Ryan Owens wins sprint crown at HSBC UK | National Track Championships

Ryan Owens wins sprint crown at HSBC UK | National Track Championships

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Published
28 January 2017

Ryan Owens was crowned British sprint champion as ten titles were awarded on day two of the HSBC UK | National Track Championships in Manchester.  

It was a first British senior title for Owens as he defeated Joe Truman 2-1 in the final of the men’s individual sprint competition.

Owens v Truman

Owens and Truman were a class apart all day and seemed destined to meet in the final. Owens took the first leg, but Truman levelled things up in the second heat to take things to a decider.

Truman went early in final heat leaving Owens with work to do, but he kept his cool and pipped his team sprint teammate on the line.

Owens said: “It’s amazing, it’s been a long wait. As a kid I think the closest I came was third. It’s an absolute dream come true.

“Every race we go to we (Owens and Truman) seem to end up racing each other but they’re both great friends of mine so it was really nice to stand on the podium with them.”

Owens will now turn his attentions to adding a team sprint title to his CV alongside Jack Carlin and Joe Truman.

“I love the team sprint, and I’ve been looking forward to that one for a while. Teaming up with Jack and Joe tomorrow so we’ll see what we can do.”

Second title for Bigham

Earlier in the evening Daniel Bigham added the kilo title to the individual pursuit crown he won on day one.

Bigham’s time of 1.03.212 proved to be untouchable, with Thomas Rotherham and Jonathan Mitchell coming second and third.

Bigham has been the big surprise on the opening two days of competition, his achievement all the more notable given the fact he has now won titles in sprint and endurance events.

Speaking afterwards, he said: “Ecstatic. Huge PB, nine-tenths off my PB. That’s my third ever kilo in history. So it was pretty wicked to go and do that. I’m elated.”

Two more medals for Archibald

Olympic champion Katie Archibald also enjoyed an outstanding evening winning the scratch race and picking up a surprise silver medal in the keirin behind winner Sophie Capewell, to take her medal tally for the weekend to three.

Archibald said: "That was agony! A long sprint with Elinor at the end and you get into a state where your legs aren't really connected to your body they're just going - I was glad to get it on the line.

"All those Breeze riders, you almost lose track because there's all this red just going on the attack - really aggressive racing.”

The keirin victory was a first senior title for Sophie Capewell, who added: “I love keirin racing because anyone can win. There are so many different variables, it’s just amazing which adds to the joy afterwards. I was nervous but I just really wanted to win. I don’t think I’ve ever tried so hard.”

It was an all-female podium in the final of the para-cycling pursuit BVI as Sophie Thornhill and Corrine Hall picked up their second national title of the weekend. Their factored time of 4:13.110 was enough to see off a strong challenge from Lora Fachie and Hazel Smith. Alison Patrick and Helen Scott completed the podium.

Thornhill said: “We came into nationals not knowing what we were capable of at all. We saw it as a checkpoint towards worlds so to come away with the wins today and yesterday makes me incredibly happy.”

Para-cycling titles

It was a clean sweep for Para-T in the para-cycling C1-5 pursuit final as Paralympic and world champion, Megan Giglia won the first British title of her career. Her time of 4:34.356 was enough to pip Louis Rolfe into second place with Jon Gildea posting an impressive time of 4:35.667 to take third. 

Giglia was delighted to win her first national crown: “I didn’t know whether I was going to perform because I had an accident five or six days ago but I managed to pull it out the bag. It’s great to be a national champion in both track and road.”

There was also a second national crown of the weekend for 15 year old Lauren Booth who won the para-cycling C1-5 200m flying lap, with Aileen McGlynn and pilot Louise Haston winning the tandem competition.

Booth said: “It’s been amazing. I’m only 15 and they’re all a lot older than me, my school’s going to be very proud. As soon as I come back on Monday they say “what did you come?” and I’ll take the jersey and the medals with me!”

Points race drama

Joe Nally won a points race of high drama, pipping Ethan Hayter on the line in a sprint finish, the double points on offer in the final sprint ensuring he beat Hayter by one point.

“I was trying to work out the maths but at that stage of the race you’ve got no idea what’s going on. It’s mad,” Hayter said.

Breeze take team pursuit gold

Team Breeze took gold in the women’s individual pursuit, the quartet made up of Ellie Dickinson, Manon Lloyd, Emily Nelson and Annasley Park, catching Lauren Dolan, Pfeiffer Georgi, Jessica Roberts and Emily Tillett from Liv CC.

Ellie Dickinson said; “I think we knew that we could catch them. From the qualifying we had the time on them, so we were just sticking to the plan and whatever happened would happen. “

Dame Sarah Storey was part of the Boot out Breast Cancer team that took third after catching Team 22A in the bronze medal ride off.

Results

Men's sprint

Women's keirin

Men's kilo

Para-cycling C1-5 pursuit

Para-cycling BVI pursuit

Para-cycling C1-5 flying 200m

Para-cycling BVI flying 200m

Women's scratch race

Men's points race

Women's team pursuit

Gallery

HSBC UK National Track Championships - day two

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