Croall masters the conditions with hat-trick of victories

Published on Saturday 19 July 2008 11:21

CAPITAL cyclists dominated last night's opening session of the Scottish National Track Championships with victories in three of the four events, writes COLIN RENTON.

Bruce Croall shrugged off blustery conditions at Meadowbank and the need to restart before powering his way to a third successive win in the kilometre time trial.

As defending champion, Croall was the last to ride. He was unbalanced and fell to the track shortly after the start. However, he made no mistake at the second time of asking, racing to the half way point almost half a second quicker than any of the earlier riders.

He continued to pour on the pace, eventually stopping the clock at ome minute 8.36 seconds – almost four seconds slower than his recent personal best, but an exceptional performance in the conditions.

"I was happy with the win although I had hoped to go faster," he said. "But it was pretty windy, so I suppose it was okay."

Ivor Reid (Clachnacuddin CC) took silver for the second successive year and Edinburgh's David Martin (Bicycleworks) added the bronze to the ten-mile time trial medal he won on the road earlier in the season.

The women's 500 metres time trial went according to form, with Kate Cullen (Braveheart Cycling Fund) chalking up a stylish win in 38.48 seconds. However, the margin of her victory, 0.33 seconds, underlined the recent progress made by runner up Alison Chisholm (Edinburgh RC) who, in turn, was only four hundredths ahead of Charline Joiner (City of Edinburgh).

Callum Skinner (Edinburgh Racers) took the youths 500m title from Patrick Galbraith (Velo Ecosse), whose team mates Aaron Murray and Dean Martin took silver and bronze respectively behind Inverness rider Magnus Davidson (Square Wheels) in the three-kilometre junior pursuit.