At the age of 14, Ethan Hayter rolled his cycle on to the track at the Herne Hill velodrome in south London with few aspirations but untold promise. Some seem born gifted. That he had found his sporting niche was rapidly evident. A member of the British team pursuit crew that earned gold at this year’s world championships, he landed a maiden major title to call his own in Glasgow on Saturday with victory in the men’s omnium at the European Championships. All accomplished before he turns 20 next month.
It was a solo effort with some brio, landing points in seven of the 10 sprints to forge ahead of Italy’s Olympic champion Elia Viviani, who earned silver. A prize scalp indeed, his second medal here, and validation of his selection from a deep pool of talent.
“Getting a spot is probably one of the hardest things to do rather than winning the medal,” Hayter said. “I thought, coming into it, I wouldn’t make the team pursuit team, even though I was world champion. I knew I could physically be capable of it if everything went right – I think I’ve proved that.”
Katie Archibald, short of her normal ferocious potency, ceded her individual pursuit title to Germany’s Lisa Brennauer, who won by almost three seconds in 3:26.879. “I did feel locked up this morning and there was no way there was a 3:26 in me,” the 24-year-old said. “So I’m not disappointed.”
Great Britain secured their first two rowing medals – both silver – at the European Championships in Motherwell. For Adam Neill, it was especially sweet, having spent four seasons away from the sport following two back surgeries in 2011, only to unexpectedly fight his way back in.
Aligned to Thomas Ford, Jacob Dawson and James Johnson, he helped power GB through the midday chill of Strathclyde Loch in a vain pursuit of Romania, who won by 1.37sec with France third.
“I spent three years rehabbing and dragging myself through various core exercises and back-strengthening exercises to try to get myself back in the boat,” Neill revealed. “Which took a lot of effort, so days like this make it worthwhile.”
Five weeks out from the world championships in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, the GB’s women’s eight also claimed silver, courtesy of a late burst that took the hosts past the Netherlands but 1.11sec shy of Romania.
Britain’s injury-hit women’s squad came up just short in a surprise chase for a medal in the team final at the European gymnastics championships in Glasgow, finishing fourth, separated by less than three points from the top three of Russia, France and the Netherlands.
