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A decidedly chilly evening saw times generally go back a notch in Round 3 of the Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport, but there were some familiar names at the top of the standings. With riders shivering to take their start the effort required to get around the lumpy Shawbirch – Cotwall Bank circuit soon saw them warming up, with Revolutions Racing’s Henri Bedford making it three wins in three events – albeit with a slower time. The 17 year-old charged around in 20 minutes 50 seconds, 25 seconds slower than his Round 2 effort, showing graphically how cold conditions can hamper times.

Bedford took the win by beating the same Top 4 as the previous week, although how each coped with the tougher conditions saw a bunching at the head. Taking the maximum six points on offer for Wrekisnport members Chris Halford lost 10 seconds on his Round 2 effort after crossing the line in 21:34, 12 seconds ahead of team mate Tomos Hales who is pushing the current Series Champion to the limits this season. Hales’ 21:46 saw a 13 second loss, showing how closely this pair are matched, whilst visiting Bridgnorth CC rider Jonathan Mills-Keeling was one of the rare improvements, lopping 9 seconds off his Round 2 time with 21:58, showing he is coming into form.

In the Road Bike category it was a first time trial of the season for Dan Watts, only recently returned from duty in The Falklands and playing a bit of catch up with his form. Watts still managed 23:08 and would surely have wiped the floor with this on his dedicated time trial bike, but despite this was still 2:26 clear of runner-up Chris Riley of Paramount CRT. In Wrekinsport’s Road Bike Series Dave Slater has so far put up a perfect claim to the Trophy with another maximum six points in 29:11, 12 seconds down but enough to stretch his lea over Stuart Wortley who finished in 32:53.

With the events gaining popularity amongst Junior riders Bedford took a commanding win from Market Drayton CC’s Harry Corney, who recorded 24:01, with Wrekinsport’s Ben Southgate taking the honours for the club in 27:35. The events are also seeing more females try their hand too, with Emma Horne and Clare Cotterill having a terrific battle, with Horne taking the win in 26:50 by 25 seconds over the improving Cotterill.    

Decathlon Series by Wrekinsport Top 5 Cumulative Standings after three rounds

Road Bike Series Top 5 Cumulative Standings after three rounds

Henri Bedford took another fine win in Round 2 of The Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport despite gathering gloom on a dull evening. Helped by a rare easterly wind that aids riders up the 1.8 mile drag of Cotwall Bank Bedford shaved two seconds off from his Round 1 time despite the chill of an evening where the mercury steadily sank below 12ºC, with warmth only added on rare peeks from the sun. Bedford is easily recognisable in his exaggerated ‘Preying Mantis’ position, with a superbly locked back that means all the effort is going through the pedals. His 20 minute 34 second ride saw a fearsome charge for the finish line as he pushed Chris Halford into the runner-up spot by 50 seconds.

Halford had a steady start to the season but looked back to his familiar form with his 21:24 ride, seeing off a strong challenge from club mate Tomos Hales by 9 seconds. Hales had beaten Halford by four seconds in Round 1 but with Halford lopping a huge 57 seconds off his previous week’s effort the benefit of that easterly wind was clearly demonstrated – always the best direction for fast times on the Shawbirch – Cotwall Bank circuit. This locks the pair in joint first place in the Series in a tussle that is likely to last the season.

Best of the road bike racers was Paramount CRT’s Chris Riley, powering to 19^th spot overall in a great field of 43 riders in 24:50, showing the passion for time trialling now lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease. But Dave Slater took the maximum six points on offer for Wrekinsport riders to stretch his lead at the top of the Road Bike Series. 

Amongst a fine turnout of females Alison Dockney of Market Drayton CC powered home to a convincing win in 24:08, with Wrekinsport’s Clare Cotterill taking the plaudits for the club as she gets faster and faster as the season has bedded in, stopping the watch on 26:55. Bedford was fastest of the Juniors too, with closest challenger Luka Stolic who knocked 30 seconds off his first attempt the previous week to end the evening on 25:37.

Decathlon Series by Wrekinsport Cumulative Standings after two rounds

Road Bike Series Cumulative Standings after two rounds

A great turnout on a glorious evening saw The Decathlon Series by Wrekinsport get off to a great start. The first club 10 of the season saw a welcome return to the Shawbirch – Cotwall Bank circuit much missed due to road works and lockdowns in 2020. Riders were keen to get a 10 under their belts, with Revolutions Racing Junior Henri Bedford taking a great win. Bedford looked visibly faster than other riders as he emptied the tank in a charge for the finish line in his distinctive ‘Preying Mantis’ position which makes him instantly recognisable. The only rider on a 20 minute ride, Bedford stopped the watch on 20 minutes 36 seconds with a superb performance.

But there was an unfamiliar name taking the honours for the promoting club as new member Adam Baker gave warning of his abilities right from the off. Baker zoomed around the lumpy circuit in a fine time of 21:26, getting in the way of a battle for supremacy between Tomos Hales and Chris Halford who are the usual suspects for club victory. On this form Baker will be stirring things up following his maiden appearance, and Series victory will not be a two-horse race.

Hales has been training hard over the winter and showed that increase in form by tying with Bridgnorth CC’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling for third spot on 22:17, with Halford just four seconds off the pace. This is clearly something to watch as the season progresses and riders begin to get back into the groove.

Amongst the women Wrekinsport’s Emma Horne took the win in 26:45, with Clare Cotterill starting to improve on 27:59. Amongst the riders competing in the Road Bike Series Dave Slater took the win in 29:16, exactly three minutes ahead of Stuart Wortley.

A full 50 rider field showed the keen desire for the return of time trialling after seemingly endless months of lockdown despite temperatures being a full 18ºC colder than the balmy conditions that greeted the riders a week before. Despite having to wrap up warm against the elements and times being down due on Week 1 due to muscles being cold the second Wrekinsport CC Spring 5 still saw some tremendous efforts – not least from a great turnout of 11 Juniors amongst the field.

Tomos Hales signalled his intent for the season with a maiden win in exactly 11 minutes after finishing runner-up in the first event. That was 21 seconds down on that first attempt, showing the turn for the worse the weather had taken. However the ride of the event came from Hales’ Wrekinsport team mate Oliver Rodwell who moved up from 5^th place in Week 1 with a superb effort of 11:08, a rare improvement in the tougher conditions even if by a solitary second.

The first of the guest riders was Bridgnorth CC’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling, taking third place in 11:25, also 21 seconds down on his previous effort. Mills-Keeling beat off the attentions of Newport CC’s Ollie Atkin by 10 seconds, with the promoting club’s Chris Halford still slightly off his normal level as he went with a complete gear change from the previous week. Having been surprised by the finishing drag when riding his giant 62/15 smallest gear Halford went for a more conventional 53/28 set-up, but his 55 second loss shows that a compromise is required.

Fastest woman was Emma Horne, who lowered the Women’s course record by 46 seconds on her first attempt. Horne stopped the watch on 13:25, with Nova Raiders’ Marie Llewellyn getting closest on 14:13. Meanwhile fastest of the Juniors was Newport Shropshire CC’s Tom Hyde in 13:23, with team mate Ethan Campbell 7 seconds off the pace.  

New Women's course record by 46 seconds for Emma Horne 13:25

Wrekinsport CC Spring 5 No.1

With organised outdoor sports finally allowed after the Covid-19 restrictions were eased Wrekinsport took no time in getting a 50 rider maximum field signed up for the first time trial of 2021 on a brand new course. The Admaston – Rushmore Lane – Allscott triangle had been intended for use in 2020, but the start of the pandemic put paid to early events and road works saw off late ones. One thing was guaranteed – course records.

Conditions could hardly have been better as balmy 23ºC temperatures accompanied by barely any wind got the season off to a fabulous start, with many complementary comments about the new circuit being both quiet and testing, with the latter half gradually climbing to open the lungs. A fabulous entry of 15 Juniors saw many youngsters have their first go at a time trial with most quickly signed up for the second event a week later. However it was a more experienced Junior Henri Bedford who set the inaugural record of 10:09, taking a tremendous win by a clear 30 seconds over Tomos Hales. Bedford’s take no prisoners ride shows how much he has progressed over the shutdown, with his light weight helping up the gradual 3% incline to the finish.

Hales meanwhile had already given notice of his form after winning an online Zwift time trial, taking a shock victory over the club’s fastest rider in 2020 Chris Halford. Hales’ 10:39 saw off Halford by 12 seconds, with Halford trying out a new setup. Always known for churning a huge gear Halford had upped to a giant 62-tooth chain ring, but it was the selection of a brand new disc wheel with a minimum 15-tooth gear that saw Halford loose time on the final climb. He admitted that he had misjudged the course finish and not factored in the gradual climb, but he is certain not to make the same mistake in the second running on this course.

Nova Raiders’ Lauren Turley set the benchmark Women’s record of 14:11 by just a four second margin ahead of Wrekinsport’s Clare Cotterill, with a good showing of eight women among the field. Meanwhile Bedford’s nearest challenger in the Junior category was Market Drayton CC’s Harry Corney in 11:41.

Inaugural course record D305/1 goes to Henri Bedford 10:09

Inaugural Women's course record Lauren Turley 14:11