Day 3 - National Senior Track Championships - Evening

Navigation:

BC on Facebook BC on Twitter

Day 3 - National Senior Track Championships

Words: Eddie Allen | Photography: Luke Webber
22 October, 2009 | Full Results Men | Full Results Women
Return to Event Homepage | Morning Qualifying Session

EVENING SESSION

MEN'S PURSUIT FINALS

Geraint Thomas followed up his storming qualifying performance with another 4.18 ride to claim the National title with poise and authority, from Halfords Bikehut's Andy Tennant. The opening throes of the contest were close, with Tennant within a second of Thomas. However, moving into the latter half of the pursuit, Thomas turned the screw and slowly pulled away from his opponent and, for the last few laps, had the Bikehut rider in his sights on the straights. Thomas stopped the clock at 4.18.138, and almost identical time to his morning effort. Meanwhile Ben Swift took bronze in a tight contest with Stephen Burke.

1 Geraint Thomas BAR 4.18.418
2 Andy Tennant HAL 4.24.943

3 Ben Swift 4.29.138
4 Stephen Burke 4.31.527

5th-8th Final

Alex Dowsett narrowly beat his 100% Me teammate Andy Fenn to the top spot in the 5th to 8th pursuit final, in a thrilling contest where the pair were never more than a second apart.

1. Alex Dowsett %ME 4.34.091
2. Andy Fenn %ME 4.34.911
3. Adam Duggleby SRE 4.40.671
4. Andrew Magnier PLX 4.43.712

MEN'S SPRINT

Finals

Chris Hoy took the National Sprint title from 2008 champion Matt Crampton in two straight matches. It was a real battle of the big guns in the final, with both riders capable of cranking it up early and holding an excruciating pace. This they did, but Hoy was confident enough to take it from the front and was never troubled, collecting the title and setting himself up perfectly for the Track World Cup coming up soon.

Kenny took bronze, once again in ‘straight sets' from Ross Edgar, while Team Terminator's John Paul claimed the Open B title with a 2-0 win over City of Edinburgh's Kevin Stewart.

Result

1 Chris Hoy SKY
2 Matt Crampton SIS
3 Jason Kenny SKY
4 Ross Edgar SKY

Semi Finals

Chris Hoy beat Ross Edgar 2-0 to progress to the final. Chris has been composed and in charge throughout the day, and looking in supreme form ahead of the upcoming Track World Cup. In the second semi final it was almost disaster for Jason Kenny, forced onto the apron by rival Crampton, narrowly missing a photographer. However, Kenny had the last word, taking the semi to a decider. In the decider, Kenny led out the sprint at the bell, but Crampton had too much straight line speed and overtook Kenny on the backstraight to take the place in the final and with it a chance to defend his National Champion's jersey.

In the Open B Semi, John Paul beat Rhydian Page 2-0 to confidently qualify for the Open B Final. It was a similar story in the other Open B semi, with Kevin Stuart beating Cardiff's Michael Partridge in a straight 2-0.

Result - Open

Chris Hoy beat Ross Edgar 2-0

Matt Crampton beat Jason Kenny 2-1

Result - Open B

John Paul beat Rhydian Page 2-0

Kevin Stuart beat Michael Partridge 2-0

WOMEN'S SCRATCH

Lizzie Armitstead claimed the National Champs jersey in trademark style with a commanding and controlling performance. All was quiet until half distance when Lizzie attacked. Dani King and Alex Greenfield read the move and went with her. However the move was short-lived and the main field reeled in the escapees. Eileen Roe then attacked alone with 29 laps to go but gave up after 2 laps. The sporadic attacks continued with Sarah Reynolds and Janet Birkmyre going clear for a few laps before falling back into the pack.

With the laps ticking away the race settled down, with no-one prepared to show their hand. Then Armitstead attacked at 8 laps to go and strung the field out. However, she couldn't break the bungee and counter attacks followed. However it all came together again momentarily before an injection of pace with around 3 laps to go. Armitstead kept her head and sat three riders back, ideally placed to pounce. On the bell she did just that, timing her move to perfection and claiming the top step on the podium.