A busy weekend at the track of intense competition for the Women Track Riders who not only competed in our first attempt at running an Olympic Omnium over the full distance and 6 events that make up this event, but many also competed in both the Team Sprint on the Saturday and the Team Pursuit after the 2nd Day of Omnium events on the Sunday.
The inclusion of the Cunga Track Team also raided the bar but our domestic riders gave them a good run and went on the offensive in all the group races. New Outdoor records were set in the Pursuit, Team Pursuit and Team Sprint by the Cunga riders and remarkably the Silver Medal performance by the Lucan riders would have won last years event by a considerable margin - such is how far track racing has progressed.
Caroline Ryan was the clear winner, setting three National Records along they singly and with her Team but the battle for 2nd place between her Teammate Sinead Jennings and Irelands Masters Point world Chapion, Orla Hendron was settled by a mere half point. Many other riders achieved personal bests in their timed events but even more importantly the assembled supported were treated to a super level of skill and non stop action in the bunch and over the multiple sprints in the points race not forgetting the skill shown by all in the execution of the elimination race.
Yes indeed Women's Track Racing continues to progress!
Omnium Results: 2011-Womens-Track-Omnium
Saturdays Events : Flying 250m TT, 20k Points Race, Elimination Race (then Team Sprint)
Sundays Events : 3km Pursuit, 10k Scratch, 500m TT (then Team Pusuit)
Womens Omnium Result
1. Caroline Ryan (Cunga) 7 points
(Incl New Outdoor record for Pursuit)
2. Sinead Jennings (Cunga) 21 points
3. Orla Hendron (Orwell) 21.5 points
4. Aideen Collard (Orwell) 26 points
5. Ailbhe Ivory (UCD) 31 points
6. Rachael Withers (VC St Raphael) 39 points
Team Sprint Result
1. Cunga (Caroline Ryan / Sinead Jennings) 38.06
(New Outdoor Record)
2. UCD (Ailbhe Ivory / Heather Boyle) 41.16
3. Orwell 'A' (Aideen Collard / Orla Hendron) 41.68
Team Pusuit Result
1. Cunga (Caroline Ryan, Sinead Jennings, Sarah Piner) 3.59.91
(New Outdoor Record)
2. Lucan (Roisin Kennedy, Bronagh Rogers, Sandra Fitzgerald) 4.14.42
3. Orwell (Aideen Collard , Orla Hendron, Sinead McBreen) 4.38.64