PBs Galore at Start of Commonwealth Games Cycling Campaign

The Northern Ireland team got day one of their campaign off to a great start at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia today recording two personal bests and a top ten finish. The Commonwealth Games run from the 4^th – 15^th April, with cyclists competing in track cycling, mountain biking, time trials and road racing.

Robyn Stewart recorded a competition best to finish 9^th in the Women’s Sprint, with a qualifying time of 11.082 seconds for the 200m opening round. In the 1/8 finals Stewart met 8^th placed Emma Cumming from New Zealand, who bettered the Belfast sprinter on the line.

“I’m delighted with a big race pb today – especially with it on a 250m track” said a relieved Stewart after her race.

Stewart faced Cumming in the next round, who had qualified 8^th with an advantage of 0.003 seconds in a time of 11.079. “Qualifying 9^th meant that I raced the 8^th placed rider. We were so close in qualifying. I put up a good fight, but Emma had the better of me!”

It was a memorable experience for Manchester based Stewart, who is competing in her first Commonwealth Games – “The atmosphere was amazing – it was such a good day! I’m excited for the keirin now on Sunday night – there’s lots more in the tank!”

In the Individual Pursuits Eileen Burns finished 17^th with a personal best time of 3.42.486 – 8 seconds faster than her previous record from the UCI Track World Cup in Glasgow in 2016. Her event was won in a Games record of 3.24.119 by multiple World Champion and Olympic Champion Katie Archibald from Scotland.

Archibald’s brother John was the silver medallist in the men’s 4km Individual Pursuit – an event which saw both Xeno Young and Marcus Christie in action. Young won silver medals in this event as a junior at both World and European level, and his 14^th place at these Games signals a bright future for the Powerhouse Sport rider. Young finished with a personal best time of 4.24.568, and Christie was 20^th with 4.35.402.

Speaking after her Pursuit Burns relished the experience – “The atmosphere in the track was amazing! It was a full house of spectators and they were lifting the roof off cheering encouragement in every race. My family, including my husband and sister have made the journey over from home to watch me – so that made it even more special.”

Burns last competed in the Pursuit in a velodrome in the Track World Cup in Glasgow in 2016, so had targeted 3.40 for the
3km – “I did a 3.50 in Glasgow so had set myself a goal of 3.40 for the Individual Pursuit – and I did 3.42. But I will look on the bright side and take my PB of 8 seconds. I caught my competitor which helped to drive me on – and I know the areas that I can improve on.”

Racing at the Commonwealth Games continues tomorrow with bunch races – Mark Downey, Marc Potts and Xeno Young compete in the Men’s Scratch Race, while Lydia Boylan lines up in the Women’s Points Race. Potts is the only cyclist who will be competing across all three cycling disciplines.

RESULTS:

Women’s Sprint

Gold Stephanie Morton (Australia)

Silver Nathasha Hanson (New Zealand)

Bronze Kaarle McCulloch (Australia)

9^th Robyn Stewart (Northern Ireland)

Women’s Individual Pursuit

Gold Katie Archibald (Scotland)

Silver Rebecca Wiasak (New Zealand)

Bronze Annette Edmondson (Australia)

17^th Eileen Burns (Northern Ireland)

Men’s Individual Pursuit

Gold Charlie Tanfield (England)

Silver John Archibald (Scotland)

Bronze Dylan Kennett (New Zealand)

14^th Xeno Young (Northern Ireland)

20^th Marcus Christie (Northern Ireland)