Martyn Irvine of the Giant Asia team has won the men’s pursuit title at the Senior National Track Championships at Eamonn Ceannt Stadium.
The ladies’ pursuit was won by Caroline Ryan of the CUNGA team.
The men’s sprint event was taken by Donal Bailey from Orwell Wheelers. The ladies’ sprint title was secured by Lydia Boylan of the Look Mum No Hands team.
Despite grey skies and occasional showers, the weather did not succeed in dampening spirits at Eamonn Ceannt Statium, where the racing was scorching.
All eyes were on Irvine of the Giant Asia trade team and he didn’t disappoint. Irvine is an Olympic hopeful for Ireland and this weekend’s racing could prove critical in his bid for London 2012.
Valuable points from the nationals qualify riders for World Championship events, which in turn qualify athletes for the Olympics.
Irvine has four crucial events coming up next year in which to seal the deal for Olympic qualification.
Today’s racing got underway with the men’s pursuit qualifiers. The four fastest going through for the medal ride-offs.
The bronze was contested by team-mates Gareth Enright and John Lynch of Murphy Surveys Kilcullen CC.
Lynch proved strongest on the day and saw off his rival by three seconds. The battle for gold and silver was contested by Stephen McNally and Irvine. Interestingly, 44-year-old McNally of Orwell Wheelers last won this event in the same year 26-year-old Irvine was born.
Today, the reigning Irish pursuit champion pushed the recent European Masters gold medallist to his limits, but Irvine won comfortably with a show of strength that his fans will hope to see more of in London. Irvine covered the 4000 meters in a time of four minutes 54.52 seconds.
The women’s pursuit finals saw Lydia Boylan of team Look Mum No Hands take on Sinéad Jennings of team CUNGA for third place.
Jennings was quickest over the 3000 meters and secured bronze.
The match for top spot was contested by Ciara Horne of Lakeland Wheelers and Ryan of team CUNGA. Ryan is the current Irish road time trial champion and reigning national pursuit champion.
There was no upset today and Ryan secured gold by a margin of four seconds. This fine display of form will do Ryan’s confidence no harm as she hopes to qualify for the London Olympics team pursuit.
Next up on the fixtures was the men’s and women’s sprint.
Sixteen men progressed from the flying 200 qualifiers, while eight women made the next round.
Ceannt Stadium saw some real dogfights as strength and tactics were tested to the limits. Bikes creaked and muscles tweaked as the heats were run in a straight-out elimination.
In the men’s event, Bailey of Orwell Wheelers secured gold in convincing fashion. Terry Mackin of Banbridge CC took silver and Michael Mulcahy of Cycling Pursuits Team took third step on the podium.
In the women’s sprint finals, Boylan shook off her disappointment from missing a medal in the pursuit to take gold in the sprints.
Jennings of CUNGA added silver to her earlier bronze and third place in the finals went to Aideen Collard of Orwell Wheelers.
