved a time of 3.37. She spoke of how she became involved in cycling. “I had a long history of running, and after the birth of my second child, I took up cycling, with a view to competing in triathlons. Then in 2007, I started cycling on tandem and got really hooked on it. I’m with Fran now for the past two years and we have a great understanding.” Catherine works as a physiotherapist in Lusk Community Unit, and said that she trains up to seven days a week. “We train in the gym and on the road and the commitment is huge.” She knows that this level of commitment is required if she is to take the gold medal back to Swords. “Great Britain and New Zealand are exceptionally strong at this event, and have a long history of success, particularly as they can train in velodromes. We have to travel to Majorca to avail of similar training facilities. We spent 10 days there prior to the World Championship and it seems to have paid off,” she said. Catherine, who has lived all of her life in Swords is married to Wally and has two children, Alison (8) and Conor (5), both of whom attend St Colmcille’s National School. They were very excited for me,” she said proudly. “Before the world championship, I would not have been too confident of Olympic success, but now as world champion, anything can happen. It’s all on the day,” said a confident Catherine.