Double gold for Australia as England draw a blank in Velodrome

By Nick Butler at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow

Scott Sunderland and Anette Edmondson each secured cycling gold medals for Australia on the third day of action here today, while Tom Scully of New Zealand and the Scottish tandem pairing of Neil Fachie and Craig MacLean also tasted victory.

But, arguably the biggest talking point of the day, was the fact that no English cyclist managed a single medal.

Although some of the best British cyclists are competing for other home nation's here, and some of the nation's strongest events are not on the Commonwealth Games programme, this must surely be of some concern with the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro just two years away.

There biggest chance looked likely to come in the men's 1,000 metre time trial, courtesy of two-time Olympic team pursuit champion Ed Clancy and compatriot Kian Emadi.

But, in the event in which Sir Chris Hoy, the man who the cycling venue is named after, won the first of his six Olympic gold medals, it was Australian Scott Sunderland who ensured a last ditch victory to repeat his triumph from Delhi 2010.

The 26-year-old broke the Commonwealth Games record when finishing ahead of New Zealand pair Simon van Velthooven and Matthew Archibald, with Clancy and Emadi down in fourth and fifth respectively.

"In Delhi it was different circumstances, because I was focused on the sprint and team sprint, and my grandmother passed away just beforehand so it was pretty emotional for me," said Sunderland, when explaining his two time trial victories.

"In Glasgow, I came here and only rode one event and being reigning champ and record holder to come back and do it again is great."

Annette Edmondson emulated her brother Alex after winning Commonwealth gold for Australia ©Getty Images

Annette Edmondson had earlier scooped a first Australian gold in the women's 10 kilometres scratch race, when she perfectly executed her race plan to hit the front late on to take victory, with compatriot Amy Cure taking silver.

Edmondson upgraded the silver medal she won behind Joanna Rowsell in the individual pursuit, and continued the remarkable run of success for siblings so far at the these Games, with brother Alex having won team pursuit gold along with individual pursuit silver.

Elinor Barker of Wales took bronze, while England's two-time Olympic champion Laura Trott finished down in 11th and subsequently claimed she been battling a kidney infection.

After their near miss in the time trial, New Zealand also enjoyed a strong day as Tom Scully dominated the grueling 40km points race.

Isle of Man's Peter Kennaugh, the London 2012 team pursuit champion who rode for Team Sky at last year's Tour de France, came second to win the first Manx medal of the Games, while another New Zealander in Aaron Gate took bronze.

The loudest cheer of the evening, though, came when Neil Fachie and pilot Craig MacLean won the tandem sprint for the duo's second gold medal of the Games.

They overhauled Australian opponents Kieran Modra and Jason Niblett in spectacular fashion after losing the first race of a best of three final contest, while another Australian pair, Paul Kennedy and Thomas Clarke, took bronze.

And it is certain there will be more green and gold success tomorrow on the final day of action here as five-time Commonwealth champion Anna Meares qualified to face team mate Stephanie Morton in the gold medal match in the women's individual sprint.

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