January 18, 2011 (Vuokatti, Finland) – Canada’s Jody Barber won the bronze medal in a women’s IPC cross-country skiing World Cup pursuit competition on Tuesday in Vuokatti, Finland. Barber, of Smithers, B.C., was solid all day on the 2.5-kilometre pursuit course where she finished the two-heat race in a combined time of 21 minutes, nine seconds. Athletes race a qualifying round and then begin the final heat starting time behind the qualification leader.

“Jody had a great day and was thrilled with her performance,” said Kaspar Wirz, Cross Country Canada. “She felt really good on her skis and will build a lot of confidence from this race for tomorrow’s biathlon competition.”

Barber is no stranger to international sport competition. The 2010 Paralympian also competed for Canada at the 2010 Para-Triathlon World Championships in Budapest, Hungary where she won a bronze medal.

Barber was joined on the women’s podium by Anna Burmistrova, of Russia, who took top spot with a time of 20:02.7. Japan’s Shoka Ota, grabbed the silver after finishing 25.18 seconds off the pace.

Mark Arendz, of Springton, P.E.I., was the only other Canadian to hit the start line. Springton, who also made his Paralympic debut in 2010, finished snagged a spot in the top-10 after finishing ninth, 3:05.27 back of the golden time set by Japan’s Yoshihiro Nitta (37:36.06).

The IPC World Cup continues on Wednesday in Finland with the opening biathlon competitions of the 2011 season.