Rohan the pride of Westmeath after world championship gold

BALLINAHOWN native Mark Rohan created Irish sporting history last weekend when he secured Ireland's first ever Paracycling World Championship gold medal when winning the H1 Handcycling Road Race in Baie-Comeau, Canada on Saturday. The Athlone athlete - a former Westmeath under-21 footballer before suffering serious injuries in a road accident in 2001 - rode a very tactical race before pulling away from the rest of the field in the first lap along with the previous world champion, Austrian rider Wolfgang Schattauer. In the second lap they were joined by the Israeli rider Yakof Lion and it was clear that these three would share out the medals. On the final climb, Rohan and Schattauer increased the pressure to drop the Israeli rider and leave the two battling it out for the gold medal and world champion title. With just 500 metres to go, Mark attacked from behind to overtake Schattauer and held him off in a thrilling finish to win by just two seconds and take the gold for Ireland. Mark was due to return to his native Ballinahown yesterday evening (Tuesday) and no doubt the people of Ballinahown will celebrate his excellent performance in style. Expressing delight at the result, Irish Paracycling Manager Denis Toomey said he was "so proud" of Mark on his great performance and paid tribute to his coaches, Beverly Chamberlain and Brian Nugent, and the other support staff members, mechanic Gerry Beggs and Fionnuala Kirby. "Hearing the Irish National Anthem being played at a World Championship medal ceremony was a great experience and one we hopefully will hear more of in the future" said Toomey. As a result of his injuries, Mark - a past pupil at Marist College, Athlone - is now confined to a wheelchair and only took up handcycling less than two years ago, having previously represented Ireland in the sport of wheelchair basketball.