Gold and silver for Team GB at the Paris Paralympic Games Test Event
Dave Ellis and Claire Cashmore bring home the medals as the paratriathlon event is reduced to a duathlon because of water quality concerns
![Dave Ellis and guide Luke Pollard competing at the 2023 Paris Parlympics Test Event](https://www.220triathlon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/08/dave-ellis-luke-pollard-test-event-73b04c8.jpg?w=1080)
Paratriathletes in Paris this morning woke to the news that their races were to be competed over a duathlon format. A 2.5km run would be replacing the 750m swim as organisers were playing it safe after discrepancies were found between water-quality tests.
The first run would precede a (slightly shorter than scheduled) 18.5km bike and a final 5km run.
![claire-cashmore-paris-test-event GB PTS5 paratriathlete Claire Cashmore competing at the Paris Parlympic Test Event](https://www.220triathlon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/08/claire-cashmore-paris-test-event-ba2fadb.jpeg)
Multiple Paralympic swim medallist Claire Cashmore (GB) was unsurprisingly disappointed with the news, but still raced to a silver medal – and despite a 10sec penalty for crossing the dismount line out of transition – behind the USA’s Grace Norman in the PTS5 category.
“I’m happy and a bit frustrated [with the penalty],” Cashmore said post-race. “I got a bit confused with the laps, my fault, but hey this is why it’s called a test event! It was pretty incredible out there. You don’t get to enjoy the iconic monuments around you cause you’re just in a lot of pain.
“I know I’m not in amazing run shape, so when it was announced it was a duathlon I was like ‘okay, I’ve got two runs to do!’, but you know, to still be able to come second… I don’t really know what my times were like it just felt really hard.”
![dave-ellis-luke-pollard-paris-test-event-finish GB PTVI paratriathlete Dave Ellis and guide Luke Pollard race home to win gold at the Paris Paratriathlon Test Event](https://www.220triathlon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/08/dave-ellis-luke-pollard-paris-test-event-finish-1c957ab.jpeg)
Dave Ellis and guide Luke Pollard added another PTVI gold to an already packed trophy cabinet. The five-time world and five-time European champions were also disappointed not to be able to test the full Paralympic course, saying: “We managed to get in yesterday, but it would have been interesting to see how it unfolded in a race.”
Luke added: “But that’s a pretty special course, it’s really quick, makes for some fast and exciting racing, going down the Champs[-Élysées] is pretty epic.
“I was tucking may head into his ass,” joked Ellis, “so not much looking around for me!”
![oscar-kelly-charlie-harding-paris-test-event GB PTV1 paratriathlete Oscar Kelly and guide Charlie Harding race over the hallowed cobbles of the Champs-Élysées at the Paris Paralympics Test Event](https://www.220triathlon.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/08/oscar-kelly-charlie-harding-paris-test-event-d8ee2a3.jpeg)
Also racing for GB in the PTVI category was Oscar Kelly and guide Charlie Harding, who were happy with their fourth place.
“We’re not really suited to a duathlon,” said Kelly, “but if we can do that well here then hopefully we can get a podium next year [if it’s a triathlon]. Those cobbles were interesting, though.”
“I’m glad I’ve got a comfy saddle on,” chipped in Harding.
“Yeah, Charlie’s going to have a massive bruise on his back from me head butting him!”
Full results from all the Paris Paratriathlon events can be found here.
Top image credit: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images