Five months ago Emma Davies-Jones was in a hospital bed following a very nasty hit and run whilst riding to Manchester Velodrome. She had a long rehab and it was touch and go if she would heal naturally, surgery could have resulted in lack of mobility and the end of her cycling career.
Only recently was she given the all-clear, so with little winter training it was all systems go towards training for the Commonwealth Games 3000 metre pursuit. So to achieve a medal, let alone just be there, is an incredible foot-note to a nasty year.
Read a full interview with Emma about her recovery at: SheCycles.com
In the pursuit she rode a very sensible strategy and realised after qualifying that a medal was on, as long as she didn’t over cook it. In the final for Bronze it was a nail-biting last few laps as the Kiwi Alison Shanks was matching her. But Jones dug deep and found the extra needed to get the win. She was obviously delighted.
Speaking to the BBC she said:
“I was just hoping to record a good time and I would have been happy with three minutes, 40 seconds so I’m astounded I went 3:38 in qualifying.
“I hadn’t got the whole winter training behind me and we knew we had very little to play with and that I couldn’t afford to mess it up.
“Thankfully it worked and now I just want to get home and enjoy it with the team of people who have got me here.”
Katie Mactier won the Gold medal with one of the fastest rides in history.
3000m Pursuit Results
Qualifying
1. Katie Mactier (Australia) 3.30.290 (51.358km/h)
2. Katherine Bates (Australia) 3.34.471 (50.356km/h)
3. Emma Jones (England) 3.38.791 (49.362km/h)
4. Alison Shanks (New Zealand) 3.40.733 (48.928km/h)
5. Katrina Hair (Scotland) 3.43.524 (48.317km/h)
6. Paddy Walker (New Zealand) 3.44.191 (48.173km/h)
7. Alexis Rhodes (Australia) 3.44.614 (48.082km/h)
8. Iona Wynter (Jamaica) 3.52.679 (46.416km/h)
9. Uracca Leow Hoay Sim (Malaysia) 3.59.430 (45.107km/h)
10. Noor Azian Binti Alias (Malaysia) 4.05.107 (44.062km/h)
DSQ Wendy Houvenaghel (England) – After being caught by Mactier, she overtook her again to continue
Finals
Final for Bronze
1. Emma Jones (England) 3.40.057 (49.078km/h)
2. Alison Shanks (New Zealand) 3.40.878 (48.896km/h)
Final for Gold
1. Katie Mactier (Australia) 3.35.196 (50.187km/h)
2. Katherine Bates (Australia) 3.37.089 (49.749km/h)
Emma has set up a charity to raise money for the Spinal Unit at Hope Hospital in Salford, where she was treated, to find out more go to:
www.emmadaviesjones.co.uk
