Team England announce paratriathlon team for Commonwealth Games

Team England has announced the athletes set to compete as part of the paratriathlon team for the nation at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The team (full list below) includes four-time world paratriathlon champion Dave Ellis and his guide Luke Pollard, plus Paralympic medallist Melissa Reid.

This year’s Games will see only one paratri class racing – those that come under the PTVI category, which includes athletes who are totally blind and those who have little to no light perception in both eyes.

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Speaking about his excitement ahead of the Games, Ellis told Team England: “After missing out on a home Paralympics in 2012, 10 years later this feels very special to be part of a home Commonwealth Games.”

Reid, who will be competing in her first Commonwealth Games, said: “It is such an honour to qualify for the Commonwealth Games, it means the world. By qualifying, it means I will have competed at the British, European, Worlds, Paralympics and now Commonwealths.”

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Full paratriathlon team details

Dave Ellis: A four-time world and European champion in paratriathlon who competed at the Beijing Paralympic Games in para-swimming and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Luke Pollard (Ellis’ Guide): A senior aircraftman in the RAF who has been a guide for Ellis since 2019 including winning golds at World and European Championships.

Oscar Kelly: The current British PTVI champion, who claimed silver on his international debut at a World Triathlon Para Cup last year along with top-six finishes at the World and European Championships.

Charlie Harding (Kelly’s Guide): Harding started guiding Kelly in 2021, including to a sixth-place finish at World Triathlon Para Championships Abu Dhabi.

Katie Crowhurst: Crowhurst had a breakthrough end to 2021, securing silver on her international debut a week before finishing sixth at her first World Triathlon Para Championships in Abu Dhabi.

Melissa Reid: A double Paralympian and multiple world and European medallist, Reid also claimed bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

When is the Commonwealth Games?

The triathlon events in the 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place on 29 – 31 July in Birmingham’s Sutton Park. The first race will be the men’s and women’s individual events on Friday 29 July, with the men’s and women’s PTVI paratri races and mixed relay events taking place on Sunday 31 July.

For more information, take a look at the official Commonwealth Games schedule here.

Top image: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images