Birkmyre wins 500m TT
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A great field of 23 riders turned out for this round of the series, with many Juniors using it for fine tuning with the Junior National track champs only a week away, plus some Masters women taking the opportunity for some pursuiting competition prior to the World Masters Track champs in 5 weeks held at Manchester.
With only two rounds remaining prior to this event it required a big effort from Raleigh ERV's Siobhan Mullen and possibly VCL's Emma Trott to overhaul the huge lead that defending champion, Janet Birkmyre of Planet X, had over the chasers. VCL's Jo Tindley, who is also in the chasing pack, was away this weekend on other duties but still has a chance to improve her overall placings when the final round takes place at the Dudley International GP in Halesowen next weekend.
500m TT
As with all Omniums, the first event is the 500m TT. A great event for showing pure power out of the blocks, getting up to top speed, and then holding on till the end. With riders starting on both sides of the track, once they signalled ready by a marshal, a whistle was blown to warn them of the start gun which was fired a few seconds later. Most held their nerves and got away first time but, with no clear or obvious time gap between the two signals, some riders jumped the gun and had to re-start.
Of the first half dozen, a cracking time of 38.89 seconds from CC Cardiff's Sian Richardson riding in the second heat, lead the way right up to the final pairing of Birkmyre and Mullen. This heat had Siobhan Mullen in the back straight and Janet Birkmyre in the home straight and it seemed the nerves were showing, as it took them 3 starts to get cleanly out of the blocks. Both of these riders took national titles in their respective age categories at the Masters Track Nationals a few weeks ago, so we knew they would be going all out.
Birkmyre, known for her fast start, did just this, zooming around the first lap in a super fast 20 seconds and finishing in a yet to be confirmed 40 plus Women's Masters World Record time of 37.57. Mullen was not to be left behind and finished in the second fastest time of the day with 38.69 seconds and Richardson held on for third. Apart from the top three, only two other riders broke the 40 second barrier; VCL's Emma Trott rode 39.90 and Nationals Silver medalist from last year, Lorna Webb, who rode a 39.04.
Birkmyre takes win over Webb and Ball
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8km Scratch
With such a large field starting the scratch it was always going to be difficult for the main contenders to watch everyone and, sure enough, attacks from GS Strada's Laura Bissell and Lorna Webb, plus digs from Team Kuota-Luciano's Carrie Bedingfield had the bunch stretched to the limit. The speed stayed high throughout and with riders being spat out the back towards the latter part of the race, it made it easier for the bunch sprint specialists like Webb and Birkmyre, as well as CC Cardiff's Rachel Ball, to stay near the front, positioning themselves well for the final lap. At this point Carrie Bedingfield, who is more of an endurance athlete, leaped out of the pack, 400 metres to go and quickly gaining a 40 metre lead. She had the big guns hesitating for just an instance, before Janet Birkmyre launched first, her chase and then, going over the top of Bedingfield, put her head down in the back straight and had the power to stave off the fast finishing Webb by a wheel length. Rachel Ball followed the attacks but couldn't affect the outcome, so sat on and finished a comfortable 3rd place.
2000 metre Pursuit
Not everyone's favourite event, especially the sprinters, but vital for consolidating a good overall position (which is what the omnium is all about) and it was one of the countries best junior pursuiters, Emma Trott of VCL, who showed that she is closing on some great form for the Junior Nationals, by winning this pursuit (time 2.37.22), closely followed by Laura Bissell (2.37.69) with a surprising third place by 500 TT winner, Planet X's Janet Birkmyre (2.42.65). Janet's closest rival for the Omnium prior to this point was Siobhan Mullen, who kept the pressure on by finishing fourth, with Lorna Webb also keeping her chances alive with a 5th place.
At this stage, with three events completed, it was Janet Birkmyre leading with 5 points, from Emma Trott on 10 points with Siobhan Mullen and Lorna Webb Equal 3rd with 11 points.
Webb makes a break in the Scratch race
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Sprint Competition
Unlike the Senior Nationals, this sprint competition starts off with heats of either 4 or 5 riders, depending on how many are signed on, no flying 200 metre qualifying here. And these heats are seeded based upon the riders position at this stage of the Omnium, with the winners of the 4 heats going through to match sprint style semi finals.
The first heats produced no major surprises with the top 4 going through to the semi's. Birkmyre up against Webb with Mullen versus Trott.
The first semi-final, Birkmyre vs Webb, was somewhat of a grudge match. Webb had beaten Birkmyre at the National Champs last year in the best of three semi-finals by 2-1, with Birkmyre taking first blood there but succumbing to Webb's experience; a year of full time training/funding/coaching at Manchester under BC's top sprint coach Shane Sutton. This Semi started slowly, with Webb drawing the lead. Birkmyre chose to ride nearly side by side and Webb used this to her advantage, moving her opponent up and down the track, some bumping of handlebars and shoulders to show she knew what she was doing, but Birkmyre chose not to be intimidated, slowing slightly and cutting underneath Webb. Webb dropped like a stone and closed the door, in a typical sprinter like fashion. Birkmyre not wanting to be brought down, held back just enough to let there be no contact, but then had to chase as Webb opened up her legs and powered down the back straight. Birkmyre gave chase and with 100 metres looked like she wouldn't get close but she was just picking up speed. Even from our vantage point, at the 50 metre line, it looked like Webb would hold on but the determination that won two World Masters titles last year showed in Birkmyre's face and she kept powering all the way to the line and in a final lunge, won by just over a tyre width. Webb acknowledged this to Birkmyre immediately, but it was an agonising wait of 15 minutes for confirmation from the finish line camera, but it came in the end. The official gap was humourously suggested at being a pixel width.
Mullen v Birkmyre in Sprint final
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In contrast to this, the second semi-final between Siobhan Mullen and Emma Trott was a more cut and dried affair. Not to say it wasn't fast and furious, but with Mullen keeping the pace steady, picking up by a little bit every half lap and using her great jump to get and hold a gap of 2-3 bike lengths from Trott, who tried to come round but couldn't quite get even and had to settle for the minor final
In the final it was no less dramatic for Janet Birkmyre who, drawing the upper position, chose to drive over the top of Mullen to take the lead position. As she entered the first banking Birkmyre slowed a little, wanting to keep an eye on Mullen, and as she did this she turned her front wheel a little too much into the bank which forced her back wheel out from under her, hitting the track hard, Mullen who couldn't avoid the prone rider, smacking Birkmyre on her helmet quite hard, stunning her for a few moments. Birkmyre got up, inspected her grazes, bike and helmet. Took a deep breath and then headed back to the start for a re-start.
Siobhan Mullen, obviously a little surprised and shaken too, got back into the race frame of mind and she made Birkmyre work for her points.
In the same way that the first race went, Birkmyre took the lead again, but riding much closer to the black line she took the race to Mullen by keeping the pace high and waiting for the attack to come. When it did, Birkmyre had just too much top end speed, winning by a few bike lengths.
Lorna Webb used much the same tactic to beat Emma Trott by keeping the pace high and then launching away when any attempt at over-taking appeared. Trott never gave up though and chased Webb all the way to the line.
Points competition
So to the final event where the standings had Birkmyre on 6 points, Siobhan Mullen on 13, Trott and Webb on 14, it was going to be a fabulous finale to the day.
The first sprint, as always, shapes the race and it was Webb who took the first points, but then she, CC Cardiff's Rachel Ball, Emma Trott and Laura Bissell set off to open up a sizeable lead. Janet Birkmyre, who was still suffering from her crash, was staying safe in the bunch, having secured some points in the first sprint and content to follow her nearest rival, Siobhan Mullen. Mullen had her own game plan and she set off in hot pursuit of the 4 escapees, almost making contact but after chasing for 5 laps, realised that the bunch, with Birkmyre helping, was closing back up to her.
This helped the leaders who had their heads down and after sharing the next set of points on offer, proceeded to take a lap back. They got on just as the bell rang for the 3rd set of points and this signaled Mullen and Birkmyre into action, and they fired off the front. Birkmyre edging out Mullen for the 5 points. With the field all back together, it was down to the last sprint which Lorna Webb won, from Emma Trott with Laura Bissell 3rd and Janet Birkmyre taking the last point.
The points race had Webb winning from Trott, Bissell, Ball, Birkmyre and Mullen and this shuffled the final standings considerably, with Lorna Webb jumping up two places to second, Emma Trott also leap-frogging Mullen to move into third with Mullen finishing fourth.
Overall
Planet X's Janet Birkmyre, complete with cracked helmet, finished first overall and takes the maximum possible points available from four Omniums, to retain her title from last year.
With one round to go there are still the minor placings to be finalised and Birkmyre is looking forward to locking horns with Scotland's Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist, Kate Cullen, when they meet up in Halesowen next weekend.
See you then. David Jack www.natureskiss.net
Agisko-Viner warm up
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Rider briefing
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Carrie Beddingfield rides her first indoor pursuit
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Cheryl Owen chills out between races
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Sprint start line
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Sprint 5-up
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Photos thanks to Jeff Baird
Tina-M
