Daniell Back to Winning Ways at the Meadowbank GP

Navigation:
Home » Track cycling

Dave Daniell rediscovered the winning feeling when he beat Matt Rotherham to lift the Meadowbank Grand Prix sprint title, the latest round of the British Sprinters’ League.

 

The 22 year old clocked 11.06 seconds to qualify in fourth place behind John Paul, who recorded 10.69 seconds, Lewis Oliva, who stopped the watch at 10.94 seconds and Matt Rotherham who posted 10.98 seconds.

Paul’s time was a Scottish All Comers’ record, erasing the previous best of 10.80 seconds held by Craig MacLean. All four eased through their three-up first round ties and were joined in the last six by Bruce Croall and Itmar Esteban.

Paul saw off Esteban, Oliva got the better of Croall and Daniell squeezed past Rotherham, who then progressed to the semi finals via the repechage.

After losing the opening leg to Paul, Rotherham battled back, winning each of the next two ties to set up a showdown with Daniell, who saw off Oliva 2-0 in two competitive matches.

Daniell controlled both legs of the final to beat Rotherham2-0 and end a disappointing run of results for the Middlesbrough man.

“I’ve been crawling in training lately and not going well at all for the last year basically so it’s nice to win something and to be up there racing well”, he said. “I think I raced well tactically.”

He will now seek to build on his Edinburgh success, adding, “My objective this year is just to keep improving. I want to really cement a place in the squad this year, do well in racing and just enjoy it again.”

Paul, who beat Oliva in two tight matches to take third place, was happy with his day’s work and was chuffed to take possession of a record previously held by MacLean, who has been a mentor for the youngster.

“To get the track record – I was happy with that”, said the double world junior champion. “Craig does the tandem for the Paralympics so I see him around the velodrome in Manchester from time to time and have a good chat with him. I get on well with him.”

Croall beat Esteban for fifth place before joining his fellow sprinter Oliva in a strong field of distance men for the Edinburgh Grand Prix 10 mile scratch event, a round of the BC Endurance League.

The first attack of note came from Callum Ferguson, the Halesowen rider who had posted earlier wins in the 8 kilometre scratch, 8 kilometre points and unknown distance races. His effort with seven laps left quickly created a 60 metre gap and, with the pursuers failing to react, he still led with three to go. However, Croall powered from the bunch two laps from the finish and raced to an impressive win, with Oliva completing a busy day by taking second spot and John McClelland adding the third place prize money to his haul from a win in the elimination race.

Rachel James was an impressive winner of the women’s sprint omnium, kicking off with a 15.50 seconds clocking in the 250 metre time trial then adding wins in the sprint, elimination and keirin for a perfect four point haul that secured the win over Commonwealth team sprint medallists Charline Joiner and Jenny Davis.

However, the British Women’s Omnium League contest scheduled for yesterday was cancelled after rain washed out the second day of the racing programme.

Full results to follow.