Britain claim first gold

Women's team pursuit trio Wendy Houvenaghel, Joanna Rowsell and Lizzie Armitstead secured Great Britain's first gold of the Track Cycling World Championships in Pruszkow, Poland on Thursday.

After four medals on the opening day - two silver and two bronze - Britain were again frustrated when Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade were second in the women's team sprint.

But Houvenaghel and Rowsell successfully defended their world title with Armitstead, riding in place of Olympic champion Rebecca Romero, clinching a first rainbow jersey.

The British trio lapped consistently quicker than their New Zealand rivals and stepped up the pace in the final kilometre of the 3,000 metre event to triumph by over a second in three minutes 22.720 seconds.

The women's team pursuit gold was Britain's sixth medal from eight events entered but it was the first time at the top of the podium in the BGZ Arena.

For Houvenaghel, who qualified fastest for the individual pursuit only to fall short and claim silver behind New Zealand's Alison Shanks, the victory was extra special.

"This has really made up for the disappointment of Wednesday night," she said.

"I was confident we'd do really well - I was anticipating the win and it's good to have done that."

The Northern Irishwoman, who lives in Cornwall, hopes the win can spark a gold rush for Britain.

"There are many more events to come and lots of talented riders still to show their form," she added. "I fully anticipate there will be more gold medals at this championships."