National Derny Success
Mon 2 Oct 2023
Derby Arena was delighted to host the National Derny Championships, providing an exciting weekend of racing. Organised by Velospeed Coaching in partnership with British Cycling the National Derny Championships ran from 4pm on Sat 23 Sep.
After some scintillating racing at Derby Velodrome, Matt Brennan and Anna Morris were crowned National Derny Champions.
Overview and results of the racers were as follows:
MEN'S RACE
In the final, it was the defending champion Tom Ward who started out in front, but Matt Gittings stormed to the front after the first few laps of the 120-lap affair.
The 18-year-old Matt Brennan pushed Gittings to the wire in the opening 20 laps in a tense battle for the front of the race, with Ward hot on their heels. Brennan turned on the power at the halfway point, leaving Gittings behind as he steered away from Ward and pulled away solo, while Alexander MacRare, Adam Kenway and Andrew Magnier retired from the race.
Two-time junior track world champion Brennan showed his class and lapped the entire field with 30 laps to go as his impressive run continued and cruised to the victory. Ward finished a commendable second place as Gitting claimed third to round off the podium.
Taking his first National Derny Championship title, Matt Brennan said:
It feels pretty good. Me and Paul [Curran, pacer] have been on the derny since I was really young, so I just thought ‘let’s go and have a chance’ without any pressure.
Matt Brennan claimed the coveted red, white, and blue jersey after a fantastic battle in the men’s derny final.
WOMEN'S RACE
Team pursuit world champion Anna Morris showed she is the best in the business to claim the National Derny title in an exciting women’s race.
Defending champion Miriam Jessett kicked off the racing with a huge lead, having started in pole position. Anna Morris and Lucy Nelson joined Jessett at the front to split the peloton into two and confirm the podium positions early on.
Although Nelson fought valiantly, it was Morris who breezed past her opponents to take the win, with Nelson and Jessett finishing second and third, respectively.
When asked about her win, Anna Morris said:
It feels amazing really, I’ve never won the National Derny Championships before so to do it this year is special, especially as it’s my first one, it’s just capped it off. This year we won the European title and the world title with Great Britain so to get another title on home soil, it feels special.
OTHER RACES
John Brearley won the Grand Prix points race by three points over Alistair Rutherford. Rutherford was leading throughout the race and was ahead by five points coming into the final sprint, but Brearley capitalised on the double points to take 10 and bring his total to 17 ahead of Rutherford in second. The two repeated the result in the Grand Prix elimination race later in the day.
In the Keirin, Jack Pearson was in fine form winning his heat before backing it up with a victory in the final.
Andrew Brinkley took the win in the 10-mile Grand Prix race ahead of defending champion Rutherford, with Samuel Thomas collecting the bronze.
The Grand Prix Scratch race saw David Brearley take the win after his fellow teammate Liam Davison led for a majority of the race.
Car Alsop representing Velospeed Coaching said:
As an organiser it was fantastic to have the opportunity to bring some top-class track cyclists from all over the UK and further afield to Derby Arena and also give the knowledgeable Derby Arena crowd the chance to see the National Derny Championships which many will have never seen before. A really enjoyable evening of fast and furious track racing. Many Thanks to the excellent staff at the Arena who helped us in the run up and during the event.
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