Matthew Richardson takes gold on debut at British Championships

Matthew Richardson won the men’s sprint final on his debut at the British Track Cycling Championships in Manchester.

The 25-year-old, who switched his allegiance to Great Britain after collecting two silver medals and a bronze for Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympics, beat Peter Mitchell to gold, with Marcus Hiley finishing third.

Welsh rider Anna Morris won the women’s scratch race in style, coming home over half a lap ahead of Katie Archibald, with Erin Boothman third over the 10km distance.

European champion Josh Charlton won gold as he caught Michael Gill in the men’s individual pursuit final, with William Perrett claiming bronze.

Meanwhile, Lauren Bell, Rhian Edmunds and Lowri Thomas held off Iona Moir, Rhianna Parris-Smith and Georgette Rand in a competitive women’s team sprint final.

Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl set a world record time of four minutes 36.737 seconds as they took gold in the women’s B individual pursuit.

Lora Fachie and Charlotte Deykin were second with Selvi Krishna and Eva Hague taking third, while Elisabeth Simpson won the women’s C1-5 time-trial.

Earlier on Friday, Alex Jones tasted success in the men’s C5 time-trial, while Archie Atkinson produced a superb ride to beat reigning champion Jody Cundy to gold in the men’s C4 time-trial.

Jacob Smith took the men’s MC3 time-trial title with Ben Hetherington, a former stage winner at the 2019 Tour of Morocco, taking silver.

Matt Robertson secured the blue, white and red national champion jersey in the C2 time-trial and Steve Bate and Chris Latham retained their men’s B individual pursuit crown.