Lothersdale archer Danielle Brown wins second Paralympic gold (From Craven Herald)

Lothersdale archer Danielle Brown wins second Paralympic gold

10:19am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News

Tributes have been paid to Lothersdale’s golden girl, Danielle Brown, who successfully defended her Paralympic archery title in a tense final in the women’s individual compound competition on Tuesday.

Danielle, 24, secured a gold medal after beating her teammate, Mel Clarke, in a nail-biting match that went down to the last arrow at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

Danielle also won gold in the Paralympic Games in Beijing four years ago.

“I’ve been really feeling it [the pressure] the last couple of weeks, so to actually come here and manage to keep my head in the right place, I’m chuffed to bits about that,” Danielle said, after receiving her second gold medal.

“It’s been crazy. I didn’t think it would have affected me the way it has. My whole family and friends were out there watching me. It was just incredible – I was shaking so much.”

Andy Hodge, Hebden ’s Olympic rower who has also secured a double gold, paid tribute to Danielle.

“We now have another golden postbox for Craven,” said Andy, who like, Danielle, is a former pupil at South Craven School. “It’s a great thing for the school, which has been investing in sport over the last year with its new hall.

“The more people from North Yorkshire that come home with gold medals will inspire future generations to go on and win more gold medals for the Dales.”

He also said that winning on home soil was a special achievement.

“In Beijing, you’re blissfully unaware of it all and you’re able to get on with your job,” he said. “But being at home in front of the home crowd, you feel a huge weight on your shoulders.

It’s significantly more daunting, but with great support you can go home with a smile on your face and your head held high, no matter the result.”

Danielle is a former pupil at Lothersdale Primary School and the current headteacher, Jo Robinson, also praised Danielle.

“As a school, we’re absolutely thrilled she got a gold meal,” said Mrs Robinson. “The children had been desperate to know whether Lothersdale would get a golden postbox.”

In fact, to mark her achievement, the Royal Mail has painted the postbox in Swadford Street, Skipton. It has also produced a special stamp showing Danielle in action.

The school also had the opportunity to be a part of a Danielle’s gold medal-winning performance on the day.

Channel 4’s cameras came to the school and broadcast three live interviews on Tuesday morning.

“In the first one, they interviewed Dani’s family, and the children were there waving banners of support,” said Mrs Robinson. “The children were fantastic and really got into the spirit of things.
“For the second one, they came into the classroom and interviewed our teaching assistant, Katya Horsfield, who used to be Danielle’s neighbour.”
“They also interviewed Duncan Adamson (a 10-year-old year six pupil) who remembered Dani coming into school four years ago with her first gold medal. He also told them he was rooting for her to get a gold medal this time.

“We’re just delighted to be a part of her special day.”

Mrs Robinson added that the school had been involved in other filming in the run-up to the Paralympic Games.

“They’ve been discussing what they understand about disabilities and what it means to be a Paralympian, which is very important for children.”