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Wrekinsport CC's season-closing time trial saw 14 riders cope with blustery conditions as a strong swirling wind made life difficult for competitors particularly passing openings in hedges, with the wind unusually blowing in two completely different directions at the top and bottom of the course catching out the unwary. Taking place between Crudgington and Shawbirch, the first four riders took the spoils for the promoting club, with the event unusually timed to hill climb standards. Chris Halford once again proved himself to be the fastest rider in the club taking victory by over 31 seconds in 11 minutes, 34.05 seconds - the only rider to beat 12 minutes.

However things weren't so clear cut for the runners-up spot with Tomos Hales and Rob Jackson split by less than a second, showing the benefit of the timing on such a  short course. Hales took that second place in 12:05.62 with Jackson just 91 hundredths back.

Meanwhile Rich Smith closed the club season recovering some of the fine form that he has shown to take the club's Evening 10 mile Championship. Smith had suffered with illness towards the end but here showed every sign of being back to full strength as he too 4th place in 12:31.07 to push the first visiting rider, Fraser MacKinnon of Loch Leven CRT out by 5.45 seconds.

Junior rider Henry Fleming continues to improve, ending his evening on 16:42.75 whilst the only female in competition Victoria Doran also brought the curtain down on the event as she finished in 17:56.91

Timed to Hill Climb standards just for fun

The course record holder took the win in Round 3 of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series, but sodden, chilly conditions ensured there was no repeat of 2018's heroics. Fishface Cycles rider Jonny Morris was around 14 seconds off his best on Wrekinsport CC's Willomoor Bank Hill Climb with persistent rain finally clearing around 15 minutes before start time. Morris stopped the watch on 3 minutes 38.29 seconds to take the win by a fraction over two seconds as Willomoor Bank resembled a river more than a road with water running off fields hindering traction.     

The 0.99 mile course has a sting in the tail and Morris attributed his win to absent-mindedness: "I completely forgot how short the Wrekin climb was so felt I hadn't gone fast enough when I hit the bottom of the ramp. Luckily I'd also completely forgotten how long the ramp was, so I made up a lot of time from having fresher legs which I think made the difference in the end"!

Morris pushed Series leader Kirk Vickers into the runner-up spot although the Holohan Coaching rider added 20 points to his commanding lead as he sets out a stoic defence of his Hill Climb Championship. Vickers crossed the line in 3:40.57 and looked in complete control as he flew up the steepest part of the climb, digging deep to reach the crest. He was happy to take maximum points but admitted to suffering during that final push for the line: "My preparation was not great for this one, I went hard up the final steep bit but my legs blew just before the crest and I tried to hang on. I'm pleased with the result and to finish two seconds shy of the win".

Taking third place was Mule CC's David Scott, who revealed just how tricky this climb can be with it's regularly changing gradient after finishing in 3:54.08, one of only three riders to beat the four minute mark. He stated: "My legs fell off at the top of the Wrekin. I should have saved something for the steepest section but got it wrong on the night. Nice to still manage a podium position".

If Vickers is dominating the Overall standings Richard Kay is doing the same in the Veteran's competition making it three wins out of three and a maximum 60 point haul for his efforts. Kay took a comfortable win by 35 seconds from nearest challenger Neil Coles with a flying effort of 4:21.06 - good enough for 7th overall amongst a field of 26 riders, although he did himself no favours arriving just in time to present himself at the start line. He stated: "Arriving late and without much a warm up I was pleasantly surprised to get the Veteran's win on a chilly evening. Thank you Wrekinsport, and congratulations to everyone who rode".

Hill climbs usually attract younger riders and with five in competition 13 year-old Halesowen A&CC rider Tomos Pattinson took a narrow Junior win by just over two seconds in 4:17.39. Pattinson clearly likes a vertical challenge as his post-race comments revealed: "I really enjoy hills so this was right up my street. Despite the rain everyone was cheerful and helpful. I loved the last part of the climb when it was at its steepest, super night. Thanks Wrekinsport CC".

Whilst Pattinson took the Overall Junior win Henri Bedford made it a maximum 40 points from the two rounds he has ridden to mover into the sole lead of the Junior Hill Climb Series. Bedford stopped the clock on 4:35.01 despite a mechanical issue that hindered progress as he revealed: "I was pleased with my placing as I had a slight mechanical before setting off, but made do with a rubbing front brake. Thanks to hosts Wrekinsport CC, and well done to all riders".

The third new rider in as many events made it an intriguing three way tie for the Women's Series lead as Wrekinsport's Bethan Till took the win from SY Tri's Victoria Doran by a big margin of almost three minutes. Till crested the climb in 5:38.63 and after her first experience at the discipline is keen to have another go: "I really enjoyed it, hopefully I can compete in some of the other hill climbs as well, though I still need to try and persuade more ladies to compete"!

Wrekinsport were running their club Championship Hill Climb within the event and taking Gold was Tomos Hales who set an excellent time of 4:20.66 to beat Phil Roberts into the Silver medal position by 40 seconds with Allen Henderson capturing Bronze a further 13 seconds back. Hales stated: "It was great to take the Wrekinsport Hill Climb Trophy on one of the toughest five minutes of the season. Thanks to all the Wrekinsport team for putting on such a great event. Looking forward to trying it next year on a carbon fibre bike".

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Wrekinsport Championship:

The Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport ended with a predictable win for Chris Halford and the destination of the Series Championship finalised with Rich Smith gaining his third Gold medal in as many days. Halford stormed around the Shawbirch - Cotwall Bank circuit in 21 minutes 48 seconds to take maximum points from all seven rounds he has entered. Halford saw off the attentions of Round 14 winner Alex Leek, who finished runner-up in 22:36 in a strong end to his season.

Meanwhile Smith was in a two-way tussle for Decathlon Series Gold with Tomos Hales, and was clearly tired from a major cycling week. Liver transplant recipient Smith had been competing in the World Transplant Games in Newcastle over the two previous days, winning Team Time Trial and Road Race Gold medals as well as individual Time Trial Silver. With the long drive south and two days of serious competition in his legs he finished 8th on the night in 23:49 - a low position by his standards, but with Hales finishing 5th on the night in 23:30 Smith managed to limit the damage to win the Series by three points, with Hales capturing Silver. Smith was delighted by a solid haul from three days of competition, commenting: "A great way to finish off a fantastic season! It made rushing back from the World Transplant Games worthwhile. Thanks to my club mates, volunteers & helpers at Wrekinsport CC for organising 15 rounds".

In the Road Bike Series Gold medallist Dave Moore clearly likes to make things hard for himself, competing on a 1936 Raleigh Roadster and finishing last in this category in 33:48 as a result. When asked about his time he commented: "Hard going indeed"! Taking the win in this category on the night was Chris Pryce, riding his first time trial of the season in the closing event, although he left it too late to challenge Bronze medallist Steve Smith who won the final medal available.

Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport: Final Top 10 after 15 rounds

Road Bike Series after 15 rounds

Illness played it's part in ensuring that the destination of the Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport was not decided as expected in Round 14 as Series leader Rich Smith took his lowest points tally of the season. Suffering from a bug Smith was well off his best, finishing 8th overall in 24 minutes 41 seconds, gaining himself just two points, his lowest tally of the Series. This sets up a straight head-to-head between Smith and prime challenger Tomos Hales for Series Gold, with Smith taking a five point lead into that final round.

Hales meanwhile narrowed the gap to the top of the standings thanks to placing third overall and second club rider in 23:37, 13 seconds behind Rob Jackson who sealed the Bronze medal on the strength of his ride. Neither however had an answer for the form of VC St Raphael's Alex Leek who customarily gets stronger as the season progresses. Leek took the overall win in a fine time of 22:46 ahead of a field of 19 with the event taking place in a clear window of weather on a day otherwise blighted by heavy downpours.

Despite no riders in competition in the Road Bike Series Mio Kontic sealed the Silver medal after now being unable to be caught. The destination of the Bronze medal is far from settled however with any one of four riders able to win it in the final round: Steve Smith, Andy Loveland, Bethan Till and Bruce Gregory. Till was riding her time trial bike and won the Women's competition from Victoria Doran with another personal best - 27:17, knocking 20 seconds off the benchmark she set in Round 12.

Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport: Top 10 after fourteen rounds

Road Bike Series after fourteen rounds

T

he 15th and final round of the Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport takes place on Wednesday, 21st August with an earlier

No Road Bikes in competition

It was a close call at the top of the standings in Round 13 of the Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport as the club's new Junior set another storming personal best and a fabulous field of 35 riders took their opportunity to race as the club season draws towards closure. Round 12's victor Tim Beardmore came up with the goods again as he took his third straight win in the Series thanks to a superb effort of 21 minutes 50 seconds. Beardmore coped best with a strong westerly wind that hampered progress on the hardest part of the course, the climb of Cotwall Bank. The Nova Raider pushed out Wrekinsport's Chris Halford by nine seconds, with these two riders beating the nearest challengers by over a minute.

Meanwhile Rich Smith continues to pile on the pressure at the top of the Decathlon Series standings and with just two rounds left opened up an eight point lead over Tomos Hales. Smith took third spot on the night with is 23:02 just pushing Henri Bedford out by a single second and Hales out by 21 seconds. Smith will look to put the Series beyond doubt in Round 14, but if he doesn't he will face an anxious wait in the final round to see if Hales can overhaul his advantage as he will be defending his titles at the World Transplant Games in Newcastle.

Decathlon Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport: Top 10 after thirteen rounds

Road Bike Series after thirteen rounds