One month to York hosting region’s Paralympic Flame

A gold medal-winning disabled York climber will be among City of York Council’s welcoming party which will divide Yorkshire’s Paralympic Flame for the region’s five events at York on 24 August.

The York High School pupil earned the highest number of nominations to carry York’s Paralympic Flame. Sianagh, from Acomb, learned to climb at Energise Leisure Centre where she’s just completed a fortnight’s work experience.

Sianagh said: “I cannot believe I’ve got gold again: that’s two gold and a silver this year and it feels amazing. My ultimate goal is to compete at Paralympic level, so that’s where I’m aiming!” Meanwhile she hopes to do well in the 2013 Parclimbing Series and be selected for the world championships.

The Paralympic Flame for Yorkshire and Humber will be lit at Trafalgar Square that morning before being taken by train to York Station. It will be carried to the lawn of the Royal York Hotel where it will be split into five.

The flames will be taken by local representatives to Leeds, Sheffield, Huddersfield and Beverley, while York’s will be paraded proudly through the city on an open topped bus. Travelling via the Minster and Bootham, it will join an escort of accessible bikes at Front Street, Acomb before arriving at Energise Leisure Centre at about 3.15pm.

There the flame will shine at City of York Council’s annual and Inspire-Marked Celebrating Ability Day which showcases the physical activity and sport opportunities delivered across the city for disabled people of all ages who may have a physical, sensory or learning disability.

Paraclimbing is among the activities on offer at Celebrating Ability Day and is the sport in which Sianagh Gallagher, aged 15, has just secured a gold medal in the National Paraclimbing Series 2012 in London on 15 July, competing in the upper and lower limb category.