PRIDE of place in the Irish camp at the Paralympics yesterday went to Mairead Berry, Tom Leahy and Joan Salmon, who won two silver medals and a bronze medal respectively to bring Ireland's haul at the games to one gold, three silver and five bronze.
Blind equestrienne Salmon followed a highly commendable fourth in an earlier class with her medal in the Kur - a high level freestyle dressage class. Dressage is the most technically demanding test in the equine industry. World record holder Berry had the gold medal and her record snatched from her by a Mexican in the 50 metre freestyle cerebral palsy final, despite breaking her old record in 1:03.98.
Leahy was already assured of at least a silver in the Boccia singles final (a sport similar to bowls). But, he found one too good for him in the shape of a Japanese woman in this competition open to both sexes.
Ronan Rooney came through his first round table tennis encounter with Austrian Rudolph Hajek. This was a particularly welcome fillip for Rooney as he had lost twice to the same man this week in different events.
Scottish sprinter Stephen Payton won the 200 metres T37 category, completing a 100 metre, 200 metre and 400 metre hat trick.
