Chris Halford moved into sole lead of both the SB Sports Injuries Series and the SB Veterans Series with a fabulous win in Round 4, the third SCCA Spring 10. Halford took the overall win ahead of a good field of 43 riders on the Cold Hatton – Shawbirch course as he got to grips with the rolling course – despite a mechanical incident. The Wrekinsport CC rider posted a fine time of 21 minutes 28 seconds to push Revolutions Racing’s Sam Morris into the runner-up spot by 16 seconds and evidently enjoyed his afternoon despite the temporary blip, stating: “I paced it better than the first attempt, however my chain got stuck in between the frame and cassette after the turn. I really like the course. Well done for a well run event“.

19 year-old Morris was making his belated first appearance of the season in the county, being more usually occupied with university studies, but he showed he’s lost none of his fitness over the winter lay-off with an excellent runner-up spot in 21:44, pushing reigning SB Series Champion Ian Nisbett down to third. Morris enjoyed the change of course, called into action due to ongoing repairs at Peplow, commenting: “It was a good ride, I’m starting to find some good legs in the last few weeks. I quite enjoyed the course as a change from the dreaded Peplow“.

Nisbett meanwhile isn’t a rider who enjoys the course and was philosophical about his performance, with his 22:07 pushing former joint series leader Ed Middleton into 4th spot on the day by 27 seconds. He wasn’t finished there either with a solid +4:24 taking the Veteran’s runner-up position behind Halford’s excellent +5:08. He stated: “My ride went much better than the previous week, so I was surprised with only a marginal time improvement. I guess it goes that way sometimes“!

Nisbett lifted himself into third spot in the Overall standings and moved up to second in the Veteran’s standings after pushing Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Tony Harvey out by nine seconds. Harvey was just pleased to be in competition, stating: “It’s great to be back in the game after a couple of health scares this year. However I didn’t pace it as well as lthe last one, I left the big gear in far too long“. These comments show how tricky the course can be to judge, with a number of pulls and drags to negotiate correct gearing is essential.

In the Women’s Series Alison Dockney gave herself extra reason to celebrate on her birthday as she took a big win in 26:54 – despite the attentions of Paramount CRT’s Natalie Brooks who finished 18 seconds off the pace. Dockney coped well with the conditions and suffered on the ‘out’ leg to Shawbirch. She commented: “It was great! It’s good to try a different course, although the first half felt really exposed into that freezing cross/headwind. It was a big relief to turn around at Shawbirch and reap the tailwind rewards – the second half felt super fast and fun. I was really happy with the result, and it was even more special because it was my birthday – pre-race cake is clearly a good idea! A cold day for timekeeping and marshalling, so a big thank you to all who turned out to put on and support the time trial“.

Despite finishing in runners-up spot Brooks elevated herself into the lead of the SB Women’s Series thanks to her 27:12 effort. She now holds a four point advantage over former leader Louise Hurdley who slips to second place.

In the Junior Series Kieran Morris showed no residual effects after illness kept him off the bike for a month. Morris took a close win from Junior Series leader Henri Bedford by nine seconds after pushing himself hard to record a 23:13 ride – good enough for equal 7th spot Overall, with Bedford taking 9th. The Oswestry-based rider commented: “I didn’t know what to expect as this was my first time on my bike in four weeks. I love that course though! A bit windy and it hurt like crazy, but I’m just so happy I can ride my bike again. Great organisation as always, now I need to find some form. Well done everyone“.

Result:

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Series – Round 4

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 21:28 20
2 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing S 21:44 18
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 22:07 16
4 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 22:34 14
5 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 22:36 12
6 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 22:59 10
=7 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 23:13 8
=7 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member J 23:13 8
9 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 23:24 4
10 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V 23:26 2
11 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 23:37 2
12 Steven Ford Nova Raiders V 23:48 2
=13 Dean Barnett Oswestry Paragon CC V 24:01 2
=13 Phil Birch SCCA Private Member V 24:01 2
15 Mark Hill Hafren CC V 24:09 2
16 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 24:11 2
17 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V 24:12 2
18 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 24:23 2
19 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 24:38 2
20 Stan Elmitt Fibrax Wrexham RC V 24:40  
21 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 25:08 2
22 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 25:14 2
23 Jan Kardasz Fibrax Wrexham RC V 25:34  
24 D.J Fanning Come and Try It V 25:39  
25 Al Horrigan Market Drayton CC V 26:01  
26 George Coombes Evolve J 26:02 2
27 Chris Marrs Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 26:28 2
28 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 26:42 2
29 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member W 26:54 2
30 Natalie Brooks Paramount CRT W 27:12 2
31 Andy Hulland Newport Shropshire CC V 27:28 2
32 Bruce Selby Oswestry Paragon CC V 27:35 2
33 Robin Shedden Wrekinsport CC V 27:53 2
34 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 28:26 2
35 Tanya Samuels Chester Tri WV 28:42  
36 Steve Smout North Shropshire Wheelers V 29:03 2
37 Ian Carson Oswestry Paragon CC V 29:04 2
38 Damian Jay Propel CC V 29:05 2
39 Dan Braddock Newport Shropshire CC V 29:36 2
40 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 31:40 2
41 Ron Perks Wrekinsport CC V 32:07 2
42 John Rowlands Wrekinsport CC V 32:35 2
43 John Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 34:26 2

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Veterans Series – Round 3

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V +5:08 20
2 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V +4:24 18
3 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +4:15 16
4 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V +3:28 14
5 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V +3:17 12
6 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V +2:51 10
7 Steven Ford Nova Raiders V +2:48 8
8 Mark Hill Hafren CC V +2:45 6
9 Phil Birch SCCA Private Member V +2:35 4
10 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:31 2
11 Stan Elmitt Fibrax Wrexham RC V +2:23  
12 Dean Barnett Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:21 2
13 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +2:11 2
=14 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V +1:59 2
=14 Jan Kardasz Fibrax Wrexham RC V +1:59  
=16 D.J Fanning Come and Try It V +1:24  
=16 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:24 2
18 Chris Marrs Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:00 2
19 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +0:40 2
20 Tanya Samuels Chester Tri WV +0:39  
21 Al Horrigan Market Drayton CC V +0:16  
22 Bruce Selby Oswestry Paragon CC V +0:04 2
23 Robin Shedden Wrekinsport CC V -0:20 2
24 Andy Hulland Newport Shropshire CC V -0:21 2
25 Ian Carson Oswestry Paragon CC V -0:25 2
26 Ron Perks Wrekinsport CC V -0:45 2
27 Steve Smout North Shropshire Wheelers V -2:18 2
28 Damian Jay Propel CC V -2:25 2
29 Dan Braddock Newport Shropshire CC V -2:51 2
30 John Rowlands Wrekinsport CC V -3:37 2
31 John Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V -7:09 2

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Women’s Series – Round 4

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member W 26:54 20
2 Natalie Brooks Paramount CRT W 27:12 18
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 28:26 16
4 Tanya Samuels Chester Tri WV 28:42  

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Junior Series – Round 4

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member J 23:13 20
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 23:24 18
3 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 25:14 16
4 George Coombes Evolve J 26:02 14
5 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 31:40 12

Cumulative Standings after four rounds

Overall

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 58
2 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 52
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 50
4 Ollie Atkin SCCA Private Member S 36
5 Dan Watts SCCA Private Member S 32
6 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 30
=7 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 26
=7 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 26
9 Matt Garthwaite Holohan Coaching RT S 20
10 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing S 18

Veterans

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 58
2 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 52
3 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 46
4 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 38
5 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 32
6 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V 26
7 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member V 22
8 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V 20
9 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 18
=10 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders V 16
=10 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 16
=10 Phil Birch SCCA Private Member V 16

Women’s

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Natalie Brooks Paramount CRT W 50
2 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC W 46
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 40
4 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member W 36
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 26
=6 Elaine Langley North Shropshire Wheelers WV 18
=6 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 18
8 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 16
9 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC W 12

Juniors

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 58
2 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 46
3 George Coombes Evolve J 30
4 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 26
5 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member J 20
=6 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=6 Ronnie Tse Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
  • Round 5 of the SB Sports Injuries Series takes place at 7pm on 8th May when Wrekinsport CC host their Hanna Phipps-Jones 19 over two laps of their normal club circuit. HQ The Woolpack, Shawbirch.