Big day for the East Coast Island centre team at the National track champs with everyone coming away with success against the big centres.
Fraser Gough was first up with the flying lap part of the Ominum, the ominum is a group of events and points are awarded for each event, 1 for first, 2 for second etc and at the end of the champs the rider with the lowest points wins the event. Fraser came seventh in the flying lap in the morning session but rode a stunning elimination race to win. The elimination event is a mass start race where the last rider every two laps is eliminated, Fraser basically rode the race from the front the whole way and still had the spice to win the final sprint.
Corbin Mason Smith riding his first Nationals worked his way through the heats of the 750m derby to end up in the final. He rode well against three far more experienced finalists to take the bronze medal. Father Aaron is here working as a commissar and scrubs up surprisingly well in his Bike NZ blazer and tie.
Regan Gough raced for a composite team of one East Coast North Island and three Waikato's in the teams pursuit. They qualified for the bronze medal ride off. Regan was obviously the strongest and the team got a bit haggard at times as they only had ridden together to qualify, and were narrowly beaten for the bronze. Regan saved the best for last in his scratch race leading out a long sprint, coming third after being rolled by two locals who hadn't seen the front the whole race.
Kerry Harford raced the 500m time trial. Not his best event, this is the preserve of the fat trackies who can blast out of the starting gate and monster out a big gear. After coming through the starting lap in seventh he managed to generate enough speed to salvage second place with the fastest lap of the event. Clearly more Warrens Bakery custard squares required when you see the profiles of the two Southlanders who took first and third on the podium.
http://cyclingsouth.org.nz/
