Hello everyone

I'll start with my first race on the Friday,the points race which is my

specialist event,usually I will wait for the pace to ease off before I start

going for those all so precious points but things didn't go as planned and I

touched a wheel and came down bringing down two of the other Kiwi riders,

(pity I couldn't get any of those Aussies). I ended getting back up and into

the race all pumped up ready to get some of those points but that didnt

quite work out either and I ended up drifting off the back with about ten

laps to go,but there is always another day. Logan did a very gutsy ride to

finish third after coming down in the crash.

Day two - Woke up very sore from the crash the night before and the shower

in the morning was very painful but I was already looking forward to the

scratch race and also the possibility of a teams pursuit ride. In the end I

got in the teams pursuit (Sam,Logan and Elliot and I) managed to pick up

second even though it was out of two teams. I was just happy to get a ride.

Next on my list was the scratch race where us Kiwis really gave those

Aussies a run for thier money. I ended up going off the front part way

through and was soon joined by Andy Robertson and some Australian guy. We

all put our heads down and just went nuts but finished up getting caught

with three laps to go, so that was a real kick in the balls but Andy did an

awesome ride and got third after such a big effort off the front and Mike

Northey did a great ride to finish second.

On the third and final day all I had to ride was the individual pursuit.

Usually this event is my Achilles heel but I rode a 3.43 and placed seventh

out of fourteen riders so I was very pleased with my ride in that event. It

was only the top four through to the next round which meant I had no more

events to ride(party time). Sam and Mike were riding off for the gold and

silver where Sam came out with the gold medal with a time of 3.31 which is

pretty impressive to say its one of his first rides on the track.

The flight back was probably the best one I've had, as I fell asleep as soon

as I strapped myself in, (I didnt even see the take off), but I was glad to

be back and tell everyone how things went. Overall the Kiwis all had their

impressive rides. Almost all of us ended up getting a medal even though 80%

of us had our school exams to worry about and had very little time to get

fit but I'm sure everyone enjoyed the trip heaps. Big thanks to the

management, coaches, Chris Wittington and Rob Farley who all really worked

their arses off during the games and of course all the riders for making the

trip what it was.

Olly Pearce