Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport - Round 3 2020

Another evening, another fine set of personal bests amongst the Women’s field as Chris Halford continued his assault on The Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport with a dominant win. The last club event before opening up to other local clubs saw 31 riders take the start line, with Halford shaving 6 seconds off his Round 2 effort with a fine ride of 21 minutes 22 seconds. Halford looked smooth as he passed the finish line for the first time, hardly moving the top part of his body allowing maximum power to pass through the pedals. He now has the maximum possible 18 points from three events and with two rounds to go in the Series will be hard to beat.

There was a familiar name in the runner-up spot too as Tomos Hales took two seconds off his Round 2 time but just sees Halford slipping away. Hales, 2019’s Series runner-up looks set to be the bridesmaid again despite an excellent effort of 22:25 to see off the attentions of Rob Jackson, who took the same final podium position in Round 1 after being too late to sign up for Round 2. Jackson stopped the watch on 23:35, pushing out Andy Hellowell by 24 seconds as he looks to make up lost ground.

One feature of these events has been the sheer number of newer riders trying out time trials and entering The Road Bike Series, designed for riders without all the usual aerodynamic aids to measure themselves against others. Round 3 saw nine riders partake, with Dan Ramsbottom posting the fastest time in 26:49 beating Carl Fenlon into second place. Fenlon posted 28:20 in only his second time trial, slipping back on his Round 2 time by 37 seconds in what were calmer conditions. Meanwhile there was a season-best 29:12 for Derek Fleming and a first appearance in a time trial for over two years from Mark Callaghan, stopping the watch on 30:03 to beat off the attentions of first-timer Barry Parsons by 23 seconds.

But the attention was on the Women’s field with six females in competition. Top of the pile was Beth Till with 27:08, but it was PB’s all round for Alison Salthouse, beating 31 minutes for the first time by a solitary second; Angela Boycott who sliced 1:06 off her Round 2 best with 32:05, and a third PB in a row for Clare O’Donnell who lowered her best by another 57 seconds to 32:21.