A brand new event on a brand new course guaranteed course records were going to be set in Round 7 of the SB Sports Injuries Series, the Nova Raiders Sporting 10. With riders facing rolling terrain between Cherrington and Newport with the 10% climb of Cheyney Bank thrown in for good measure the advantage was definitely in the court of either light or powerful riders. And so it proved with SCCA Private Member Luke Pollard laying down a fabulous benchmark of 22 minutes 22 seconds to set the standard to beat on a balmy evening.

Pollard finished strong in the sapping uphill finish to beat Series leader Bryn Davies by 18 seconds and thoroughly enjoyed the new course, commenting: “A big thanks to The Nova Raiders for a fantastic course! I was happy with my ride – it will be great to see the course record time start tumbling down“!

Davies meanwhile made the most of the trip over from Welshpool as the Hafren CC rider not only stretched his lead at the too of the Overall standings  thanks to a great effort of 22:40, he also won the Veterans competition too in +3:33 despite a technical issue that meant he was riding ‘blind’. He explained: “I loved the course and it was great evening. I had to ride on feel as my Garmin packed up on the start line so I was surprised to beat Dan. A great time by Luke, thanks to Nova Raiders for a great evenings racing“.

Davies comment referred to seeing off challenges from the riders lying in the runners-up spots in both the Overall and Veterans Series, with Dan Watts having to be content with third overall. Watts has been on a winning streak recently but unfamiliarity with the course saw him pay dearly for attacking Cheyney Bank rather too vigorously. Watts suffered on the ‘back’ leg, still ending the evening on a fine 22:55 but knowing all about his efforts. He explained: “A good event by The Nova Raiders, well marshalled and something a little different on a tough course. I big-ringed the climb and paid for it every inch on the way back, but happy with time and third“.

Meanwhile a late arrival saw Nova Raiders’ Scott Harris having insufficient time for a proper warm up and despite suffering in the easterly wind that caused issues on the ‘out’ leg consolidated his Veterans position with a runner-up spot on the evening in +3:11. Harris stated: “A great course, though tough in places. I settled into it after a panicky late start, cheers to all the marshals“.

It was a two-way battle in the Womens between Nova Raiders team mates Charlotte Chapman and Jenny Newton. 20 year-old Chapman, in her first season has already made an impression and set the inaugural Womens benchmark of 25:56 ahead of Newton in 28:13. Chapman was delighted with her record, commenting: “The course wasn’t as bad as I expected! I’m pleased to have set the bar for the course record with that time, just need some more womens to try beat it now“! The runner-up spot saw Newton double her Series lead to 36 points on the strength of her ride.

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Series – Round 7

 

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Luke Pollard SCCA Private Member S 22:22 20
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 22:40 18
3 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 22:55 16
4 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 23:16 14
5 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 23:19 12
6 Alex Leek SCCA Private Member S 23:40 10
7 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 23:55 8
8 Dave Owen Nova Raiders V 24:15 6
9 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 25:01 4
10 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 25:52 2
11 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 25:56 2
12 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 28:13 2

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Veterans Series – Round 7

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +3:33 20
2 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V +3:11 18
3 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V +2:28 16
4 Dave Owen Nova Raiders V +2:08 14
5 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V +1:40 12
6 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V +1:22 10
7 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV +0:26 8

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Womens Series – Round 7

 

Womens Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Womens Points
1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 25:56 20
2 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 28:13 18

 

Cumulative Standings after seven rounds

 

Overall

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 110
2 Dan Watts SCCA Private Member S 84
3 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 78
4 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 62
5 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 56
=6 Alex Leek SCCA Private Member S 54
=6 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 54
8 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 42
9 Luke Pollard SCCA Private Member S 40
10 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 28

 

Veterans

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 118
2 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 100
3 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 78
4 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 54
5 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 38
6 Neil Howells SCCA Private Member V 34
7 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V 32
8 Gary Duncan Paramount CRT V 30
9 Dave Owen Nova Raiders V 22
10 Andy Hazell Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 20

 

Womens

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 92
2 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 56
=3 Emma Robinson Wrekinsport CC L 50
=3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 50
5 Becky Lewis Mid Shropshire Wheelers L 40
6 Hollie Owens SCCA Private Member LJ 36
=7 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders LV 26
=7 Louise Woodvine Paramount CRT L 26
9 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC L 24
=10 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 20
=10 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC L 20

 

Juniors

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 58
2 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 46
3 Tyler Brennan Hafren CC J 40
4 Hollie Owens SCCA Private Member LJ 34
5 Kieran Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 20
6 Ben Pierce Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
7 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers LJ 14

 

  • Round 8 of the SB Sports Injuries Series takes place at 7pm on Wednesday with the second chance to race on Nova Raiders’ brand new course between Cherrington and Newport. HQ The Lamb At Edgmond.