2010 Commonwealth Games - Delhi
FRIDAY 8 OCTOBER
WOMEN'S 3000M INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT - FINAL
Above: Wendy Houvenaghel on her way to silver in the Women's Pursuit (image: John Giles/PA Wire/Press Association Images)
Alison Shanks of New Zealand took gold in a thrilling Women's Pursuit final, beating Northern Ireland's Wendy Houvenaghel into silver medal position. Houvenaghel started fastest, with a 1:13 opening km. However, Shanks pegged Wendy back and the New Zealander was 0.2 ahead at the halfway stage, extending her lead to over a second going into the final stages. Shanks was rocking and rolling all over the place towards the end, in an effort to keep the fast finishing Houvenaghel at bay. However, the woman in black had done enough in the middle sector to secure gold.
Moments before, Tara Whitten of Canada totally outclassed her opponent, Jaime Neilsen of New Zealand to earn a bronze medal in the pursuit. Despite their close qualifying times, Whitten was quicker throughout the contest, opening with a 1:14 first km, distancing her rival. At the halfway stage the gap was 2.7 seconds and from that point on, it was a foregone conclusion.
Speaking to the Press Association's Matt McGeeham after the race, Houvenaghel commented:
"Another silver medal... ... I came here for the gold - as always - and I am a little bit disappointed to come away with the silver again... ...But I gave it everything I had and the outcome was out of my control.... ...I'm happy to have a medal from this competition."
Results
Gold Medal Final
1. Alison Shanks New Zealand
2. Wendy Houvenaghel Northern Ireland
Bronze Medal Final
1. Tara Whitten Canada 3:35.810
2. Jaime Neilsen New Zealand 3:39.923
WOMEN'S 3000M INDIVIDUAL PURSUIT - QUALIFYING
Alison Shanks of New Zealand qualified fastest to ride off for Gold against Northern Ireland's Wendy Houvenaghel, with Canada's Tara Whitten facing Jaime Neilsen of New Zealand in the bronze medal ride. In the early stages of the competition, it looked as if Laura Trott was in with a shout of a medal ride. However her time of 3:40.329 was pushed out of the medal rides in the final few heats, with Paracyclist Sarah Storey qualifying just ahead of Trott in 6th. England's Anna Blyth qualified in 10th place in a heat which saw her Indian opponent Sunita Devi disqualified for taking pace.
Result
1. Alison Shanks New Zealand 3:32.114
2. Wendy Houvenaghel Northern Ireland 3.34.560
3. Tara Alica Whitten Canada 3:36.5
4. Jaime Nielsen New Zealand 3:37.607
5. Josephine Tomic Australia 3:37.961
6. Sarah Storey England 3:39.964
7. Laura Trott England 3:40.329
8. Lauren Ellis New Zealand 3:41.592
9. Ashlee Ankudinoff Australia 3.45.656
10. Anna Blyth England 3:51.252
11. Mahitha Mohan India 4:08.441
12. Sayona P.O India 4:19.630
Y Sunita Devi India 4:01.674 (DSQ)
MEN'S TEAM SPRINT - FINAL
The Australian team of Niblett, Ellis and Sunderland took gold and a new Commonwealth Games record in a dramatic final against New Zealand. Australia opened with a scorching 17.6 opening lap, putting their opponents in a position from which they never recovered. However, New Zealand battled on until drama erupted at the start of the final lap; New Zealand's ‘man-two', Sam Webster, peeled off and punctured, losing his front wheel at full speed entering the banking, falling heavily on his right shoulder (losing a fair amount of skin in the process).
The Malaysian trio of Awang, Ng and Tisin put their experience to good effect beating the young Scotland team of John Paul, Chris Pritchard and Callum Skinner to claim the bronze medal. Despite a messy exit from the gate for Awang, the punchy sprinter still posted a respectable 18.2 second opening lap. From then on the Malaysians piled on the pressure, eventually putting over a second into their rivals.
Results
Gold Medal
1. Australian (Ellis, Sunderland, Niblett) 43.772 (CR)
2. New Zealand (Mitchell, Webster, Dawkins) 44.239
Bronze Medal
1. Malaysia (Awang, Ng, Tisin) 45.040
2. Scotland (Paul, Pritchard, Skinner) 46.273
MEN'S TEAM SPRINT - QUALIFYING
Storming sub-45 second rides set up an all Antipodean gold medal final, with the Australian team of Niblett, Ellis and Sunderland posting the fastest time in the last heat of the session. The New Zealand team of Mitchell, Webster and Dawkins were just a tenth slower in a ride that lacked the finesse of the Aussies. The young Scotland team of John Paul, Chris Pritchard and Callum Skinner qualified fourth fastest, good enough to face Malaysia (Awang, Tisin, Ng) in the finals, despite the 18 year old powerhouse of John Paul dropping his team mates on the opening lap.
Result
1. Australia 44.488
2. New Zealand 44.583
3. Malaysia 45.378
4. Scotland 46.724
5. Trinidad and Tobago 47.391
6. India 50.216
MEN'S 20KM SCRATCH RACE - FINAL
Australian sensation Cameron Meyer took his third gold of the games in a totally dominant performance in the Men's Scratch race. Meyer made his decisive move at the halfway point, going clear of the field alone. Canada's Zach Bell tried to take advantage and go with him but soon felt the effects of trying to hold Meyer's wheel, eventually shaking his head and sitting up, letting Meyer romp away and take a lap. From here on in, Meyer and his Australian teammates policed the race, marking every attack in a highly combative race. With gold pretty much in the bag for Meyer, it was a question of who would take the remaining steps on the podium.
At one point it looked as if England were in with a shout, when 18 year old Simon Yates, New Zealand rider Archbold and Bell of Canada kicked, marked by Meyer and team Freiburg (who'd attempted a lone lap gain early on). However, the plucky Yates couldn't hold Meyer and Freiburg's pace. Archbold buckled too, leaving Bell in the company of the two men in yellow. The bell lap approached and Meyer was intent on finishing the race in style, from the front, leading his teammate Freiburg into silver medal position, Bell earning bronze for a gutsy performance all race long.
The Isle of Man's Mark Christian was in the mix and lively throughout, eventually finishing in a creditable 6th position, with England's Simon Yates hanging on for 8th.
Results
1. Cameron Meyer Australia
2. Michael Freiburg Austriala - 1 LAP
3. Zach Bell Canada - 1 LAP
4. Jack Bobridge Australia - 1 LAP
5. Marc Ryan New Zealand - 1 LAP
6. Mark Christian Isle of Man - 1 LAP
7. Martyn Irvine Northern Ireland - 1 LAP
8. Simon Yates England - 1 LAP
