Paralympics: New Zealand eclipse Beijing medal tally

Silver medalists Phillipa Gray and Laura Thompson. Photo / Getty Images

Southland tandem cyclists Philippa Gray and Laura Thompson were as surprised as anyone to learn they now own the full set of Paralympic medals, claiming silver in the individual B time trial overnight (NZT), and it now means New Zealand has eclipsed the number of medals won at Beijing four years ago.

The pair switched from the velodrome to pound the pavement at Brands Hatch raceway and finished the 24km race in a time of 35 minutes 7.68 seconds - just 0.5 seconds behind the crew from the Netherlands who grabbed gold. The time trial has been the main focus for the Dutch who did not challenge any events on the track.

Gray explained that they had been focusing so heavily on their track events that they had completed only eight rides on the road together prior to coming to the London Paralympic Games.

"It was nasty," she said. "This hasn't been an event we've trained for, and it's a bit of a bonus."

The silver added to the gold and bronze the pair won at the Velodrome in the individual B pursuit and B 1km time trial earlier in the Games and takes New Zealand's tally to 13, beating the 12 won in Beijing four years ago.

New Zealand sit 21st on the medal tally, well behind runaway leaders China who have 158 medals, and have targeted 18 from the London Games.

Taranaki's Nathan Smith, brother of All Blacks centre Conrad Smith, found the going a "little lumpy" on the Brands Hatch motor circuit during his C3 individual time trial, finishing 11th of the 14 riders.

Smith, who is a leg amputee, struggled to maintain his momentum up the steeper parts of the course and lost time without the ability to rise out of his saddle.

"On a flatter track I'm a real contender but here, with these hills, I just couldn't get out of the saddle to keep it going," he said.

Smith's final chance of a medal in London is in the men's road race tonight (NZT) but he admitted he might need to make a move early because he wouldn't be able to compete with the sprinters if it's a bunch finish.

Northland's Fiona Southorn finished fifth in the women's individual C5 time trial in a time of 26 minutes on the 16km course.

Southorn's maintained an average speed of 36.90km/h throughout the race and she felt couldn't have gone any better.

"I'm stuffed. I had a great ride and couldn't have given any more. My gear changes were spot-on and my corners were good, and even my hill climbs were spot-on."

Southorn will also compete in tonight's road race but admitted her focus had been on the velodrome and the time trial, so joked, "I'd be lost, I think, if you find me up on the dais."

Sue Reid made her first appearance at the London games in the H3 time trial, finishing nearly two minutes off the podium in fourth. Chris Ross finished 12th in his C5 time trial.

The struggles continued for New Zealand's sailors in Weymouth, with Paul Francis 14th and 10th in the 2.4R and Tim Dempsey and Jan Apel ninth and 10th in their two races in the SKUD18 two-person keelboat.