Hamish Bond smashed the New Zealand men’s individual pursuit record on the opening morning of the Vantage Elite & U19 Track Cycling National Championships at the Avantidrome in Cambridge.

It was one of two pursuit records set on the first morning with Vantage Elite New Zealand team member Kirstie James breaking the championship mark in qualifying for the women’s 3000m individual pursuit.

Bond, who has only recently moved his attentions from the road to the track, clocked 4:12.436 in qualifying for the men’s elite 4000m individual pursuit, which was a full second under the previous record of Dylan Kennett, set at the Commonwealth Games last April. It was also under the previous all comers record set by Jordan Kerby, the former world champion, who is now part of the Vantage Elite New Zealand squad.

Kerby was second fastest in 4:14.44 and will ride off against Bond in tonight’s final.

Kennett, returning to the track following an injury break, was third fastest in 4:14.915 and will ride off against Southland’s Tom Sexton for the bronze medal.

James was fastest in women’s qualifying in 3:28.706, just outside the all comers record. She will take on Mid South Canterbury’s Holly Edmondston in the ride for gold tonight, while the Waikato Bay of Plenty pair of Bryony Botha and Rushlee Buchanan will ride for bronze. All four are members of the Vantage Elite women’s squad who will compete at the world championships in Poland at the end of February.

In Paracycling action, Nicole Murray (Waikato Bay of Plenty) won the 500m women C1 time trial in 39.875 ahead of Nikita Howarth (40.623) while Nick Blincoe won the men C1 1000m time trial in 1:09.907 over fellow Aucklander Byron Raubenheimer.

Northland’s accomplished paracyclist Emma Foy and pilot Hannah van Kampen took out the B/Vi women tandem in 1:07.811 while Mitchell Wilson (Waikato Bay of Plenty) and pilot Jackson Ogle won the men tandem in 1:03.996.

The championships continue until Sunday.