Commonwealth Games 2010: Houvenaghel wins silver medal

Houvenaghel wins pursuit silver

Wendy Houvenaghel missed out on winning Northern Ireland's first Commonwealth cycling gold medal on the final day of action at the velodrome in Delhi.

Houvenaghel, 35, made a fine start but was eventually well beaten by New Zealand's Alison Shanks in the final of the 3,000m individual pursuit.

Shanks won in a time of three minutes 30.875 seconds.

The Kiwi also beat Olympic silver medallist Houvenaghel to the world title in 2009.

"I set off with a strategy in mind," Houvenaghel told BBC Sport.

"I was conservative in my first ride, held something back for the final. I was confident going into the final and I rode the race as I'd normally ride it, but when I realised I was down I had nothing left to get it back.

"I did as best I could and the outcome took care of itself. It's a silver, I accept it and move on."

606: DEBATE

Have your say on the action

England's Paralympic champion Sarah Storey finished in 3:39.964, to place sixth in qualification, missing out on a second ride with only four riders progressing.

England's Laura Trott clocked 3:40.329 and team-mate Anna Blyth 3:51.252 to place seventh and 10th, respectively.

The bronze medal was earlier won by Canada's Tara Whitten.

Whitten finished ahead of Australia's Jaime Nielsen in the third/fourth-placed ride off.

Scotland's men's team sprint trio of John Paul, Chris Pritchard and Callum Skinner clocked 46.273 to finish fourth as Malaysia took bronze in 45.040.

The velodrome heard the Australian national anthem for the 11th time from 13 events as Daniel Ellis, Jason Niblett and Scott Sunderland won men's team sprint gold in 43.772 ahead of New Zealand, who took silver in 44.233.

Cameron Meyer also added another Australia gold - his third of the Games - in the men's scratch race.

It was a clean sweep for Australia, with Jack Bobridge, the individual pursuit champion taking second place and Michael Freiberg third.

Mark Christian was the best-placed Home Nations rider, with the Manxman sixth.

Australia have been by far the dominant nation, with many of British cycling's star names staying away.