Cycling: Otago riders set national record

Otago riders not only brought home a cache of medals from the national age-group championships but also broke a New Zealand record.

The Avantidrome in Cambridge is a far cry from the outdoor velodrome in Mosgiel, but Otago riders quickly adapted to the fast indoor track.

Justin Stott's strategy to invite road team-mates Sam Park and Peter Murphy to join him and Stew Thomas in the masters division paid dividends, as Otago claimed gold in three of the six masters 1 events, and broke a New Zealand record.

Park set the tone on day one by winning the 750m time trial, a shade outside the national record.

Murphy, who has ridden the Tour of Southland three times with Stott, then claimed the points race title.

Stott followed suit, winning the scratch race title for the third time since 2010, and was third in the keirin.

The highlight came on the final day when Thomas, Park and Stott set a New Zealand record with a blistering ride in the team sprint in the qualifying round.

In the ride-off for gold they were edged into silver by 0.14sec, but their New Zealand record time remained intact.

Megan Foley and Russell McGarry posted personal-bests but McGarry had the misfortune to be knocked from his bike during the keirin, breaking his collarbone.

Promising Ewan Syme showed exceptional pace in several events, and will rate as one of the favourites for under-17 titles next year, while Bailey Saville rode strongly in all six events to place fourth in the under-19 women's omnium.

Lachie McGregor, in his first year at under-19 level, was a creditable sixth in the men's omnium.

- Jan Brosnahan 

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