By David Falcke

AN athlete training for the 2012 Paralympics crossed the line first to win the Army Cycling Road Race Championship ’09 held at Upavon.

Russell White, who is the current National Disabled Road Race and Pursuit Champion, was a civilian competitor, in a field of around 40 who competed for the title.

Russell, 35, an IT consultant, who has only recently finished working for the MoD at St. Athan, South Wales, lost his arm in a motorcycle accident some years ago.

He has been cycling for some 15 years but has been taking it more seriously for the last two. “I was actually meant to be supporting my team-mate John to help him win the Army Cycling Road Race Championship Race,” said Russell.

“I was trying to break-up the leading pack down to five or six riders and, in the end, I had the legs to cross the line first. I compete mainly against able-bodied riders and this race and others are part of my build-up to the Paralympics in London 2012.”

The championship was open to serving soldiers, sailors and airman, TA, MoD-employed civil servants and contractors, but only Army personnel were able to claim the Army prizes, with all the rest competing for the guest awards. So, despite Russell crossing the line first, Captain Dave Walker a Regular Adjutant with 156 Transport Regiment (Volunteers) Llantwit Major, South Wales, took the Army title in the Championship Race.