R6 SB Sports Injuries Series: Wrekinsport CC 25

A red hot evening saw some red hot rides as the course record fell twice, the female course record was decimated, and personal bests were lowered in Round 6 of the SB Sports Injuries Series, Wrekinsport CC’s 25 as 11 riders broke the hour from 16 competitors. Held on the Crudgington – Shawbirch – Tern Hill – Waters Upton course; the benchmark of 52 minutes 37 seconds had been set by Fibrax Wreham RC’s Benjamin Goodfellow in 2020 in one of the limited events held when Covid restrictions were eased. First to break it was Tomos Hales, slicing 31 seconds off after charging for the line in 52:06. However, Hales held that record for just 52 seconds as Aerologic’s Dean Callister again reset the benchmark to 50:58.

Callister was delighted to take the Course Record, one of several he holds, stating: “A great evening for weather which gave fast conditions. My legs felt good on the night so I maintained good pace. Pleased to take the win and Course Record – thanks to all involved”.

Hales was philosophical about holding a record for less than a minute thanks to extending his SB Series title defence points tally to 120, 32 ahead of Jonathan Mills-Keeling. He battled hard into the initial headwind to Shawbirch and made hay to Hodnet thanks to a tailwind, but like many others reported the final few miles were hard going: “Beautiful conditions suggested a very low weather impact for the Wrekinsport 25 mile time trial. I set off hard into the headwind, then was blown all the way from Shawbirch to Hodnet. The last five miles were tough, but I knew I was on for a good time as my average speed was so high.  It was nice to have the Course Record – even if it was for 52 seconds! Well done to Dean who bettered me by over a minute to break it again. Also thanks for the Wrekinsport marshals that help out on a heavy marshal course”.

Mills-Keeling took 3^rd spot on actual in 54:48, 40 seconds ahead of Chris Halford, and extended his SB Veterans Series lead with +13:14, again 40 seconds ahead of Halford who moved up to 3^rd spot in the Veterans standings as a result of his efforts. Mills-Keeling now holds a 34 points advantage over Paramount’s John Westhead and enjoyed his evening on a personal favourite course: “A fast night, I really enjoy that course but only done once before in 2021. Great to see Dean smash the Course Record and so many breaking the hour”

A single female took the line – not that that bothered Hayley Wells who smashed Charlotte Chapman’s longstanding record of 1:01:48 set in 2018 to become the first female to dip below the hour – and by a considerable margin. Wells stopped the watch on 56:57, good enough for 6^th overall among a quality field, and added a further 26 points to her Series lead in this bonus point round designed to attract newer riders stepping up and riders with an interest in the Championships to ride a longer distance. A 25 is no bother to a strong rider like Wells as she defends her SB Series title, making her lead a giant 76 points, though incredibly this course was new to her. She stated: “My first time riding this course and it didn’t disappoint. A tough leg out to Shawbirch into the headwind meant a quick ride all the way to Tern Hill. I had saved enough in the tank for a tough return to Crudington; but was pleasantly surprised that this was quicker than expected, the toughest part being the final kilometre! Super chuffed to not only go under the hour on a local course but also taken the Course Record; many thanks to Wrekinsport for arranging all the fabulous marshals to allow us to safely navigate a roundabout heavy course”.

In the Road Bike Series Wells’ father Colin continues to make similar gains to his daughter, with a 50 point lead opened up after taking the County win and 26 further points. Wells crossed the line in 1:14:55 actual, which when the handicap was applied converted to 1:07:57, only beaten by unattached rider Chris Dunn by 57 seconds. Wells commented: “It was hard, and age catches up with you. However, it looked like a hard first few miles, then a good tailwind to Tern Hill and a hard slog eight miles back. I tried to pace myself and I think the last two miles hurt. A great evening though with some cracking times, if only I could roll back the years – thanks for organising and everyone involved”.

For Dunn this was a step into the almost unknown, and he finished with a creditable 1:08:08 on actual. His post-race comments show however that you can’t treat it like a 10 and expect to hang on: “This 25 mile time trial was only my second one, so I was not too good with the pacing strategy. It was a tough start back to Shawbirch with a good tailwind all the way to Hodnet, I tried to make the most with the wind by pushing a bit too much paid the price later and found the last eight miles tough. I was aiming for a sub 1:10, and enjoyed the ride”.  

Full:

Veterans:

Females:

Road Bikes:

Cumulative Standings after six rounds

Overall

Veterans

Females

Road Bikes

Juniors