New Zealand off to golden start at Commonwealth Games

The New Zealand team are second on the medal table after a highly successful opening day at the Commonwealth Games – behind only Australia.

England sit in third place, Canada fourth and Scotland fifth.

Riders Aaron Gate, Jordan Kerby, Tom Sexton and Campbell Stewart set a new Games record in the men’s 4000m teams pursuit.
Photo: SWPix / www.photoport.nz

Three of New Zealand’s medals were gold – with Dame Sophie Pascoe claiming her fifth Commonwealth title.

Pascoe won gold with a time of 1:02.95 her fifth Commonwealth title with victory in the women’s S9 100m freestyle.

The other two gold medals came in track cycling, through the men’s team pursuit and women’s team sprint.

New Zealand blew away rivals England in the 4000m teams pursuit by nearly two seconds on the opening day at the velodrome.

Aaron Gate, Jordan Kerby, Tom Sexton and Campbell Stewart set a Games record of 3min 47.575sec.

Soon after, the women’s team sprint of Ellesse Andrews, Rebecca Petch and Olivia King dominated Canada in a Games record of 47.425 seconds.

Earlier, the women’s team pursuit – down a rider after Ally Woollaston was injured in the Tour de France – took silver in the gold medal race against Australia.

Andrews replaced Woollaston, but eased off early in the gold medal race to save her energy for the team sprint soon after.

And the New Zealand men’s sprint team of Sam Webster, Sam Dakin and Bradley Knipe beat Canada to win bronze.