Pendrel established a gap on the first lap of six following an 800m start loop and never looked back while Batty was in a tight battle with Henderson throughout the race. Pendrel had a brief stop for mechanical check on the final lap with a 1-min lead, and then sailed in for the GOLD maintaining Canada’s dominant position at the Commonwealth Games for women’s xc.
Batty battled with Henderson and the attacked on the final lap gapping her rival who couldn’t respond as she crossed the finish line to capture the silver medal for Canada.
At the Games in Manchester (UK) in 2002 it was Chrissy Redden taking the gold, while the legendary Marie-Hélène Prémont topped the podium in 2006 at Melbourne (AUS) winning gold, with teammate Kiara Bisaro claiming the bronze.
Results
1. Catharine Pendrel (Can) 1:39:29
2. Emily Batty (Can) 1:10
3. Rebecca Henderson (Aus) 1:22
4. Annie Last (Eng) 3:05
5. Alice Barnes (Eng) 3:58
6. Karen Hanlen (Nzl) 4:02
7. Lee Craigie (Sco) 4:07
8. Kate Fluker (Nzl) 5:27
9. Bethany Crumpton (Eng) 6:35
10. Mariske Strauss (Rsa) 7:48
11. Jessie Roberts (Sco) 8:03
12. Peta Mullens (Aus) 9:37
13. Kerry Macphee (Sco) 10:19
14. Tory Thomas (Aus) 13:03
15. Claire Oakley (Nir) 18:58
16. Vera Adrian (Nam) – 1 Lap
17. Retha Harding (Swz) – 1 Lap
DNF Aurelie Halbwach (Mri)
DNF Joyce Nyaruri (Ken)
DNF Mary Mburu (Ken)
DNF Mary Wanjiku Muchina (Ken)