Agony for Cashmore with fourth place finish (From Worcester News)

Agony for Cashmore with fourth place finish

10:58am Friday 7th September 2012 in Sport

CLAIRE Cashmore longed for the stuff of dreams in the 200m medley at the Paralympics last night – however an all-too-familiar nightmare came back to haunt her.

Four days after winning silver in the 100m breaststroke, Kidderminster’s Cashmore was less than impressed as she finished fourth in the 200m medley.

It brought back bad memories as Cashmore finished fourth in the medley in Beijing four years ago.

“Fourth is the worst place. I came there in Beijing and didn’t want to replay that again,” said Cashmore.

Cashmore was second at the final turn after a storming breaststroke leg, however was she reeled in by fellow Briton Louise Watkin and overtaken to finish fourth.

She clocked 2:38.08 minutes, as South African Natalie du Toit took gold ahead of GB’s Stephanie Millward.

Cashmore races in the 100m freestyle today and possibly also could swim the 4x100m medley relay. Worcester-born Melissa Nicholls spoke of her honour at competing against London 2012 poster girl Hannah Cockroft.

Nicholls could not match Great Britain’s latest track star as she stormed to the T34 200m gold medal in the Olympic Stadium last night, but she was full of pride at her own performance.

The 35-year-old finished seventh, in 40 seconds. Cockroft won in a Paralympic record of 31.90secs, and Nicholls said: “I feel on top of the world after that race. It was so amazing just to be in that final.

“To be able to share it with Hannah is the most amazing feeling of my life.”

Nicholls qualified sixth fastest with a time of 39.41secs.

“I’m pleased just to get to the final,” she said.

Former Worcester City goalkeeper Lewis Skyers was left to rue a familiar British football story as the five-a-side team lost their first classification match on penalties to China.

Skyers was thrust into the limelight after Dan English cancelled out Li Xiaoqiang’s opener late on. However, he couldn’t prevent the 1-1 draw in normal time becoming a 2-1 defeat on penalties.

“A British team lose on penalties again, it is afamiliar story,” said Skyers. “The guys gave everything and China are the silver medalists from Beijing 2008.”

Lloyds TSB, proud supporter of ParalympicsGB and proud partner of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Get closer to the Games at lloydstsb.com/london2012.