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Wellington Town Council Spring Festival Ride

Video of Saturday's ride organised by Wrekinsport CC and Wellington Town Council now on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/eXqyeENvMGA 

Evening 10 No.3

Chris Halford has found his taste for victory as he took his second win in as many weeks in Round 3 of the Wrekinsport Evening 10 Series. Halford stretched his lead at the top of the series to a big nine points with a fine 22 minute 58 second effort, knocking 11 seconds off his Round 2 time.

 With a windy evening making life hard on the climb of Cotwall Bank Halford's ride was all the more impressive when judged against the 7-strong field in competition, with Nova Raiders' Andy Rose taking the runner-up spot in 24:23. Rose pushed out the first appearance of the season from Transplant Games World Champion Rich Smith by 12 seconds despite Smith showing clear benefits after returning from a Majorca training camp.

In the Road Bike Series young Wrekin College Triathlete Dylan Lane-Craddock took the win in 27:39 from Ian Bond, also making his first appearance of the season and immediately leaping into the overall runners-up spot thanks to his 28:23 effort.

Wrekinsport CC Club 10 No.2 2018

Evening 10 No.2

It's taken Chris Halford four events to beat the hoodoo of finishing as runner-up but he finally took an impressive win in Wrekinsport's second Evening 10 - despite feeling under the weather. Halford beat his nearest challenger by 1 minute 25 seconds on a tricky evening, coping well with a strong, gusting westerly wind that made life difficult on the climb of Cotwall Bank as well as providing a chilly accompaniment to proceedings. Halford stopped the watch on 23 minutes 9 seconds, 25 seconds down on his opening 10 showing the toughness of conditions. Halford commented: "I'm starting to find my legs again after a long winter. When this chest infection goes I'll start doing some speed work".

Halford has already opened up a three point gap at the top of the Evening 10 Series and looks like the rider to watch in 2018. He saw off the attentions of Adam Mumford, who took the runner-up spot in 24:34, 19 seconds ahead of Nova Raiders' Andy Maxwell, the best placed of the visiting riders from a 22-strong field.

Best improvement of the day went to club Chairman Dave Moore, who sliced a huge 3:38 off his Round 1 time - not that that was surprising as he reverted to his normal time trial bike instead of the previous week's mountain bike. However most times were down given the stern wind blighting proceedings.

Tomos Hales took the honours in the Non-aero Series despite being 57 seconds down on his Round 1 effort, crossing the line in 28:04. Exactly five minutes back Bethan Till rode her first ever time trial, finishing on 33:04.

Chris Edwards Hilly 18

Submitted by Steve Smith Report and Results - Dave Fletcher

The awful extended winter put paid to the originally scheduled event on 3rd March but thankfully with help from Midlands District, West Mercia Police and a desire to get the event on within the club committee a quick rerun was able to be scheduled for Easter Saturday, 31st March. With traffic lights at the Tern bridge a new version of the course saw riders faced with an immediate climb towards Telford Farm Machinery and the fearsome climb of The Hermitage appearing early after 10 miles. That first leg was made all the harder by a cold westerly wind that sapped the strength but gave the advantage of bowling riders along down the A442 towards Bridgnorth.

Seven Wrekinsport riders tried their luck on the circuit, some for the first time with a couple more attempting their first ever time trial. One of those first-timers took home the prestigious Chris Edwards Shield, with Adam Mumford posting a very respectable 45:03 to add his name to the Shield's list of winners. The closest competition came from Rich Smith, newly returned to the club and posting 47:23. Two of those first timers found out what the race against the clock is all about with Damian Jay stopping the watch on 56:02 and Toni Lynam coming home in 63:44.

Sadly the reschedule didn't suit everyone, an issue affecting many rearrangements. The saddest loss was CTT's Champion of Champions Hayley Simmonds, who had been looking to get in some quality training ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Australia with The Hermitage a very similar gradient and length to the climb she eventually won Women's Time Trial Bronze on. The reduction in competition didn't however stop an audacious ride from 17 year-old Ben Healy, visibly quicker up the climb than any other riders and posting an almost unbelievable time of 36:48.  

Wrekinsport CC Club 10 No.1 2018

Wrekinsport's Evening 10 Series opened with a Course Best for Dan Watts with the RAF CA rider beating the 22 minute mark for the first time. Watts had determination in his eyes as he finished visibly faster than any other rider with a tremendous surge for the line, stopping the watch on 21 minutes 55 seconds. Whilst exhausted afterwards Watts was clearly elated after his ride, coping best with a vicious southerly wind that hampered progress on the three mile stretch from Cotwall Bank to Shawbirch.

After finishing runner-up in both of the early season 5 mile time trials Chris Halford was in familiar territory again as he took second spot, the best of the promoting club's riders. Halford is clearly in form, posting a fine 22:44 to push out a pair of riders who couldn't be separated for third - Jason Harland and Alex Leek, with both finished in 23:30. Halford takes an early lead in the Evening 10 Series and will definitely be one to watch, with 2017 Series winner Mark Griffiths back in 6th on 24:16.

The popular Non-Aero Series also commenced, and with riders not requiring a dedicated time trial bike this is designed with newer riders in mind. Taking the early lead was Tomos Hales, recording a good effort of 27:07, with two of those newer riders amongst a chasing three split by just 5 seconds. Peter Mulloy registered a fine 29:31 in his first time trial for the runner-up spot, with Steve Mold who tested in both 5's ending the evening on 29:36 for 4th. Sandwiched in between was club chairman Dave Moore who seems to enjoy making things difficult for himself, riding to 3rd a second in front of Mold - on a mountain bike.

• Round 2 takes place this Wednesday with the more usual start time of 7pm. Sign on at The Woolpack, Shawbirch. All levels of experience welcomed.

Wrekinsport CC Spring 5 No.2 2018

It was a close run thing at the top of the leader board in Wrekinsport's second Spring 5 mile time trial with Alex Leek and Chris Halford split by a solitary second on the Crudgington - Shawbirch course. Halford got that 'always the bridesmaid' feeling after finishing runner-up in 12 minutes 8 seconds despite shaving four seconds off his first attempt, with VC St Raphael member Leek taking the win in 12:07 on a distinctly chilly evening with the mercury only reaching 6ºC.

This fast and furious event saw 16 riders take the line with RAF CA rider Dan Watts taking third spot in 12:25. Watts' ride was all the more impressive given he rode on a standard road bike with no aero aids, pushing out Adam Mumford by six seconds. That same margin was the amount Mumford went back by from the first event, with all riders except Halford going backwards, showing the trickiness of the evening.

Result:

• There's a video of the event available on You Tube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncMFrBXLRDs
• Wednesday sees the opening of the Wrekinsport Club 10 Series with a 6:30pm start due to available light. All welcome at The Woolpack, Shawbirch.

The major County Series, all pre-entry 11-12 days before each event. A mixture of online entry and postal entry depending on organiser's preference, see www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/find-events for more details.

Season-ending Series for the vertically inclined. Short and sharp, these have been very popular. A few details still being finalised at this point, course descriptions at www.shropshirecca.uk/ all entry on the line

Very popular 2-Up Series sees pairs of riders work their way around together - time is taken on the second rider. Fast and furious and you will usually post a much faster time than solo due to drafting each other. Course descriptions at www.shropshirecca.uk/ all events 10 miles and entry on the line

County round robin series giving riders chance to try out a variety of courses around Shropshire and into Mid-Wales. Very popular events, all entry on the line. See the SCCA website at www.shropshirecca.uk/ for course maps.