Test yourself in a wheels fast Race on Rollers race

HERE’S a rare chance for able-bodied locals to try out a racing wheelchair in a 60 metre sprint at Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope on Monday, January 16.

Exciting wheelchair races will be back at Blacktown International Sportspark. Picture: Serena Corporate Photography

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HERE’S a rare chance for able-bodied locals to try out a racing wheelchair in a 60 metre sprint at Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope on Monday, January 16.

The Race on Rollers event, organised by Wheelchair Sports NSW, is one of the fun events in the 2017 GIO Summer Down Under series being held at Blacktown International Sports Park and Sydney.

Spokeswoman for WSNSW Kathleen Nicholls said though the Race on Rollers sprint is just 60 seconds, it is not as easy as it seems.

Preparations for the Race on Rollers event. Picture: Serena Corporate Photography

“The 60 seconds is the longest minute you will have but it is fun,” Ms Nicholls said.

“Participants will be told how to use the racing wheelchairs and be gloved up for the start.

“This is the first time we are doing it at Stanhope Gardens because we have just secured a partnership with Blacktown Council but have held it at other venues, including Bondi last week.”

Thrilling action from the Summer Down Under 2016 at Blacktown International Sports Park. Picture: Serena Corporate Photography

The wheelchair athletes will be joined on the track by Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali, and players from GWS Giants, Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney Blue Sox who will all have a go at former NRL star Beau Ryan’s distance of 290m in 60 seconds.

The summer series also includes the exciting twilight racing at Blacktown International

Sportspark Athletics Centre on Tuesday, January 24, from 5.30pm.

Ms Nicholls said the series prepares participants for world championships and will feature sprints, relays and fun events including last man standing, where the winner who outlasts the rest over many laps, wins.

There will be cash prizes up for grabs in the skins event.

Meanwhile, top Australian and international Paralympians and wheelchair athletes, including Kurt Fearnley, will take part in a 10m track event on Australia Day at The Rocks.

At least 10 nations are set to compete in the open fields alongside a host of Australian champions who also provide the inspiration to the juniors.

Under 18’s Julie Charlton and Cormac Ryan are just a few of the young guns making their mark

on the Oz Day 10K track, taking on junior world number two and Australian Paralympian Rheed McCracken.

Kurt Fearnley. Picture: Richard Gosling

Julie Charlton. Picture: Peter Kelly

Several free events are open to the public in January, offering the rare chance for an up-close-and-personal look at the immense skill, strength and determination of these incredible athletes.

CEO of Wheelchair Sports NSW, Jim O’Brien, welcomed the top Australian and international athletes to the GIO Oz Day 10K, marking the first major event since the Paralympics concluded in September.

“The GIO Oz Day 10K truly is an exhilarating race and a significant international event for Wheelchair Sports NSW,’ O’Brien said.

“Aside from the race, it’s an opportunity for our younger racers to meet and train with renowned athletes that can inspire and mentor them to be the best they can be.”

The GIO Summer Down Under series takes place from January 19 — 27 and

includes the following free events:

■ Race on Rollers: January 16, 10am — 1pm at Blacktown Leisure Centre

Stanhope

■ Canberra International Track Meet — Two evenings of racing at the Australian

Institute of Sport Track on Friday 20 & Saturday 21 January 2017 from 5:30pm

■ Sydney Twilight Track Meet — Twilight racing at Blacktown International

Sportspark Athletics Centre on Tuesday 24 January from 5.30pm.

■ GIO Oz Day 10K — Road racing through Sydney’s The Rocks January 26, from 8am. The race will be broadcast live on Sky News.

■ Details: wsnsw.org.au/sports/summer-down-under