WORCESTERSHIRE cyclist Janet Birkmyre retained her lead in the National Omnium Series at the midway point.

The elite Great Witley competitor, who rides for the TORQ track team, finished on the podium again at the third round of the prestigious national series at Welwyn Garden City in glorious sunshine.

Birkmyre, who won the first two rounds, showed great consistency across the first three events, the 500-metre time trial, scratch race and sprint, to take the lead.

However, the pursuit, which is usually a strong discipline for her, did not go to plan and she slipped two points behind the leaders going into the final event.

In the points race, Birkmyre was unable to improve on her final round position of third place.

Birkmyre, 49, said: “I suffered horribly in the heat and got the pacing all wrong in the pursuit.

“It put me on the back foot going into the points race and I never regained the lead.

“It is frustrating but that is the nature of a series.

“It rewards the most consistent rider across the season and anyone can have a bad day.”

The placings at the top of the table are tight but there are three further rounds before the final series standings are decided.

Round four is in Reading on August 13 before the series heads north of the border to Dundee and then finally wraps up at the 2012 Olympic velodrome in London.