PHOTOS: Gaylord Hospital’s Para-Triatheletes Compete in Madison – Part One

Posted Sep 09, 2012

Photos by Mara Lavitt
The Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Sports Association in partnership with the Greater Hartford YMCA fielded its first para-triathalete team to compete in the Dave Parcells Madison Triathalon at the Surf Club in Madison. The team athletes all had some form of physical disability, which can include vision impairment. The athletes all hit the course with volunteer guides who partner them throughout the race. Today the water was too choppy so the triathalon ended up being a duathalon. More photos are in Part Two here: http://tinyurl.com/8kt9dll

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Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Sports Association in partnership with the Greater Hartford YMCA fielded its first para-triathalete team to compete in the Dave Parcells Madison Triathalon at the Surf Club. The team athletes all had some form of physical disability (which includes vision impairment). Left to right: David Alejandro of Naugatuck with guide Tom Hislop of Newtown, guide Sue Grigely of Simsbury with Tom Branchaud of West Simsbury, John Redfield of Manchester and guide Derek Munn of Newton, MA. The guides are all volunteers. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12
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Scott MacDonald of North Haven on a hand cycle is wheeled into position with the rest of the team for a group photo. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12
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Guide Kathie Wynkoop of Plainville helps strap Christopher Nunez of Hartford into his push chair for the last run section of the race. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12
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It's a pit crew consisting of volunteers Stacia Cardillo of Southington, Fred Bautista of Simsbury, and Patrick Reddy of Bristol transfer Tom Branchaud of West Simsbury from his racing chair to a hand cycle. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12
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John Redfield of Manchester stretches before the first run portion of the race. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12
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Guide Sue Grigely of Simsbury watches as Tom Branchaud of West Simsbury gets a send off from Stacia Cardillo of the Wheeler Regional Family YMCA before the start of the race. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12
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Tom Branchaud of West Simsbury in the wheelchair and John Redfield of Manchester set off at the start of the race. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12
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Tony Allegretti of New Milford in the hand cycle gets the chip strapped on his wrist by John Redfield of Manchester as they transition from the run (John) to the bike sections of the race. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12
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Erin Spaulding of Branford who had a head, neck and shoulder injury over two years ago gets congratulated by Stacia Cardillo of Southington, of the Wheeler Regional Family YMCA after Erin completed the bike portion of the race. Mara Lavitt/New Haven Register 9/8/12