Riders had three interesting challenges to cope with in Round 9 of The SB Sports Injuries Series as Oswestry Paragon promoted their Hilly 19. Initially based on their Queens Head to Gobowen course, riders take a left turn towards Ellesmere for the tough climb both sides of Welshampton – made all the more difficult by howling gusty winds catching the bike on the fastest sections, meaning that competitors had to remain alert.  

Wrekinsport CC’s Tomos Hales took a fine win of 45 seconds to narrow the gap to Series leader Jonathan Mills-Keeling to 22 points and crossed the line in 42 minutes 43 seconds, clearly relishing the challenge of a course that has a lot of variety: “The Oswestry hilly 19 is one of my favourite courses: a long drag over to Ellesmere, then a short sharp one back over which pushes you into the red. I’m happy with the win for such a great event! Thanks for Oswestry Paragon for organising; and all their marshals”.

Mills-Keeling was getting his first sight of the course, stopping the watch on 43:28 and added another useful 18 points to his tally, also extending his lead at the top of the SB Veterans Series with a dominant +7:45 Veterans Standard ahead of Oswestry Paragon’s Mark Devaney on +3:36. His comments show how coping with a mix of speed, gained by pushing hard down from Welshampton and a gusting wind takes concentration to cope with any twitchiness: “The first time I’ve rode the course, it was more hilly then I expected. Gusty winds made it ‘interesting’ on the 47mph descent”.

Third overall and enjoying his first season as a Senior was 18 year-old Jack Young, who put his light weight to advantage to get up the tough climbs. Young finished in 44:47, a personal best after pushing Devaney out by 42 seconds for the final podium spot. He stated: “Great, I enjoyed it, a bit of a headwind but I still managed a PB”. Best placed amongst the females was Oswestry Paragon’s Vikki Jones, who ended the evening on 54:57.

Result:

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Series – Round 9

Posn Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 42:43 20
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 43:28 18
3 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC S 44:47 16
4 Mark Devaney Oswestry Paragon CC V 48:29 14
5 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 49:08 12
6 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V 50:52 10
7 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV 54:57 8
8 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 57:26 6
=9 Steve Roberts Oswestry Paragon CC V 58:35 4
=9 Stephen Davies Oswestry Paragon CC V 58:35 4
11 Liz Breeze Mule CC WV 1:00:55 .
. Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV DNF-P .

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Veterans Series – Round 9

Vets Posn Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V +7:45 20
2 Mark Devaney Oswestry Paragon CC V +3:36 18
3 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:42 16
4 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:05 14
5 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV +0:27 12
6 Liz Breeze Mule CC WV -2:44 .
=7 Steve Roberts Oswestry Paragon CC V -5:55 10
=7 Stephen Davies Oswestry Paragon CC V -5:55 10
9 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V -6:40 6

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Women’s Series – Round 9

Women’s Posn Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV 54:57 20
2 Liz Breeze Mule CC WV 1:00:55 .
. Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV DNF-P .

Cumulative Standings after nine rounds

Overall

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 158
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 136
3 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 54
4 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 44
5 Darren Shaw SCCA Private Member V 42
6 Mark Pritchard Revolutions Racing S 40
7 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 38
8 Dan Watts SCCA Private Member S 36
9 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 34
10 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 32

Veterans

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 172
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 80
3 Darren Shaw SCCA Private Member V 58
4 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 50
5 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 38
6 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 36
=7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 30
=7 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 30
=9 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 26
=9 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V 26

Women’s

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 80
2 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 36
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 32
4 Jan Davies Hafren CC WV 28
5 Elaine Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV 26
=6 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC WV 20
=6 Nicki Doherty Ludlow CC W 20
=6 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV 20
=9 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC W 18
=9 Cerys Greaves SCCA Private Member WJ 18
=9 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 18
=9 Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders W 18

Juniors

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 84
=2 Cerys Greaves SCCA Private Member WJ 20
=2 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers J 20
=2 Harry Corney North Shropshire Wheelers J 20