The match race of the national womens track cycling championships proved to be the anti-climax of the
meet after a decidely boring ride-off for the gold medal. In the ride-off for a place in the final, all
expectations were that both Watt and Burns would fight out a do or die effort to impress the team selectors,
once and for all settling who was the top rider. In the end Kathy Watt triumphed with a time of 3.42.380
some 4+ seconds outside the qualifying time thanks to a very slow track. Not that the time mattered that much,
because Watt has already set a qualifying time at 3.37.98(in W.A) and by gaining a place in the final now had an
opportunity to really impress the selectors. And, what more could have been expected from Burns who was obviously still
suffering the effects of a hard fall in the womens scratch race in wednesday nights session. Sporting scabs
on her face and lower body Burns put in a game effort, in all probability realizing those who were coming to
the track(both spectators & the media) were all expecting big things of her including a win over Watt. Watt may
have started out the underdog but it was Watt who drew first blood by qualifying for the final, while Burns was
left visibly upset and in tears.Burns was in no state to face the media and that job was left to coach Ian McKenzie.
Hey Alayna, you did your best on the night and if its no big deal for a rider like Darren Hill to miss out on an Australian
title then just put this one down to experience and lets see you bounce back to your usual bright and cheery self.
In a way it was a pity because the improved ride of silver medallist Alison Wright(3.43.474) went completely un-noticed and I
am told that she improves with every ride.
THE FINALS
The final between Kathy Watt and Alison Wright failed to produce a time that would provide any excitement.
Watt triumphed in 3.42.789, a time slower than her first ride. In a twist to the final Watt sent a message
to the media saying she had decided to "tell" the media about her ride rather than face questions. This didn't
go down too well with the media representatives who had sat patiently through a tedious night but in the end she
seemed only to happy to fete the media who raised a number of issues during question time, all of which she handled
in a very professional manner.
Now the decision as to who rides in the team will be the sole responsibility of the national selectors.
THE MENS KEIRIN
NEIWANDS OLYMPIC HOPES SURVIVE
Selin, Ben Kersten, Neiwand, Eadie, Dajka and Josh Kersten made up the field for the premier event of the night,
the Mens Keiren Final. The Kersten brothers went straight to the front hugging the derney as it sped around the track
keeping the speed high and the track covered. With just two laps to go the derney dropped off and we had a race on our
hands as Josh Kersten upped the ante with a long lead-out, towing younger brother Ben in his wake. With fellow NSW rider
Sean Eadie too far off the pace the race was wide open. All was going well for the Kersten boys till Gary Neiwand grabbed
the lead halfway through the north bend and said goodbye to the hopefulls and the hopeless. It was lesson to be seen as
"the old master blaster" dished it up and crossed the line to the roaring cheer of the crowd. In fact, from memory it was
the only the only time the crowd had shown any excitement up till then.
JUNIOR U/19 MENS PURSUIT FINAL
NSW TRIUMPH OVER W.A
The first of only two highlight in a very poor nights entertainment came in the big clash between the W.A and NSW team in the under 19 Mens
Team Pursuit. The crowd was entertained by a thrilling final, hanging on to every lap split as it came up on the score-board.
The race was tantilizingly hanging in the balance as first W.A went ahead and then NSW. The result hung in the balance right up
until the last 500 metres when cracks appeared in the W.A team. NSW, spured on by the home crowd advantage grabbed a well deserved
victory by keeping their four riders together while W.A were left with a time taken on their third rider accross the line who was
well off the pace.
JUNIOR U/19 WOMENS 10K SCRATCH RACE
KATHERINE BATES A CLASS ACT
NSW representative and junior worlds rider Katherine Bates dished out a solid lesson to fellow competitors in the junior 10K
scratch race showing just what a class act she is and the potential that lies within what should develope into a great track act.
And classy is the best way to describe the way she claimed gold in the 40 lap contest at Dunc Gray tonight. This was another highlight
for the dedicated fans who, even though being very porochial, were very vocal in their support for the whole race. Bates proved too strong
both physically and mentally for the rest of the competitors and showing she was never afraid to put in the "hard yards" throughout the race.
