Gold and silver: Eventual runner-up Sean Murnane on the move in the scratch race with the new champion Darragh Zaidan (Photo: Paul Atkinson)

Irish National Track Cycling Championships 2018 Day 2

Darragh Zaidan and Lydia Boylan claimed the scratch race titles at the National Track Cycling Championships in Dublin yesterday.

And over the shorter, sharper distances; Robyn Stewart won the 500 metre TT and Tony Mairs won the kilo event.

Zaidan had under-performed in the individual pursuit on Saturday when he finished outside the medals.

He had won the title two years ago and after finishing 4th this time around said he had endured an off day.

However, he bounced back yesterday in winning the scratch race from Sean Murnane (Sports Room Racing) and Billy Crosbie (Sundrive Track Team).

Luke Smith believed he had won the race but was a number of laps down after a mechanical.

He was not credited as being on the same lap as those he later broke clear with when he rejoined the action after stopping.

It meant rather than being in the winning escape, which Zaidan won gold from, he was credited with 8th place.

Zaidan would also win the Madison with Sam Gilmore in the colours of Arcane CT later in the day.

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Unfortunately for them, it was a demonstration event this time around. However, after coming out on top it is a title for them to aim at in the years ahead.

In the women's scratch race Lydian Boylan (WNT) took gold. The three-time national road race champion and UK-based pro rider saw off Orla Walsh (VC Ériu) and Sofie Loscher (Sundrive Track Team).

In the men's kilo, big guns Anthony Mairs (East Tyrone CC) and Eamonn Byrne (Sundrive Track Team) took gold and silver respectively.

Then came Smith of Viner-Caremark-Pactimo; the road race rider who took silver in the individual pursuit on Saturday.

In the women's 500 metre TT Robyn Stewart (Billy Bisland Cycles) took victory from Orla Walsh.

One of the revelations of the championships, Eimer McMullan of Sundrive Track Team, collected the bronze having taken silver in the sprint, behind Stewart and Walsh, on Saturday.

The women's Madison was, like the men's contest, a demonstration race yesterday. It was won by the Sundrive duo of Loscher and Susie Mitchell.