LOCAL tandem cyclists, Emma and Andrew Fitzgerald from Warrenpoint have just returned from the Paralympic World Cycling Championships in Bordeaux, having achieved personal best times in all their events.

Both partially-sighted physiotherapists, they cycle as ‘stokers’ on the back of tandems, with a fully-sighted pilots up front.

The pair have been cycling with the Newry and Mourne Watsh Club for a number of years, and Andy received his call-up to the Irish squad last year, with Emma’s being early in 2007.

Paralympic competition involves cyclists who have physical disabilities, with over 40 nations and 400 cyclists competing at the Bordeaux championships. Events took place both on the indoor velodrome and road circuits. This years Worlds held particular significance with the run up to the Beijing Paralympic games in 2008.

“We feel proud and honoured to have been selected to represent Ireland at such a high-ranking and prestigious event,” said Emma, who was piloted by Fionnuala Ni Bhradaigh from Bray Wheelers Cycling Club, Co Wicklow.

“The standard of paralympic cycling is phenomenal, and we gave our all both physically and mentally during the championships, recording top 20 finishes in all track and road events,”

Their highest finish came in the 72km road race, run off in 45 degree heat, where they finished 16th over-

Andy also had an extremely successful championships, resuming his tandem partnership with Bray Wheelers John Lynch.

The pair had first competed together at the Worlds in Switzerland last year, and were keen to build on their performances from that event.

This they did with considerable improvement in all events. They took 2 seconds off their 1km time, and a massive 6 seconds off their 4km pursuit time. Road events were also cause for celebration, when the pair finished 27th in the extremely tough 106km road race.

These pair are now focusing on qualification for next years Olympics, although it involves a complicated qualification procedure that will necessitate travel to Colombia next month for the Pan- American games, the last ranking event before team selection