CYCLING: Wendy is top of the world
UPPERLANDS native Wendy Houvenaghel has had a few days to remember at the recent World Cup meeting in Manchester.
In the Manchester Velodrome, Wendy continued her fine form from last year and showed blistering speed to win the indivudual pursuit.
She qualified fastest for the final by an amzing nine seconds and overcame Australia's Josephine Tomic with a lap to go in the final for the win.
After that success, Olympic silver medalist Houvenaghel went on to play a part in Team Great Britain's world record run in the Team pursuit event, along with team mates Lizzie Armitstead and Joanna Rowsell.
The trio set a time of 3:23.436 in qualifying, before shaving more time off in the final, pipping Germany with a time of 3:21.875.
This all bodes well for 34 year-old Wendy as she prepares for the Olympics in 2012.
Wendy's favoured event - the individual pursuit - looks set not to be included in the Olypics, so she has decided to concentrate on the team event in her quest for Olympic gold.
"The team pursuit is probably going to be included in the London events and that will be my route to Olympic gold." she said, after helping the team win the World Cup gold.
She will no doubt be continuing her hard work and training as she looks to turn that Beijing silver into London gold.
Billy Armstrong MLA praised Wendy saying: "These are truly fantastic achievements, and I have every faith that Wendy will do Upperlands and the rest of Mid-Ulster proud by winning gold in the London Olympics of 2012."
And Ian McCrea MLA added: "To finish top of the podium for Great Britain is a marvellous achievement which has no doubt brought a great sense of pride to Wendy's family as it has to the people of Upperlands and indeed Mid Ulster."
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Weather for Belfast
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
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