It was youth to the fore as Henri Bedford opened up his Series lead at the head of the SB Sports Injuries Series in the tough Round 8, Oswestry Paragon CC’s Hilly 19. Bedford coped best with a tough T-shaped course taking in Queens Head, Gobowen and Ellesmere via the fearsome clamber both sides to Welsh Frankton. Bedford stopped the watch on 41 minutes 56 seconds to stretch his lead to 22 points at the head of the Series and to 60 points in the SB Junior Series – and seems to be getting to know the challenge of this course well. He stated: “I loved doing the Oswestry Paragon hilly a few years ago, and decided to come back for more. I was feeling great and knocked over four minutes off for two years. I’m always pleased to get the overall win – thanks to Oswestry Paragon for putting the event on”.

The usual Oswestry 10 mile course is extended by adding a leg over Welsh Frankton towards Ellesmere which means riders have to be able to adapt to the challenge of initially going flat out and the shock of having to get their climbing legs on halfway through the event – and then come back from the other side for more punishment. If they’ve not saved anything for the steep slopes that can put them in trouble – but it proved no problem for a former Shropshire Hill Climb Champion as Dave Griffiths took the test in his stride, crossing the line in 42 minutes 21 seconds to take the Overall runner-up spot, pushing another Junior Jack Young of the promoting club into third place in 45:54. Griffiths commented: “This is probably one of my favourite courses, with a bit of everything in it. I enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to doing a few more”!

Griffiths also took the win in the SB Veterans Series by a massive margin of +4:13 from another Paragon rider Adam Riley, showing off his climbing abilities to full effect with a superb +8:08

In the SB Women’s Series the challenge seemed to put competitors off on what at the very least provides top training to cope with slighter slopes which can be converted into better times later in the season. Oswestry Paragon’s Helen Tudor knows the benefits with the Shropshire Championship 100 on the horizon and posted a solid 58:02. She stated: “Our 19 is certainly different, but a fabulous level of support and a testing course – just a shame we didn’t get more women riding”.

Result:

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Series – Round 8

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 41:56 20
2 Dave Griffiths Clee Cycles V 42:21 18
3 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC J 45:54 16
4 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 47:00 14
5 Peter Fletcher Oswestry Paragon CC V 47:56 12
6 Andrew Davies Oswestry Paragon CC V 50:53 10
 7 Clive Horton Barnesbury CC V 51:00 .
8 Alan Edwards Oswestry Paragon CC V 51:57 8
9 Jason Arnold Hafren CC V 52:05 6
10 Bruce Selby Oswestry Paragon CC V 56:00 4
11 Stephen Davies Oswestry Paragon CC V 56:17 2
12 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 58:02 2

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Veterans Series – Round 8

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Dave Griffiths Clee Cycles V +8:08 20
2 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V +3:55 18
3 Peter Fletcher Oswestry Paragon CC V +3:17 16
4 Alan Edwards Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:07 14
5 Andrew Davies Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:00 12
6 Clive Horton Barnesbury CC V +1:53 .
7 Jason Arnold Hafren CC V -0:52 10
8 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV -1:24 8
9 Bruce Selby Oswestry Paragon CC V -2:12 6
10 Stephen Davies Oswestry Paragon CC V -3:49 4

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Women’s Series – Round 8

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 58:02 20

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Junior Series – Round 8

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 41:56 20
2 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC J 45:54 18

Cumulative Standings after eight rounds

Overall

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 134
2 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 112
=3 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 52
=3 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 52
=5 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 38
=5 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 38
7 Mark Pritchard Nova Raiders S 30
=8 Adam Baker SCCA Private Member S 28
=8 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 28
=8 George Coombes SCCA 1st Claim S 28

Veterans

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 78
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 60
3 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 56
4 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 46
5 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC V 44
6 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 34
7 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 32
8 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 30
9 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 28
=10 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 26
=10 Pete Mulloy Wrekinsport CC V 26

Women

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders W 92
2 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 58
3 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC WV 54
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 52
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 36
6 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 34
7 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing WV 24
8 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 22
=9 Alison Dockney Market Drayton CC W 20
=9 Alison Salthouse SCCA Private Member WV 20
=9 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 20
=9 Emma Horne Wrekinsport CC WV 20

Juniors

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 140
2 Harry Corney Market Drayton CC J 80
3 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 52
4 Ethan Campbell Newport Shropshire CC J 38
=5 Ben Pierce Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=5 Nathan Fullwood Bridgnorth CC J 18
=7 Cerys Blowers Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 14
=7 Luka Stolic Wrekinsport CC J 14
9 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 12