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Oliphant claims National title
20th July 2008
With a break in national level competition Team Plowman Craven found themselves competing close to their respective bases.
Simon Gaywood returned to the track for the first time since the Good Friday meeting at Herne Hill with great success. Gaywood lined up for Derny Fest at Welwyn in Hertfordshire. Bedford based Gaywood eased himself through the qualifying round, finishing in second place behind Lewis Atkins (Agiskoviner). The final however was a different matter as Gaywood sitting millimetres behind his pacer instructed him to raise the pace from an early stage; this initial burst was enough to shed many of the other competitors.
Gaywood led from the front, now as the race entered the final few laps he had only John McClelland (Agiskoviner) for company, raising his game over the final metres Gaywood distanced his rival to take the victory.
While Gaywood enjoyed the spoils in the South of the country, Evan Oliphant lined up in the Scottish 4km Pursuit Championships. Oliphant rode a measure qualifying round to make sure he made the ride off for the gold medal qualifying in a super fast 4.49.04 missing the National record by 2 seconds. With heavy showers it was 6 hours before Oliphant could get back onto the open air track for the gold medal ride off.
The rain had finally dispersed although a strong wind remained, Oliphant's opponent Dave Martin made a valiant effort against the Plowman Craven Professional, but Oliphant was quickly in his stride and after making steady progress caught Martin with 3 laps remaining. The title was his, but he continued on buffeted by the wind in a bid to take the record. Stopping the clock just a fraction of a second later than his 1st round performance in 4.49.65.
Oliphant was pleased with his performance "I felt pretty good today, I cruised through the first round, but by the time we had the final the wind was a lot stronger and I had spent over 3 hours on the rollers. But I'm more than pleased to take another title."
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