SB Series R1 2021: SCCA Spring 10 No.1

SCCA Spring 10 No.1

The County’s time trialling season got off to a belated start with the longed for lifting of Lockdown 3 on a bitterly cold day, which affected times and put 14 riders off from taking the line, but still saw some mightily impressive performances. With snow covering Market Drayton just to the north and an 80% chance of hail forecast the Waters Upton – Hodnet course somehow kept dry for the duration of the event, despite the mercury not rising above 4ºC which saw many riders wrapping up against the bitter north wind that hampered progress on the longer ‘out’ leg.

17 year-old Ryan Greaves took a fabulous win ahead of some quality riders by 12 seconds from four-time Scottish Team Time Trial Champion David Griffiths. The youngster pushed himself hard to a superb time of 21 minutes 13 seconds, which given that muscles would barely be warm is all the more impressive. He commented: “The low temperature and brutal headwind on the way out made conditions far from ideal. I felt like there was a bit more to give, but it was nice to test the legs in my first 10 since last September and a nice bonus to get the overall win”.

Arriving last minute Griffiths was second to last rider off, but took the maximum 20 points on offer to affiliated riders to set out his stall for the coming season. Newly signed for Oswestry Paragon Griffiths stopped the watch on 21:25 to see off the attentions of Matthew Roberts by five seconds.

Greaves won the Junior competition too but reigning Junior SB Champion Henri Bedford looked to be in immediate form with his 21:35 making him County runner-up – a position he’s familiar with having taken Overall SB Silver in the truncated 2020 Series. Bedford’s superbly low and locked position helped him slice through the wind and push out Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ James Satoor by 11 seconds. Bedford stated: “So pleased to get back racing, even when in the cold weather. It was tough on the way out, but I enjoyed the bit of tailwind on the way back – many thanks to organisers and marshals for making it possible”.

Having had an unusually steady start in club-level events Chris Halford showed that he’s beginning to find his form on the flat courses he prefers. Churning a huge gear Halford took 8^th spot Overall in 22:24, but when converted to Veteran’s Standard he had a clear win of 38 seconds from Fibrax Wrexham rider Steve Aston with a creditable +4:21. Halford likes racing in the warm and usually avoids the early season lung-openers as a consequence, and so his comments were not unexpected: “I’m not a huge fan of cold conditions – I shivered my way around the course! Big thanks to all the helpers who braved the bitter conditions”.

Alison Dockney had had second thoughts about turning up when she left home, but was glad she did, taking an immediate win to grab the maximum 20 points available in the SB Women’s Series. The Market Drayton CC rider threw herself across the finish line in a solid 25:19, seeing off the attentions of Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Junior Cerys Blowers by 1:04. Dockney stated: “I questioned my sanity as I drove to the event through heavy snow but fortunately I got to race on dry roads! Despite the freezing conditions and a solid headwind on the way out it was fantastic to be able to get out and pin a number on again for the first time this year.  Huge thanks to timekeepers and marshals for braving the cold to allow us to race”. 

Overall:

Veterans:

Women:

Juniors: