Cashmore claims silver in London (From Worcester News)

Cashmore claims silver in London

6:00am Monday 3rd September 2012 in Sport

CLAIRE Cashmore claimed her best Paralympic finish in the 100-metre breaststroke — but she was battling agony and ecstasy at London 2012.

The 24-year-old swimmer had three Paralympic medals to her name — two bronzes from her maiden Games at Athens 2004 and one from Beijing 2008.

Cashmore, of Kidderminster, qualified as the fastest from the heats but had to settle for silver as Russia’s Olesya Vladykina won in a new world record.

The Brit said: “It wasn’t as fast as I wanted. Olesya was absolutely incredible out there, she is a fantastic athlete and hopefully one day I can beat her.

“I felt really confident going in. To come out with a silver is better than I did in Beijing and Athens and I have got to really be happy with that. I personally don’t think I swam to my full potential but that is probably me being rather hard on myself.”

Meanwhile, Hereford’s James Bevis admitted his overwhelming emotion was one of relief after securing a shooting bronze medal despite being agonisingly close to silver.

Bevis is in his second Games having finished 19th in both the standing and prone SH2 10m air rifle in Beijing 2008.

This time in the prone, he shot his way to bronze, losing in a shoot-off for silver against France’s Raphael Voltz.

Bevis, 36, said: “I was really up for it but in the end I’m relieved to be honest.

“Everything has gone to plan this week. I’ve been shooting world records in training and so when the pressure was on I knew I could do it.”

Hereford swimmer Sascha Kindred relinquished a 12-year grip on his Paralympic 100m breaststroke title.

Kindred has won six golds in a storied career but knew the standards had dramatically improved since Beijing.

The 34-year-old qualified fourth fastest for the final and that was the same position he came when it mattered.

“I can’t complain, they are all deserved medallists and have swum fast times,” said Kindred. “The sport moves on and I can’t moan about that.”

Matt Dimbylow does not fear the challenge possessed by free-scoring Ukraine in a must-win game for GB’s seven-a-side football team in London today.

The Stourport midfielder, 41, captained the host nation in their opening 3-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday.

He said: “We can be competitive against them if we play to our strengths, but we gave away bad goals on Saturday and you can’t afford to do that.”

Lloyds TSB, proud supporter of ParalympicsGB and proud partner of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Get closer to the Games at lloydstsb.com/lon don2012