Derby athletes triumph at 2018 Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth medallists with Derby Arena, Derby Active and Commonwealth Games logo

Tue 17 Apr 2018

Derby Arena athletes have achieved unprecedented success alongside City of Derby swimmers at this year’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Several gold, silver and bronze medals have been won, and Team England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have all benefited from the achievements of Derbyshire athletes.

Derby Arena based rider, and part of Team KGF, Charlie Tanfield performed outstandingly at this year’s Commonwealth Games winning a gold in the Individual Pursuit. This win came just one day after winning a silver medal as part of Team England, in the Team Pursuit. Charlie’s brother Harry Tanfield, who also trains at Derby Arena, followed in his brother’s footsteps as he won silver in the Individual Time Trial road race. Jonathan Wale, of Team KGF competed in the track Time Trial and came in 5th, riding for Team Scotland. Wale’s KGF teammates Ethan Vernon and Dan Bigham also rode in the Time Trial, representing Wales and England, and coming in at number 16 and 15, respectively.

Off the track and the road, Derby athletes have seen great success during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In the pool City of Derby swimmer Sarah Vasey won a gold medal in the 50m breaststroke. Three silver medals were scooped up for Derby in the pool, with Abbie Wood in the 400m Freestyle, Lewis White gaining silver in the S9 100m and Molly Renshaw swimming to success in the 200m breaststroke.  Adam Peaty, who formerly trained with City of Derby swimming club, gained both a gold in the 100m breaststroke and silver in the 50m breaststroke. Derby Active is proud to have been able to support these athletes on their journey to the top through the provision of swimming and training facilities in the city.

Athletes from across Derby and Derbyshire had great success in the Games in many other sports. In the ring Derby boxer Sandy Ryan won gold in the light middleweight category at her first Commonwealth Games. Liam Pitchford, of Chesterfield, won gold in the Table Tennis with partner Paul Drinkhall. Uttoxeter athelete Lizzie Tench came in fifth in PTWC Triathalon. Frazer Clarke, from Burton on Trent, won gold in the super heavyweight. Annie Last, from Bakewell, achieved gold in the cross country mountain biking. Cameron Orr, who rode for Northern Ireland, came in eighth in the men’s cross country mountain biking. Niamh Emerson, from Shirland, won bronze in heptathlon, in her first outing at a major event.

We are proud to see such a large number of athletes from Derby and Derbyshire competing at such a high level, on the international stage. We are proud of the success that our sporting facilities across the city have been able to support and we are keen to continue to encourage the people of Derby and beyond to use these facilities, looking forward to the opening of the ambitious new swimming pool complex. Find out more about Derby Active's facilities here.