Points race. Photos thanks to Jeff Baird
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Go anywhere else on Saturday and it appeared to be raining, but not at Welwyn, which was bright and breezy, especially down the back straight. 17 starters lined up for the 5 event Omnium, with the 500m TT first up and always an interesting gauge of how the event is going to un-fold. Especially so, with this the first event of the year and with a number of new and younger riders coming up the age ranks, while other riders are maturing and developing their bunch riding and sprint skills.
The 500TT was a very close affair with last year's series champion Janet Birkmyre (Planet X-SheCycles.com) setting the fastest time of 39.32 closely followed by under 16 rider Laura Trott (Welwyn Wheelers), who showed that she is getting faster and stronger every year as she ride 39.39. Both these riders were unlucky to have drawn the back straight to start on which meant they had to start into the breeze and finish into it too, and this suggested that they could both have gone faster with a tailwind start. Helen Scott (Halesowen) and Siobhan Mullen (Team Chance) were 3rd and 4th, a second back.
Scratch race
The first bunch race, 16 lap Scratch , is always a little tentative with riders trying to break up the pack, whilst others are conserving their energy for the sprint. Jeannette Caldicott (nee Tebbutt) (Luciano) who recently returned to the track to give it a bit of a whirl, and get some speed into her legs, was the first to attack and opened up 60 metre lead but this was soon nullified by the main contenders, who were keeping close eyes on any breaks. With Trott, Birkmyre, Scott and Mullan all riding in the first half dozen spots, it was Birkmyre who was consistently chasing down the small attacks only to have everyone sit on her wheel as she swung up. The price of success was that the pace slowed every time this happened.
Finally, with two laps to go, Cheryl Owens (Planet X-SheCycles) hammered off the front, followed by Birkmyre. The rest of the bunch were quick to see the move and it was immediately brought back. At the bell Corinne Hall (VCL) moved to the front, put in a big turn, but just as she swung up she punctured and had to cruise over the line. This left Helen Scott on the front and she dug in for the sprint, but was passed by Birkmyre in the home straight. Gabby Coates (Evans) held her position for 3rd.
Pursuit race
The 4 lap Pursuit has long been the event where the sprinters lose ground to the endurance riders and it was Corinne Hall, who set the fastest time of 2min 36secs from Siobhan Mullan with 2m38.22s. 3rd by less than half a second was Janet Birkmyre, who showed that she had done some serious winter miles to improve her endurance legs and 4th was Laura Trott with 2.38.78.
Sprint Final. Photos thanks to Jeff Baird
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Sprint race
So coming into the Sprint competition it was Planet X-SheCycles.com's Janet Birkmyre who led the event and she would extend this lead by going through the qualifying, semi's and final unbeaten.
Her nearest rivals; Scott, Trott and Mullan, all made the semi's but it was under 16 rider Laura Trott who won through to the final, after beating Siobhan Mullan. The second semi-final, with Scott up against Birkmyre was a very close finish, with Birkmyre leading out at the 200 metre mark and just holding off the charging Scott by a ¼ of a wheel. In the final, it was Birkmyre who came from behind and accelerated over the top of Trott, to win comfortably.
Points race
With the weather holding off just long enough for the final event, the Points race, it was always going to be a closely fought competition as Birkmyre, who needed to finish in the top 7 to win, had to keep a close eye on her rivals but still score enough points to maintain her lead.
Helen Scott and Siobhan Mullan both scored early points, with Laura Trott also scoring good points. Janet Birkmyre chimed in with a win in the 4th sprint and several second and third places, enough to secure equal points to Scott, but as Scott placed higher on the final sprint she took second place overall, while the race win went to Trott.
All of the sprints were tightly contested, with the only real break away coming from previous Omnium Series champion, Jo Tindley, (BC Development Squad) who blasted off the front with four to go. The top contenders were not interested in chasing and she was never caught.
The 3rd place in the points race gave Birkmyre the overall Omnium win. However, Trott's points race win and Scott's second place put them on equal Omnium points. In the event of a tie, it is the result of the points race that decides the placings and so Trott's win secured her second place over all.
The next Omnium is in Cardiff on Saturday 16th June. We look forward to more close racing and excitement.
Results
- 1 Janet Birkmyre Planet X
- 2 Laura Trott VC Londres
- 3 Helen Scott Halesowen C & AC
- 4 Siobhan Mullan Team Chance
- 5 Corrine Hall VC Londres
- 6 Jo Tindley BC Devpt Squad
- 7 Gabriella Coates Evans Cycles
- 8 Jessica Booth Halesowen C& AC
- 9 Jeanette Caldicott Team Luciano
- 10 Rohan Battison Agiskoviner
- 11 Jaqueline Garner Team Luciano
- 12 Cheryl Owen Sportscover - Planet X
- 13 Emma Patterson Agiskoviner
- 14 Sophie Terry VC Londres
- 15 Jo-Anne Hamon Agiskoviner
- 16 Hannah Mayhew Agiskoviner
iain johnson
