North Shropshire Wheelers Battlefield 25

A dead heat for first place saw Ian Nisbett share the honours with Richard Kay in the first bonus point round of the SB Sports Injuries Series, North Shropshire Wheelers’ Battlefield 25. The attempt to attract newer riders to try the longer distances in the Series and focus the attentions of those after big points at the top of the SB standings had the desired effect, with Nisbett moving into the Overall Series lead thanks to a 26-point haul for tying with Kay, making his first appearance of the Series in his own club’s promotion. Both stopped the watch on an impressive 58 minutes 23 seconds on a rolling course where to beat the hour is a significant challenge, battling through the wind that affected the return leg.

The Hafren CC rider made it a brace after adding that Overall Series lead to his Veteran’s Series lead, which he extended to a massive margin of 74 points thanks to a solid +8:40, 24 seconds ahead of Kay when the age-related standards were applied. He revealed that his performance was in spite of feeling under the weather: “I’ve been struggling with an illness recently, and as a result I had to really back off and ride at a much lower intensity than at the Friction Hydraulics 10 four days earlier. I wasn’t sure how the 25 would go, especially as the Battlefield course is quite challenging – so I was very pleased with a solid, consistent effort on the night. A decent time considering the gusty wind conditions on the return leg. Big thanks to the marshals and time keepers“.

Kay meanwhile crept into both the Overall and Veterans Top 10’s on the strength of his ride, and was left rueing not trying that little bit harder: “I wasn’t particularly optimistic about the return leg but I think the wind dropped a little. A great ride by Ian, although I wish I’d pushed a second harder! A top event by my club on the best 25 course in the county“.

In the Women’s Championship it was a straight head-to-head between two newly joined SCCA Members and 2-Up partners, both getting their first sight of the rolling Battlefield course. Taking the win was Sarah Grant, posting a very creditable time of 1:03:29 to capture 8th place overall with Alison Dockney finishing in 1:12:38. Grant was impressed by the challenge presented by the course, which barely has any flat parts, stating: “This was my first time racing the Battlefield course and I really enjoyed it – especially when the wind seemed to drop a little in the second half! Thanks to North Shropshire Wheelers for putting on a great event“.

It was a straight head-to-head in the Junior Series too with Kieran Morris making a late call to attempt the course pushing out Junior Series leader Henri Bedford for the win. Morris stopped the watch on 1:01:10 for 6th spot Overall, and narrowing the gap to Bedford by two points after the Revolutions Racing youngster recorded a fine 1:05:34. The bonus points saw the pair open up a big gap at the top of the Junior standings, with Morris commenting: “It was a last minute decision to ride. I held back a bit too much and got smashed around by the wind, yet I loved the course and will come back. Well done everyone, and thanks to North Shropshire Wheelers for a great event“.

Result:

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Series – Round 8

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
=1 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 58:23 26
=1 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 58:23 26
3 Steve Aston Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 59:19
4 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 59:22 22
5 Phil Birch 3CPS V 1:00:55
6 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC J 1:01:10 20
7 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 1:02:56 18
8 Sarah Grant SCCA Private Member W 1:03:29 16
=9 Dave Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:04:46 14
=9 Dominic Sanderson RAF CA S 1:04:46
11 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:05:28 12
12 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 1:05:34 10
13 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:07:06 8
14 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:11:21 6
15 Morgan Jones Paramount CRT S 1:11:56 4
16 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member W 1:12:38 4
17 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers S 1:13:21 4
18 Terry Price North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:18:27 4
19 Mark Sumner North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:21:18 4
Carl Drinkwater North Shropshire Wheelers V DNF

 SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Veterans Series – Round 8

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vets +/- Vets Points
1 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V +8:40 26
2 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V +8:16 24
3 Steve Aston Fibrax-Wrexham RC V +6:54
4 Phil Birch 3CPS V +6:31
5 Dave Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V +6:30 22
6 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +6:04 20
7 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:34 18
8 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V -2:16 16
9 Mark Sumner North Shropshire Wheelers V -11:29 14
10 Terry Price North Shropshire Wheelers V -11:36 12

 SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Women’s Series – Round 8

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Sarah Grant SCCA Private Member W 1:03:29 26
2 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member W 1:12:38 24

 SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Junior Series – Round 8

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC J 1:01:10 26
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 1:05:34 24

 Cumulative Standings after eight rounds 

Overall

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 122
2 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 108
3 Matt Garthwaite SCCA Private Member S 100
4 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC J 74
5 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 52
6 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 48
7 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 46
8 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 44
9 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 26
=10 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 20
=10 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 20
=10 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 20
=10 Pete Thomas Hafren CC V 20

 Veterans 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 134
2 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 60
=3 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 58
=3 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 58
5 Dave Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V 40
6 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 40
7 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 38
8 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 32
9 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 28
=10 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 24
=10 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 24

 Women’s

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 98
2 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 68
3 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders WV 56
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 50
5 Louise Downward Hafren CC W 48
6 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 34
7 Charlotte Wellsbury Evolve WV 32
8 Sarah Grant SCCA Private Member W 26
9 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member W 24
10 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC W 20

 Juniors

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 100
2 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC J 86
3 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 52
4 Tom Bullock Newport Shropshire CC J 38
5 George Coombes Evolve J 28
=6 Ben Pierce Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=6 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 18
=8 Freddie Jones-Hoare Hafren CC J 16
=8 Jack Emmerson Newport Shropshire CC J 16

 

  • The original Round 9, Oswestry Paragon CC’s Hilly 19 was cancelled on the night due to an accident blocking the A495. A rescheduled date is to be confirmed. The next round of the SB Sports Injuries Series is Wrekinsport CC’s 25 on 4th July, covering a course taking in Crudgington – Shawbirch – Hodnet – Tern Hill and returning to Waters Upton. This is also a bonus point round, with 26 awarded for the win in all categories down to 4 for finishing.