Trio still hold Paralympic dream

Great Southern trio Jamie Dunross, Frank Gaudin and Rob Cridge have not given up their hopes of qualifying for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro despite finishing outside the top 10 at the recent 2014 International Federation of Disabled Sailors Sonar World Championship in Canada.

Dunross, who lives in Walpole, teamed with Katanning's Gaudin and Albany resident Cridge to compete in the IFDS World Championship last month.

The Great Southern combination finished 12th overall out of the 18 teams in the sonar division, which was reduced from 11 races to seven.

Cridge said four of the scheduled races had to be cancelled because there was no wind, hampering the team's chances of climbing up the standings.

"We only got seven races in because of the wind," he said.

"If we had a few more races, things might have been a bit different, but it is what it is.

"The top seven qualified, Australia as the country has qualified, but the (team) spot is still up for grabs."

Cridge said the team has set their sights on the next world championships in Melbourne in December, 2015.

"Our goal then is to finish the other Australian team off there," he said. "They name the team for the Paralympics after Melbourne."

After their strong performance competing together for the first time, which included a best finish of sixth in their fifth race, Cridge said the team would continue to chase their dream.

"We had a really good showing," he said. "We are hoping to see if we can become part of the Australian development squad, but our next goal is to fundraise and get a boat down here.

"We will train at the Royal Perth Sailing Club and use their sonar for the time being and try and get as much time in the water as possible."