Shropshire Cycling Clubs Association Spring 10 No.1 – Dave Fanning Memorial

Simon Romei took a close win on a difficult afternoon as he put six seconds into reigning SB Series Champion Tomos Hales in Round 1 – Shropshire Cycling Clubs Association Spring 10 No.1, the Dave Fanning Memorial. Superbly managed by Propel CC who turned out mob-handed with 14 helpers; it was Romei who coped best with a tricky cross-headwind that sapped strength on the return leg from Hodnet to Waters Upton to cross the finish line in 21 minutes 55 seconds.

A pleasant morning gave way to a decidedly nippy and windy afternoon just in time for racing; with the occasional light shower thrown in just for good measure. And it was how the two leading riders dealt with those conditions that seem to have made the vital difference. Romei stated: “I was super happy to have secured the win in the 1st round. In the unfavourable conditions, with a stiff head wind and flurries of rain, I had to really go out hard, hitting some good speed, and knowing I was going to have to grit it out on the return leg into the savage wind. A big thanks to Propel and all their marshals who did a first class job of ensuring the event ran smoothly”. Romei also took the Veterans win in +4:36 to round off a rewarding afternoon’s competition.

Hales led home a fine show from Wrekinsport with 5 riders in the Top 8, as he opened the defence of his championship in 22:01 – which given his normal form shows just how hard the racing was. Hales put his runner-up spot down to simply not going ‘full gas’ on the longer ‘out’ leg to Hodnet, with riders being bowled along, as he saved some of his strength for the character-building return, whilst conceding that form isn’t quite at best in the early season: “It was good to be back on a good tester course. I didn’t make as much as I should have with the wind on the way out and it was a struggle back – still some improvements to be had. Well done to Simon for the win; and thanks Propel who are the best organised club in Shropshire”.

There was a welcome return to a rider who was at one time the fastest in Wrekinsport, Chris Halford, who took 3^rd overall in 22:49 and Veteran’s runner-up with +4:08, pushing out Paramount’s Chris Riley in both cases. Barely seen for a couple of years, Halford revealed why: “I’m back racing after a few health issues, but still some fifty watts down off my best – hopefully I can get a bit quicker”.

Reigning SB Female Series Champion took a fine win in the defence of her title with a superb 24:10, which was strong enough for 7^th spot overall. Wells has been keeping fit over the close season with structured indoor training, and the fitness retained was clear to see as she beat nearest challenger Sorrel Williams by 1:55. Wells commented: “It was great to be back on this course and put the winter training to the test. A tough cross-headwind to contend with on the return, but a great turnout of riders – many thanks to Propel”!

The growth area in time trialling is competing on a Road Bike, and a first-timer surprised himself with just how fast he could go by taking a fine win right off the bat. Newport Shropshire CC’s George Coombes competed in a single SB Series event in 2024, but changing to Road Bike made all the difference with his 24:45 effort taking 9^th spot in the overall standings. Coombes beat Paramount’s Andrew Dawson by 27 seconds when the age and gender handicaps had been applied, with Coombes smashing his target comfortably, commenting: “I was very pleased with my time to be honest. I was aiming for sub-25:30 considering the conditions; so was pleasantly surprised to break the 25 minute barrier”.

Result:

Veterans:

Females:

Road Bikes: