Victor Chetta led home a great showing from Mid Shropshire Wheelers in the opening round of the SB Sports Injuries Series with a win of 15 seconds at his least favourite distance. Long-distance specialist Chetta has struggled with motivation over the close season but blasted the cobwebs away with a fabulous effort of 21 minutes 44 seconds to take the win as April showers ensured there was lots of oxygen in the air. He commented: “It felt like it might be a fairly quick day beforehand, and a flat course suits me. I hope to be back next Saturday“!

Chetta led home a good field of 45 riders anxious to get their seasons underway following the clock change and was the penultimate rider off, usurping team mate George Rowlands who had set the benchmark which stood for most of the event of 21:59. The 22 year-old was delighted with his efforts stating: “I was pleased to have ducked below 22 minutes for the first time trial of the season. The first five miles was a struggle, but I really got the speed up in the second half“. Rowlands’ comments referred to the headwind that affected the longer ‘out’ leg, with riders getting a good push back to Waters Upton.

The current Championship holder Bryn Davies had to be content with a creditable third spot thanks to a 22:14 ride, just pushing out SCCA Private Member Dan Watts by a second. This was a fine effort with Davies revealing he had been suffering: “It was good to get back racing. Not my fastest, but considering I’ve not been feeling 100% I was pity happy not to be to far off the pace. Some great rides from Victor and George, they would have taken some beating nonetheless“.

In the Veteran’s Series it was another 1-2 for Mid Shropshire Wheelers as Jenny York took a fine win of +5:18 ahead of team mate John Robinson’s +4:35. York, the Friction Hydraulics Veteran’s Champion is well used to taking big points and set out her stall for the season immediately. She commented: “I was glad to get the first race of the season under my belt and I was made up with taking first Veteran’s place. A great atmosphere,  and good to catch up again with everyone“.

York however didn’t have things her own way in the Women’s Championship, with new Mid Shropshire Wheeler signing Becky Lewis outpacing her nearest rival by nearly two minutes – and finishing 11th overall in a fabulous time of 23:23. Lewis is Women’s National Hill Climb Champion but clearly has form on the flat too on this evidence. She commented: “I’d never raced the course before, but really enjoyed it (apart from the rough sections)! The weather wasn’t too bad, and I felt I paced my ride pretty well. It was nice to get the headwind out of the way during the first half of the race. North Shropshire Wheelers did a great job of organising – big thanks to the marshals, timekeepers and helpers“.

Lewis pushed 15 year-old SCCA Private Member Hollie Owens into the runner-up spot despite a creditable 25:20 effort, though the youngster was still pleased with her ride. She stated: “A strong headwind made it difficult going out, but it was OK for the first time trial of the season“. Owens finished in the same position in the Junior standings with another first timer taking the honours for Hafren CC as 17 year-old Tyler Brennan recording a fine 23:27 – good enough for 12th spot overall.

 

Result:

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Series – Round 1

 

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 21:44 20
2 George Rowlands Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 21:59 18
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 22:14 16
4 Dan Watts SCCA Private Member S 22:15 14
5 Andy Tamplin Revolutions Racing V 22:42 12
6 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 22:54 10
7 Alex Leek SCCA Private Member S 22:57 8
8 Simon Harrison Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 23:03 6
9 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 23:04 4
10 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 23:21 2
11 Becky Lewis Mid Shropshire Wheelers L 23:23 2
12 Tyler Brennan Hafren CC J 23:27 2
13 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V 23:39 2
14 Richard Nickless Nova Raiders V 23:45 2
15 Neil Howells SCCA Private Member V 24:01 2
16 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 24:37 2
17 Mark Milton Market Drayton CC V 24:47
18 Fraser MacKinnon Wrekinsport CC V 24:57 2
19 Tom Richardson Oswestry Paragon CC S 25:11 2
20 Hollie Owens SCCA Private Member LJ 25:20 2
21 John Robertson Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 25:41 2
22 Vince Evans Wrekinsport CC V 25:44 2
23 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders S 25:48 2
24 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 26:01 2
25 Andy Nicholas Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 26:07 2
26 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 26:12 2
27 Mark Sumner Revolutions Racing V 26:17 2
=28 Richard Cordover North Shropshire Wheelers V 26:35 2
=28 James Dimmock Revolutions Racing V 26:35 2
30 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 26:46 2
31 Emma Robinson Wrekinsport CC L 26:57 2
32 Dave Vart Oswestry Paragon CC V 27:10 2
33 Archie Walkerdine North Shropshire Wheelers V 27:19 2
34 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders LV 27:21 2
35 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 27:22 2
36 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 27:23 2
37 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 27:36 2
38 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 27:37 2
39 Tim Wall Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 28:06 2
40 Ian Carson Oswestry Paragon CC V 28:20 2
=41 Craig Howells Nova Raiders V 29:24 2
=41 Louise Woodvine Paramount CRT L 29:24 2
43 John Rowlands Wrekinsport CC V 31:28 2
44 Ron Perks Wrekinsport CC V 33:38 2
Howard Lewis Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Veterans Series – Round 1

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV +5:18 20
2 John Robertson Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +4:35 18
3 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV +4:15 16
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +3:52 14
5 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V +3:48 12
6 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V +3:26 10
7 Vince Evans Wrekinsport CC V +3:22 8
8 Neil Howells SCCA Private Member V +3:19 6
9 Ian Carson Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:55 4
10 Simon Harrison Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +2:51 2
11 Andy Tamplin Revolutions Racing V +2:48 2
12 Mark Milton Market Drayton CC V +2:46
13 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V +2:39 2
14 Richard Nickless Nova Raiders V +2:33 2
15 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders LV +1:59 2
16 Dave Vart Oswestry Paragon CC V +1:42 2
17 Fraser MacKinnon Wrekinsport CC V +1:33 2
18 Tim Wall Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:28 2
19 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV +1:15 2
20 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +1:03 2
21 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV +1:01 2
22 Andy Nicholas Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +0:47 2
23 Richard Cordover North Shropshire Wheelers V +0:45 2
24 Ron Perks Wrekinsport CC V +0:44 2
25 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V +0:34 2
26 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders V +0:30 2
27 James Dimmock Revolutions Racing V +0:19 2
28 John Rowlands Wrekinsport CC V +0:17 2
29 Mark Sumner Revolutions Racing V +0:13 2
30 Archie Walkerdine North Shropshire Wheelers V -0:12 2
31 Craig Howells Nova Raiders V -3:18 2

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Women’s Series – Round 1

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Becky Lewis Mid Shropshire Wheelers L 23:23 20
2 Hollie Owens SCCA Private Member LJ 25:20 18
3 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 26:01 16
4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 26:12 14
5 Emma Robinson Wrekinsport CC L 26:57 12
6 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders LV 27:21 10
7 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 27:23 8
8 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 27:37 6
9 Louise Woodvine Paramount CRT L 29:24 4

 

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Junior Series – Round 1

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Tyler Brennan Hafren CC J 23:27 20
2 Hollie Owens SCCA Private Member LJ 25:20 18
3 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 27:36 16

 

  • Round 2 of the SB Sports Injuries Series leads off a weekend double-header. On Saturday at 3pm it’s SCCA Spring 10 No.2 on the Waters Upton – Hodnet course, with signing on taking place at Ellerdine Village Hall. The following morning it’s a 9am start for North Shropshire Wheelers’ Hawkstone Hilly 19, with signing on taking place in the start lay-by opposite Lower Heath School.