First day of track nationals and two Ramblers riders in action today. Regan Gough having a big first day with qualifiying for the Under 17 points race in the morning session, 500m time trial in the evening and last event of the evening the points race final. Kerry Harford racing in the Masters Two scratch race.
Regan sailed through qualifiying having found his track legs with the West coast centre champs and a few days spent down in Invercargill training on the velodrome to sharpen up the speed. 500m time trial was a little disappointing, starting is so important in this event and the riders have an advantage who can train with start gates. The track is very fast with the "warm weather" in Invercargill and a New Zealand record took the title. Points race started well, Regan was a contender the whole race taking a fourth and a second in the first two sprints, but the fast racing and constant crashes in tight racing took its toll and Regan missed out in the end finishing fifth.
In the Masters two scratch race Kerry Harford went in as winner of this national title the last two years, and expecting no favours. The race was a battle between Southland and Auckland teams sending breakaway riders off the front, but the high average speed meant that with three laps to go the front of the race was still togeather. Harford found himself on the front with no option but to lead out the sprint. Having lead the field round for one lap he jumped hard from the front and was able to get a gap, sprinting for the final two laps and taking the hat trick with a tactic no textbook recommends.
Big fields at Nationals this year and committed racing. Ramblers and CHB riders racing for the centre in centre colours are right up there in events we get little racing in, against larger centres all with at least one velodrome to race and train on. Hopefully by April that will be all changing.
