Varnish wins European Championships
Jess Varnish claimed glory as Great Britain picked up three gold medals on the opening day of track cycling's European Championships.
Jess Varnish claimed glory as Great Britain picked up three gold medals on the opening day of track cycling's European Championships.
Halesowen Cycling Club member Varnish teamed up with Beijing Olympics hero Victoria Pendleton to win the women's team sprint.
Pendleton and Varnish won a third title for Britain as they posted a time of 33.276 seconds, including an 18.9-second split for Varnish, to defeat Ukraine.
Their victory in Holland added to the golds won by Britain's team pursuiters – the men's team including Wolverhampton's Andy Tennant – who both successfully defended their titles. And it capped off a terrific month for 20-year-old Varnish after she was named Sportsperson of the Year at the Black Country Sports Awards.
But the men's team sprinters, including Sir Chris Hoy, finished a shock fifth after start trouble in qualifying.