NI Team Pursuit Take Bronze in Delhi

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

DSQ Wales

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NI Qualify for Team Pursuit Bronze Medal Ride off at CWG (6Oct)

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.

Commonwealth Games - Cycling Results 06/10/10

Men's Points Race Final
1. Cameron Meyer (Australia) 89
2. George Atkins (England) 52
3. Mark Christian (Isle of Man) 37

NI:
7. Martyn Irvine 13
17. Philip Lavery -19

Women's Points Race Final
1. Megan Dunn (Australia) 45
2. Lauren Ellis (New Zealand) 40
3. Tara Whitten (Canada) 36

NI:
5. Heather Wilson 22

Men's Team Pursuit Qualifying
1. Australia 4.00.285
2. New Zealand 4.03.443
3. Northern Ireland 4.22.669
4. India 4.31.259

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Irvine 6th in Commonwealth Games Individual Pursuit (5 Oct)

Martyn Irvine was the best performer for Northern Ireland on the opening day of the cycling competition in the velodrome at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games. The Newtownards rider took a very creditable sixth place in the Individual Pursuit with a time of 4.28.803. Although more known for their capabilities as endurance riders, Philip Lavery and Adam Armstrong opened their Commonwealth Games campaign with the Kilo Time Trial. Lavery recorded 1.08.985 which was good enough for 10th place while Armstrong ended the event in 13th with a time of 1.11.659.

Irvine, Lavery and Armstrong were also in action in the qualifiers of the points race. Irvine and Lavery won the opening sprint of their respective heats on their way to qualifying for tomorrow's final. Both riders will aim to emulate Alastair Irvine who was the last cyclist from the province to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games when he claimed a bronze medal in the points race at the 1990 edition of the Games in Auckland, New Zealand.

Olympic Individual Pursuit silver medallist, Wendy Houvenaghel and 2009 Irish National Road Race Champion, Heather Wilson were also in action for Northern Ireland in the velodrome, taking part in the 500m Time Trial. Houvenaghel claimed ninth spot in a time of 38.289, while Wilson finished in 12th place almost two seconds slower. Houvenaghel will be targeting a medal in her specialist event, the Individual Pursuit on Friday. Wilson meanwhile will be hoping to replicate the form that saw her make it to the final of the points race at the Manchester and Cali rounds of the Track World Cup Series in 2009-10 when she competes in that event tomorrow.


Commonwealth Games - Cycling Results 05/10/10

Men's 1km TT

1. Scott Sunderland (Australia) 1.01.411 (new Games record)
2. Mohd Rizal Tisin(Malaysia) 1:02.768
3. Edward Dorkins (New Zealand) 1.02.777
4. Myron Simpson (New Zealand) 1:03.449
5. Travis Smith (Canada) 1:03.656
6. Pierre Bernard Esterhuizen (South Africa) 1:04.421
7. Mark Ryan (New Zealand) 1:04.521
8. Callum Skinner (Scotland) 1:05.095
9. Bikram Singh (India) 1:07.911
10. Philip Lavery (Northern Ireland) 1:08.985
11. Rakesh Kumar (India) 1:09.229
12. Prince Hylem (India) 1:09.977
13. Adam Armstrong (Northern Ireland) 1:11.659


Men's Individual Pursuit Qualifying

1. Jack Bobridge (Australia) 4.14.845 (new Games record)
2. Jesse Sergent (New Zealand) 4:16.751
3. Michael Hepburn (Australia) 4.19.598
4. Sam Bewley (New Zealand) 4:19.612
5. Peter Latham 4.25.534 (New Zealand)
6. Martyn Irvine (Northern Ireland) 4:28.803
7. Sam Harrison (Wales) 4:33.341
8. George Atkins (England) 4.34.490
9. Mark Christian (Isle of Man) 4.35.052


Women's 500m TT

1. Anna Meares (Australia) 33.758 (new Games record)
2. Kaarle McCulloch (Australia) 34.780
3. Becky James (Wales) 35.236
4. Monique Sullivan (Canada) 36.238
5. Jenny Davies (Scotland) 36.416
6. Alison Shanks (New Zealand) 36.565
7. Anna Blyth (England) 36.807
8. Charlene Joiner (Scotland) 37.539
9. Wendy Houvenaghel (Northern Ireland) 38.289
10. Mahitha Mohan (India) 38.788
11. Ch. Rameshwori Devi (India) 38.913
12. Heather Wilson (Northern Ireland) 40.189
13. Rejani Vijaya Kumari(India) 40.439

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NI Cycling Team put Finishing Touches to CWG Preparations (3 Oct)

The Northern Ireland cycling team will get their Commonwealth Games campaign underway in the velodrome at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex in Delhi on Tuesday 5th October. The majority of the team flew to India on Monday 27th September and have spent the last week acclimatising. The management duo of Cormac McCann and Brian Nugent have been overseeing the final preparations which has involved road, track and rollers training sessions.

The team will have a final track preparation session tomorrow. This will be followed by a very busy week of competition in the velodrome. On the opening day of the track cycling programme, the men will compete in the Individual Pursuit and Kilometre TT while the women will be lining up in the 500 metre TT. 2008 Olympic silver medallist in the Women's Individual Pursuit, Wendy Houvenaghel will be Northern Ireland's best hope of a medal on the track when she competes in that event on Friday 5th October.

Medal hopeful in the Men's Road Time Trial, David McCann meanwhile was below par in Thursday's Elite Men's Time Trial at the World Road Championship in Geelong, Australia. The double Olympian finished 25th, well outside his 11th place in the 2009 edition. McCann also competed in the Elite Men's World Championship Road Race today, his 68th place finish in the 250 kilometre event shows that the Belfast rider is in good condition however and still on target for a good showing in his fifth appearance at the Commonwealth Games.