Harvey Barnes has faced down the arrival of a big reputation sprinter, Conor Rowley, onto the Irish track scene and beaten him for the gold medal at the National Track Championships.
In what was the match that everyone wanted to see, Barnes (22) and Rowley (23) faced each other in the final of the elite men’s sprint on Sundrive Road, Dublin, today.
Fresh from the U23 European Track Championships, Barnes took a 2:0 victory over Rowley, who won a world junior title on the track with Australia but has recently declared for Ireland.
With a total of four Worlds medals in his palmares from
his junior days, and having recently broken the Irish kilo record in Melbourne
where he is based, Rowley was a big addition to the championships this weekend.
His arrival made the sprint battle all the more attractive from a spectator
perspective.
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Barnes (Spellman Dublin Port) was about three tenths of a second faster than Rowley (Blackburn CC) in qualifying, though the best-of-three final that both men later powered their way into was always going to be a battle of brute force, tactics and psychology.
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Rowley led out the opening sprint, with Barnes getting onto his back wheel and coming off it on the home straight to win comfortably after an exciting gallop. The second sprint between the duo was the last event of the afternoon, only adding to the excitement and suspense.
Barnes led into the last lap and just after the bell sounded both men gradually wound up the pace. And though Barnes was on the front rounding the last bend, with Rowley right on his wheel, Barnes held off his rival. Barnes took the gold 2:0, with Rowley having to be content with silver.
James Glasgow (East Tyrone Cycling Club) went up against
Dimitri Griffin (Orwell Wheelers) in the bronze medal match. Griffin clocked 12.41
in qualifying and Glasgow recording 12.07, the 3rd fastest in that qualifying
round.
The first sprint went the way of Glasgow, though Griffin
pushed him very closely. In the second sprint, both riders left it late, but
when the sprint finally began Glasgow got ahead.
And though Griffin gained on him all the way to the line, it was Glasgow who had the staying power to win; beating his rival 2:0 and taking the bronze.
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