Irish team pursuiters 9th in qualifiers at European Track Champs, Holland

*The Irish team pursuiters have finished 9th in the qualifiers at the European Track Championships in Holland*

The Irish team pursuiters have finished 9th in the
qualifiers at the European Track Championships, with world record holders Great
Britain proving quickest by four.

The British quartet – Katie Archibald, Eleanor Dickinson,
Neah Evans and Laura Kenny – clocked a time of 4mins 15.939secds, in an average
speed to 56.263km per hour.

They were more than two seconds faster than Germany, who
recorded 4:18.567, with Italy 3rd in 4:18.571 and France next in 4:22.669.

Great Britain now faces Germany in the final for the gold
and silver battle with Italy facing off with France for the bronze.

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The Irish women – national road champion Alice Sharpe,
national TT champion Kelly Murphy, Orla Walsh and Mia Griffin – clocked a time
of 4:31.325.

That was a little behind the national record the same
personnel broke last season when they did 4:29.148.

However, while they go no further in
the competition they got quicker through last season and can hopefully do the
same this time around and bank more progress.

The fastest time in the qualifiers by Great Britain was also well off their best; the world record set at the Rio Olympics of 4:10.236.