Nova Raiders Sporting 10.

The course record was smashed in Round 7 of the SB Sports Injuries Series as Matt Garthwaite carved 51 seconds off Luke Pollard’s benchmark in Nova Raiders Sporting 10. The rolling Cherrington-Newport course has gained a reputation for testing the mettle of competitors in its brief existence but despite Garthwaite having heavy legs he posted an impressive time of 21 minutes 33 seconds to set himself up as sole leader of the Series on a tough evening.

The SCCA Private Member has scored maximum points in all five rounds he has competed in, but this victory didn’t come without suffering as he explained: “I was pleased with the result considering having very fatigued legs after racing the Giro Del Mon at the weekend. Compared to the Stiperstones, the course could be considered flat. I loved every second, which is contrary to what I shouted to organiser Ed Middleton whilst on course“!

Taking the Overall Runner-up spot was Wrekinsport’s Chris Halford, who knew just what to expect having tried the course out in 2017. Halford recorded a strong 23:13 to push out Ian Nisbett by six seconds, seeing the Hafren CC rider move down from his tie at the top with Garthwaite to second in the Overall standings as a four point gap opened up. Halford had tried out the course at the end of the 2017 season and slipped nine seconds which may have been thanks to the conditions – though more likely have been due to an unscheduled stop: “My second time on the course and a bit slower than my last attempt. I had an issue with my visor and had to stop and take it off, so I was pleased with second“.

Nisbett did extend his advantage at the top of the SB Veterans Series to a commanding 48 points despite Halford also usurping him in this Championship by 10 seconds with a fine +3:14, with Nisbett taken a little aback on his maiden attempt at the event: “It was the first time on that course for me. A tough one, but I enjoyed the challenge. I knew about the hill near the turn, but was surprised by how lumpy the whole course was. Kudos to Matt Garthwaite – that is rapid on that course“.

In the SB Women’s Series Charlotte Chapman extended her lead at the top of the standings with a fine effort of 24:45, knocking 1:11 off her previous course best and missing the Women’s course record by just 16 seconds. Chapman saw off the attentions of Nova Raiders’ team mate Jenny Newton, who stopped the watch on 27:30, which elevated her into the runner-up spot in the Women’s Series, leapfrogging Chapman’s mother Jane in the process.

Chapman however was more excited about overtaking father Steve on the toughest part of the course, the 10% climb of Cheney Bank despite suffering for the win: “I did not enjoy that one! I was concentrating on the hill at the turn and forgot how lumpy the rest of the course is. I didn’t think it went well at the time but I knocked a over a minute off last year so I’ve got to be happy with that! Fabulous to see so many Nova’s out on the course shouting me up those hills, the best bit was overtaking Dad just at the top of Cheney, although I’m sure he won’t agree“!

There was a two-way fight in the SB Junior Series with positions reversed from Round 6 as Revolutions Racing’s Henri Bedford saw off a strong challenge from Newport Shropshire CC rider Tom Bullock, posting a 45 second advantage. Bedford moved into the lead of the SB Junior Series on the strength of his 24:45 ride on his first sight of this course, and found it testing. He commented: “I was really pleased with my time as I had not ridden the course before and found it tough. Well done everyone who rode, and thanks to The Nova Raiders for organising the event“.

Result:

 SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Series – Round 7

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Matt Garthwaite SCCA Private Member S 21:33 20
2 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 23:13 18
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 23:19 16
4 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 23:42 14
5 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 23:58 12
6 Andrew Lacon Halesowen A&CC S 24:12
7 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 24:45 10
8 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 24:49 8
9 Stuart Jackson Nova Raiders V 24:51 6
10 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 25:57 4
11 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 26:14 2
12 Tom Bullock Newport Shropshire CC J 26:42 2
13 Graeme Donnell Wolverhampton Racing CC V 27:11
14 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 27:30 2
15 Morgan Jones Paramount CRT S 27:50 2
16 Dan Rogers Nova Raiders S 28:16 2
17 Matt Gardiner Nova Raiders S 29:21 2

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Veterans Series – Round 7

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vets +/- Vets Points
1 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V +3:14 20
2 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V +3:04 18
3 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V +2:50 16
4 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV +1:13 14
5 Stuart Jackson Nova Raiders V +1:08 12
6 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V +1:06 10
7 Graeme Donnell Wolverhampton Racing CC V -0:17

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Women’s Series – Round 7

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 24:45 20
2 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 27:30 18

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Junior Series – Round 7

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 25:57 20
2 Tom Bullock Newport Shropshire CC J 26:42 18

 

Cumulative Standings after seven rounds

Overall

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Matt Garthwaite SCCA Private Member S 100
2 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 96
3 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 86
4 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC J 54
5 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 48
6 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 46
7 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 44
8 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 34
=9 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 20
=9 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 20
=9 Pete Thomas Hafren CC V 20

 

Veterans

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 108
2 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 60
=3 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 58
=3 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 58
=5 Dave Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V 40
=5 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 40
7 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 38
8 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 32
9 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 28
10 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 24

 

Women’s

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 98
2 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 68
3 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders WV 56
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 50
5 Louise Downward Hafren CC W 48
6 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 34
7 Charlotte Wellsbury Evolve WV 32
8 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC W 20
9 Kat Holwill Hafren CC WV 14
=10 Sahrah Wilding Hafren CC WV 12
=10 Victoria Doran SY Tri W 12

 

Juniors

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 76
2 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC J 60
3 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 52
4 Tom Bullock Newport Shropshire CC J 38
5 George Coombes Evolve J 28
=6 Ben Pierce Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=6 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 18
=8 Freddie Jones-Hoare Hafren CC J 16
=8 Jack Emmerson Newport Shropshire CC J 16

 

  • Round 8 of the SB Sports Injuries Series sees the first longer distance bonus points in play when North Shropshire Wheelers promote their 25 on Wednesday, 20th June on the rolling Prees – Battlefield course with a 7pm start. Winners in each category will earn 26 points, decreasing in two point steps down to 4 for finishing.