Birkmyre wins ahead of Scott. Photo: David Jack
|
With 21 women entered and most contesting a number of titles, it was always going to be a long day, but the late start (5.30pm) forced on promoter Alex Wharton by the track management, meant that only four of the six titles had been decided by just gone 10pm and time to call it a night.
The good news is that the remaining titles, Scratch and Points, will be run as part of the second round of the National Track Omnium series, due to be held at Cardiff on 16th June.
SPRINT - The Coronation Trophy
Racing got underway with the sprint competition. A 200m flying time trial was used to seed riders for the heats that followed, a procedure that is normally only observed at the national championships and international competition and a great opportunity for riders to experience a real, stand alone sprint competition in preparation for the BC national championships in October.
The fastest qualifier was Helen Scott of Halesowen, followed by Janet Birkmyre (Planet X-SheCycles.com) and Katie Curtis (Global).
The seeding meant that the three fastest qualifiers went into different heats and each won through to the final.
The final was a 3 up match sprint over 500m and saw a close and cagey start. Janet Birkmyre chose to take the front, while Helen Scott and Katie Curtis used the banking to full effect and tested everyone's observations skills. Just before the 200m mark, Birkmyre was the first to jump, Scott saw the move and went with her, getting onto her wheel and then pulling out to try and pass in the home straight, whilst Curtis missed the move and settled for third. Scott fought hard and closed to within a wheel but Birkmyre kept the power on all the way to the line to win this trophy for the second time.
Winner of the minor final for 4th place onwards was Siobhan Mullen from Team Chance, who led out to win by several bike lengths.
Result:
Gold: Janet Birkmyre, Planet X-SheCycles.com
Silver: Helen Scott, Halesowen
Bronze: Katie Curtis, Global
500TT - Fred Fisher - Dulcie Walker Plate
The second event was another sprint event, a one lap time trial with a standing start.
Again it was Janet Birkmyre (Planet X-SheCycles.com), bronze medallist at the last BC National Champs and reigning Masters World Champion and 40 plus World 500m TT record holder who blasted off the line and powered round to record 35.55s, taking the title from Helen Scott by just over a second with Siobhan Mullen third.
Result:
Janet Birkmyre, Planet X-SheCycles.com 35.55 seconds
Helen Scott, Halesowen 36.52
Siobhan Mullen, Team Chance 36.91
Pursuit
The 4 lap pursuit was run under flood lights, as the night closed in. There were four start stations to help keep the programme moving and the winner was National Masters and World Masters champion, Siobhan Mullen (Team Chance) from sprinter Helen Scott (Halesowen), who secured her third medal of the championships. Katie Curtis (Global) had to settle for bronze again.
Result:
Siobhan Mullen, Team Chance
Helen Scott, Halesowen
Katie Curtis, Global
Sprint final gets going. Photo: David Jack
|
DERNY PACED
The final event was another endurance event and for the first time in years there were so many entries that two heats were required to qualify six riders for the final.
The event is a mix of pure endurance ability and the skill of following a derny paced bike as closely as possible, so as to minimise the energy expended in going as fast as possible. The communication between driver and rider is also very key to the performance, as those who have raced behind a motor bike know, once you blow there is no coming back!
Heat 1 results
Lara Wann, VCL
Katie Colclough, Fat Birds
Joanne McRae, Avanti
Heat 2 results
Katie Curtis, Global
Alex Greenfield, Pinarello
Siobhan Mullan, Team Chance
The final was the last event of the night, finishing just after 10pm. Katie Curtis (Global) was a worthy winner blasting round to lap most of the field. She is no stranger to following a derny on a track as it is a vital training exercise for the BC track squad, and she showed the form that gave her a top 10 place in the Scratch Race at the World Championships last year.
Result:
:Gold: Katie Curtis, Global
Silver: Katie Colclough, Fat Birds
Bronze: Alex Greenfield, Pinarello
To be continued on June 16th …..
Pootle 
