A new course and the only remaining bonus point round of the 2024 SB Sports Injuries Series saw Tomos Hales take sole lead following Round 10 - and set an inaugural course record in Wrekinsport CC’s 25. Rescheduled following road works that saw both applied for courses belatedly out of action on the original date; that delay gave opportunity for a trial run on a newly designed course starting and finishing at Hopton Chapel and taking in two laps of The Tiddly circuit on what turned out to be a glorious evening. 26 points were available for the win due to the extra distance, designed to stretch riders stepping up from club level events – although experience told as Tomos Hales set the inaugural record on 54 minutes 24 seconds to beat Army Cycling’s Jonathan Whittaker by 1:06.
Hales had held the joint lead of the Series with Jonathan Mills-Keeling, but moved into the sole lead on the strength of this ride – albeit by a narrow two point advantage. Hales stated: “I enjoyed the new 25 Mile Wrekinsport course. Making use of the top section of the A53 made for a quick start. I do enjoy lapped courses as you can get a good gauge for where you are; thanks to Wrekinsport for hosting and rearranging the fixture”.
Mills-Keeling took third overall in 56:10 after a fast start where he equalled Hales on 7:53 on the first pass of the finish line after 3.6 miles – which he suffered for later. He still holds a fabulous lead in the Veteran’s Series after finishing runner-up on the night to Deb Hutson-Lumb, stretching that advantage to a commanding 84 points after finishing in +11:58 to Riley’s+10:54. Mills-Keeling commented: “I started fast and paid for it on the second lap. It was a perfect evening of racing, nice to do a new course, well done to all”. But there was no stopping Hutson-Lumb who put in a dominant Veteran’s performance of +13:12 – but ended as runner-up in the SB Female Series behind Hayley Wells after finishing in 1:02:18 for 7th spot Overall.
Wells set the inaugural Female record of 59:54, helped perhaps in a last gasp for the finish line, racing Alvydas Janusauskas side by side over the final few hundred metres. She stated: ”It was a very warm evening, and great to try out a new course. Not as quick as expected, but I enjoyed incorporating more of the A53! Looking forward to tackling it again; cheers to Wrekinsport for organising”.
A bruised and battered Ashley Kirkham was determined to defend his SB Road Bike Series lead despite significant cuts and bruises from a racing incident the day before, and took full advantage of being the sole rider in that category to extend his lead to 34 points with an adjusted 1:12:45. He commented: “After crashing out of a race early on the day before I had fresh legs and pushed hard despite some sore limbs. I really enjoyed the new course; hopefully it becomes a regular fixture in the calendar - thanks to all the volunteers”.
