NI Team Pursuit Take Bronze in Delhi
By Patrick Withers (www.irishcycling.com)
Northern Ireland cyclists took the province's first medal at this year's Commonwealth Games when they won the bronze medal in the Men's team pursuit in the Indira Gandhi Velodrome in Delhi today.
The quartet of Martyn Irvine, Sean Downey, Philip Lavery and David McCann set a blistering pace and caught their Indian opponents before the half way point.
It is also the first medal that the province have won in cycling at the Commonwealth Games since Alastair Irvine took bronze in the 1990 points race and equals the result of the 1986 Team Time Trial squad that the current team manager Cormac McCann was a member of.
The Northern Ireland team had went over nine seconds faster than the host nation in qualifying so belief was high that they could deliver the province's first medal in Delhi. Expressing this confidence and his feeling at winning a medal, Irvine said: "We knew we could do it, it was just a matter of going out there and getting it done, it worked perfectly to plan and I'm delighted."
The medal is a significant achievement for a squad who have not been able to specifically prepare for the team pursuit which is a very technically demanding track discipline due to the lack of an indoor velodrome in Ireland.
Earlier in the day meanwhile Heather Wilson finished 13th in the Women's scratch race final. Tomorrow could be another big day for the province in the velodrome in Delhi as Wendy Houvenaghel will be competing in the Women's Individual Pursuit. The 2008 Olympic silver medallist is one of the favourites for the event. Following the final day of competition on the track tomorrow, attention will turn to the Road Race and Time Trial which will take place on Sunday and next Wednesday respectively.
Full Results Men's 4,000m Team Pursuit
1 Australia 0:04:00.285
2 New Zealand 0:04:03.443
3 Northern Ireland 0:04:22.669
4 India 0:04:31.259
NI Qualify for Team Pursuit Bronze Medal Ride off at CWG
The Northern Ireland cycling team made history at the Commonwealth Games today when they lined up in the team pursuit for the first time ever. The squad of Martyn Irvine, Sean Downey, David McCann and Philip Lavery recorded a time of 4.22.669 to qualify for the bronze medal ride off, almost 10 seconds faster than the time of the fourth fastest qualifying team, India.
Earlier in the day Heather Wilson and Martyn Irvine were also in the thick of the action in their respective points race finals. Wilson took a lap from the rest of the field along with four other riders which gained her 20 points mid way through her race. The Maryland Wheelers member was in the bronze medal position for part of the race, eventually ending the event in fifth, two points behind fourth.
Irvine meanwhile was unable to gain a lap but managed to pick up points in several sprints. Those riders who did gain a lap made up the top six, Irvine having to settle for seventh, one place below his position in the Individual Pursuit yesterday. Philip Lavery finished 17th.
Speaking following the morning session, team manager Cormac McCann said: "We had a great morning session with Heather Wilson getting fifth and Martyn Irvine seventh, a good ride this evening could see us riding for a bronze medal." Following the disqualification of one of the pre-race favourites, Wales because of two false starts, the Northern Ireland squad were assured of at least getting the opportunity to go for bronze tomorrow. With their much faster qualifying time, Northern Ireland will be the favourites when they compete against the host nation for the bronze medal tomorrow. They will attempt to equal the bronze medal winning Team Time Trial squad that the current team manager, Cormac McCann was a part of in 1986.
A bronze medal in the team pursuit would be quite an achievement for the squad. The lack of an indoor velodrome in Ireland has meant the team have been unable to specifically prepare for the event.
Sean Downey, Martyn Irvine and Philip Lavery are also due to take part in the Scratch Race semi finals tomorrow, while Heather Wilson will compete in the Women's final of that event.
