R8 SB Sports Injuries Series: North Shropshire Wheelers Battlefield 25

Tomos Hales narrowed the gap at the top of the SB Sports Injuries Series after a solid win in Round 8, North Shropshire Wheelers Battlefield 25. Hales made the most of a roaring tailwind from the start at Prees to Battlefield, with this switchback course capable of biting back and sapping the strength. The Wrekinsport rider stopped the watch on 57 minutes 8 seconds, pushing out Series leader Jonathan Mills-Keeling by 58 seconds. Hales was clearly trying as despite the windy but sunny conditions he registered a fine personal best, but had to dig deep to reach the finish line as he explained: “A good evening gave me a PB on the tough battlefield course, was still a tough slog back into the wind to the finish. Thanks for North Shropshire Wheelers for organising, and all the marshals that helped out.

Hales now lies in the runner-up spot in the Series 24 points behind Bridgnorth CC rider Mills-Keeling, who also leads the SB Veterans Series. He also found the return leg taxing with no hiding place from a rare northerly wind, crossing the line in 58:06. He commented: “It was a warm but very windy evening – I flew out to the turn and then a block headwind back. Well done to Tomos for the win, and thanks North Shropshire Wheelers for putting on”.

Taking third spot was the promoting club’s James Neale with a fine 1:01:36 that lifte him into fourth place in the Series standings. Neale revealed he hadn’t started the race in the best condition, which saw him take it steady initially: “I was quite pleased with my time considering I was riding on very tired legs, but I didn’t make the most of the tailwind at the start”.

Mills-Keeling did not get maximum points in the SB Veteran’s race either, missing out on sharing the win by an agonising two seconds from 72 North Shropshire Wheeler Gino Trasatti who recorded an age-adjusted +9:39 – and who had no idea he had won until contacted: “Thanks for the good news, I didn’t realise that I had won the race and by two precious seconds, amazing. This makes me feel good, younger and stronger, and also proves to me that you can succeed at an older age. On the first leg of the race I was very fast with the wind in favour; on the return it was a hard struggle, but surprisingly I had enough in the tank to manage the last half a mile with a sprint. Thanks once again to the organisers and helpers making this a successful event”. Despite this Mills-Keeling now has a commanding lead of 72 points that will be hard to pull back.

Just one female tried her luck on this tough as nails course, with few flat stretches of road to enjoy as North Shropshire Wheelers’ Elaine Beckett took the maximum 26 points on offer with a 1:29:31 effort. She was disappointed not to have any competition on the night, stating: “Tough conditions on a very undulating course, but very happy to be first lady due to the virtue of being the only lady!”. There was a solitary Junior in competition too with Wrekinsport’s Ben Southgate making the most of stepping up to a longer distance whilst extending his SB Junior Series lead to 64 points after finishing in 1:05:36. He was economic with his comments on his first go at the course: “It went well – very hilly though!”

Full:

Veterans:

Women:

Junior:

Cumulative Standings after eight rounds

Overall

Veterans

Women’s

Juniors