It was a close call at the top of the standings in Round 13 of The Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport as Oli Freeman was left cursing his luck after a dead stop at Shawbirch island due to passing traffic cost him the win – as Tomos Hales sealed the Evening 10 Series despite taking the opportunity to ride 2-Up. Taking the honours on the night was Chris Halford, making this his third win of the Series, this time in 22 minutes 26 seconds, pushing Freeman out by two seconds. Freeman got the better of his regular 2-Up partner Phil Roberts however, who had to settle for third spot in 22:44.
Conditions were not overly favourable, with a northerly breeze hampering riders down the A442 around the 9.1 mile circuit, and with 0.9 miles having to be repeated to make the distance into the wind, that made all the difference to an attempt to beat 20 minutes on this testing circuit by Dean Callister and Tomos Hales, something that has never been done before. They came close at 20:18, but were left rueing the tough conditions which hampered their attempt. Hales at least went home with the consolation of now being in an unassailable position with a 10 point lead with just six points available from the final round after the rider lying in second place, Ben Wood gained just two points for a fifth-placed finish in 24:05, behind Female winner Hayley Wells in 23:29.
In the Road Bike Series overall plaudits went to Sitwell CC’s Tim Burn, tying with Wood for fifth in 24:05, with maximum points going to Road Bike Series winner Rich Smith. No further medals were sealed on the night, leaving all the solo Silver and Bronze awards going down to the wire in the final round. However with club Chairman Dave Moore already assured of 2-Up Silver he also made a cheeky play for 2-Up Bronze as well with a different partner, Dave Seager, finishing in 25:45.
Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport No.13
Pos’n
Name
Club
Cat
Bike
Time
No.
1
Chris Halford
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
22:26
6
2
Oli Freeman
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
22:28
12
3
Phil Roberts
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
22:44
11
4
Hayley Wells
Wrekinsport CC
F
TT
23:29
4
5
Ben Wood
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
24:05
19
5
Tim Burn
Sitwell CC
S
RB
24:05
21
7
Alex Hall
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
24:43
10
8
Rich Smith
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
25:27
9
9
Darren Craig
Unattached
S
RB
25:47
8
10
Chris Dunn
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:25
16
11
Allan Henderson
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:26
1
12
Peter Jukes
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:27
13
13
Paul Coupe
Unattached
V
RB
26:37
14
14
Paul O’Brien
Unattached
V
RB
26:46
20
15
Ashley Kirkham
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
26:54
7
16
Warren Nuttall
Unattached
V
RB
27:15
5
.
Clive Middleton
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
DNS-P
15
Denso and Tern Cycles 2-Up Series by Wrekinsport No.13
Both the course record and the female course record were lowered in a memorable and competitive Round 13 of the Friction Hydraulics Series, the Shropshire Championship 10 presented by Wrekinsport CC as Dean Callister shaved 10 seconds off Thomas Brazier’s record; and Hayley Wells sliced 17 seconds off her own record; both set in 2024. Callister took 10 Championship Gold and The Gordon Davies Trophy in a blistering 20 minutes 13 seconds on the Shawbury – Hodnet course in a hastily reassigned Championship originally planned for Round 12 but instead promoted by Wrekinsport CC. Conditions were warm and near still, with just the lightest of a rare easterly wind, making things near perfect for record breaking.
In only his third appearance of the 2025 Friction Hydraulics Series, Callister scored maximum points again; re-took The Gordon Davies Trophy from event organiser Tomos Hales, the 2024 winner; and led Aerologic to Team Gold in a combined 1:02:59 with solid backup from Scott Palmer and Jonathan Mills-Keeling. Callister was delighted by his efforts, stating: “A nice warm evening for racing and fast conditions. I paced it well and my legs felt good. Really pleased to take the Championship title, course record and also a team win – thanks to Wrekinsport for putting on a great evening”.
Callister beat Hales by 21 seconds as the Wrekinsport rider took overall Silver in his first promotion, with the unexpected and belated assignation as the Shropshire Championship 10 attracting additional entries. Hales beat Dan Watts in his first appearance of the 2025 season into the Bronze position after the SCCA Private Member finished in 21 minutes exactly – just a solitary second ahead of another SCCA Private Member Jonathan Whittaker. Hales commented: “I was pleased with my time in the Shropshire Championship. It was added pressure of organise the event, so I was pleased that went smoothly. It felt a quick night and never felt like you went into the wind. Well done to Dean for the win; and thanks to all the people that helped me out to get the event on”.
Mills-Keeling and Palmer took home a brace of medals after adding Veterans Silver and Bronze to their Team Gold with +5:16 and +5:07 respectively in a closely fought battle for the medals won by Simon Romei. Mills-Keeling stated: “I didn’t ride last year so was motivated to do a good ride. I went out a little too hard and struggled back. I was very happy with Veterans Silver, well done to Simon. I was also very happy with the Team Gold, with Dean taking course record, and with a strong ride from Scott”. Palmer added: “I was really looking forward to the Shropshire 10 Championship on yet another course I’d never ridden. On a warm night I got to the HQ in plenty of time, had a chat and got a decent warm up on the rollers. I got to the line a little nervous, which added to my downfall. With no holder I struggled to clip in, and it cost me a lot of time. Eventually I clipped in with a sprint effort to get up to speed. I paced it well with a strong effort out, then I maintained a good speed on the return. I’m sure next time I ride the course I’ll be able to gauge where to put the power down in key places. Simon Romei had a solid ride and got me by two seconds on actual time, congratulations to him after his recent ‘off’. Well done to Dean for the overall, and Jonathan for second standard Veteran – also nice to take the Team Gold; a great job by Tomos Hales and the rest of the volunteers”.
Romei had indeed recovered from his fall in Round 11 and took Veterans Gold and The Veterans 10 Mile Trophy by six seconds from Mills-Keeling with +5:22, moving up to third in the Friction Veterans standings. He was very pleased with his effort, stating: “Super happy to have won Veterans Gold at the Championship 10. It was a good evening for the race, not too much wind around. On the outward leg I pushed hard on the rolling course, hoping that the slight tail wind back would secure me a top position and personal best, of which I achieved both. Big thanks to the marshals and timekeepers that did a fantastic job on the evening, without these great people these races just wouldn’t happened so thanks again”.
In the Female Championship Hayley Wells took a solid win in 22:46, lowering her own course record by 17 seconds and successfully retaining The Gordon Davies Female Trophy despite a seeming disconnect between head and legs due to her competitive nature, as she explained: “A course I quite enjoy as we don’t get to ride it often. Pre-race I felt good and raring to go, but a busy few weeks of time trials had caught up with me! The ‘out’ leg to the roundabout felt tough into a headwind and my power was down on where I’d like to be, but the return leg was a lot more enjoyable. A wonderful evening of racing with plenty of high spirits, something I love about this sport. I was chuffed to have taken the win; many thanks to Wrekinsport for another great event”.
A strong ride by Paramount’s Thea Osmund-Smith saw her take Silver and record a fine personal best of 24:42 ahead of team mate Emma Brown who gained Bronze. Osmund-Smith was delighted with her result and doing so on a course rapidly gaining popularity with riders. She commented: “I was really pleased to get a 10 mile personal best on a course I enjoyed riding for the first time last year. I’m not often able to make midweek races, but I was happy to make this one along with a load of my Paramount CRT team mates, who put on a strong show. Thanks to Wrekinsport for organising and as always, the brilliant marshals who make the whole thing safe and enjoyable”!
With the added carrot of father Doug to chase down starting two minutes ahead; Brown was also on the hunt for a personal best, aiming to beat her 26:20 benchmark, but instead ended her evening on 27:06 after getting stuck behind traffic, as she explained: “I was looking forward to racing the 10 and was hoping for a personal best. However I was unfortunately held up in a long queue of traffic from mile 3-4, so the personal best was off the cards, However, I am still very pleased with my time as it’s my second fastest 10 mile time trial and my best result on that course, so overall another great evening of racing. Plus when chasing Dad it’s even more fun and competitive, only just passing him in the last ½ mile – he was very strong and a hard chase that night”!
In the Road Bike Championship Paramount rider Andrew Dawson took the win and The Shropshire Road Bike 10 Mile Championship Trophy by just three seconds on handicap from team mate Will Preston in an adjusted 22:56. Home advantage seems to have played a part in Dawson’s victory, as he explained: “Firstly thanks to all the organisers, marshals and time keepers for putting on a great event. It’s a course I know well as I only live a short distance away. The weather was perfect and I was fortunate with the traffic. It was however a real surprise, and a privilege, to take the Road Bike Gold in what’s turning out to be a great season of racing for the Shropshire clubs”.
Unfamiliarity made the difference to Silver medallist Preston on a course that gives all the appearance of being pretty flat when viewed from a car but actually undulates and drags in places when experiencing on a bike under your own power. Nevertheless Preston was happy with his ride, stating: “I am pleased to take the Silver medal. It is the first time I’ve actually done that course and it was a little bit lumpier than I thought, but still a great race – thanks to Wrekinsport for organising a great event”!
The age and gender-related handicapping system surprised Smith in his first appearance of the 2025 Friction Series as he took Road bike Bronze in an adjusted 23:31, 27 seconds ahead of Wrekinsport team mate Peter Jukes. Smith has stuck doggedly to a Road Bike for the 2025 season which paid dividends here, commenting: “The first time I’ve ridden that course where the wind direction helped on the return leg. It was lovely to top off a season time trialling on the road bike with this result – big thanks to the long suffering organisers, time keepers and marshals; a great event”.
In preparation for the most highly anticipated event of the Shropshire calendar Wrekinsport run a practice club 4-Up over part of the Championship course to give competitors a chance to practice smooth changes and to get used to riding together; and to give riders new to this unusual and rarely seen format the opportunity to see what all the fuss is about. Held on the Waters Upton – Hodnet 10 mile course, three of the Championship teams took the major spoils from amongst the five trying their luck, as Paramount CRT’s Chris Riley, Simon Romei, Rob McGregor and Mason Durant took a fine win in 20 minutes 25 seconds.
This format sees riders go faster than even in the popular 2-Up format which has led up to 4-Up week, but it certainly fun despite the hard work, with club chairman Dave Moore describing the event as having a great vibe, with competitors buzzing afterwards. Runners-up were the Wrekinsport squad of Oli Freeman, Paul Edwards, Phil Roberts and Ben Wood, delighted with their 21:01 time.
Popular with both time trial bike and road bike entrants, the first of the road bike contingent saw another Paramount squad take third overall, with Ian Townsend, James Elgar, Neil Wilson and Dave Woodvine ending their evening on 24:08.
The finale of the 2025 Mower Mec 2-Up Series saw a narrow win for the Silver medallists and the destination of the remaining Series medals resolved as Wrekinsport CC hosted their 2-Up on a glorious sunny evening tempered by a tough northerly wind. Held on the club’s usual Shawbirch – Crudgington – Cotwall Bank circuit, Oswestry Paragon’s Peter Fletcher and Jack Young took their second win of the Series by just two seconds from the promoting club’s Chris Halford and Clive Middleton in 23 minutes 32 seconds. Fletcher enjoyed the sweeping new turn of Crudgington roundabout which allows more speed to be carried; however, things could have been very different for the pair due to a mix up over the start location, as he explained: “On exploration of the course we felt it was a much improved layout and so it proved, although we went to the incorrect start line within minutes of the kick off! Jack and I stuck to the plan and left it until the final round to finally nail it, and to find we triumphed by the slightest of margins made it feel all the more pleasing. Once again the platitudes are the same in thanking our fellow competitors, organisers, marshals and of course the time keepers who all played an important part in the usual smooth running of an excellent evening”.
Whilst Fletcher and Young have honed their abilities over all seven rounds of this Series at all corners of the County, the runners-up and third-placed pairings were not familiar at all with each other’s styles – and in the case of Wrekinsport’s Chris Halford and Clive Middleton, on different bike types. It’s usually best for both to either ride time trial or road bikes but not to mix them, and the issues caused were graphically stated by Halford: “It was a challenge keeping on a road bike, but we managed the situation as best we could having not ridden together before”. Meanwhile Middleton had an expensive evening and was lucky not to end up on the floor after hitting a missing drain cover hard. Thankfully he recovered enough to stay upright, but not without issues: “The race went great, but I lost my car key when I hit a hole and cracked both wheels. I didn’t find the keys and it cost £180 to get the car back home, £130 for someone to pick the lock, and £960 for two keys – and I can’t get them for two weeks”!
The welcome sight of two 15 year-old Junior riders saw Newport Shropshire CC’s Ben Bramford-Hale team up with Wolverhampton Wheelers’ Tom Oxley in their first ever experience of the 2-Up format – and they took to it well enough to get the better of Hafren CC’s Neil Vose and Mark Hill by a single second, finishing in 24:03. Bramford-Hale commented: “I really enjoyed my first 2-Up time trial with Tom. We quickly got into a good rhythm, and I’m really pleased we secured third overall – thanks to Wrekinsport for putting on a great and welcoming event”.
Vose and Hill had good consolation for being nudged down to fourth on the night as they sealed the Bronze medals in the overall Mower Mec Series on the strength of their 24:04 effort, with Vose commenting: “The Wrekinsport 10 mile course is excellent. It was a tough headwind out on the day; but a great tailwind back to Shawbirch. Mark was on fire and did most of the hard work down to Shawbirch; and we managed to get near our best time for this course. The 2-Up Series is a great way to improve your times on courses around Shropshire & Powys. We missed the first two, and this meant we were trying to catch Pete and Jack for the last five rides. We are already planning how we can improve for 2026 – thanks to all the clubs for putting on the events for 2025”.
That left the final medals to be settled from riders not competing on the night, with two Mid Shropshire Wheelers father and daughter pairs taking Mixed Team Silver and Bronze behind the already settled Gold medallists Sorrell Williams and Karl Lombardi. Silver went to 13 year-old Georgia and father Simeon Lloyd, with Simeon commenting: “It was good to be able to compete alongside Georgia. We have never raced together, so it was a great opportunity to test ourselves. We started strong, finished strong and both really enjoyed the event”.
Meanwhile Florence Parkinson just turned the minimum allowed age to compete of 12, and won a medal in her first ever time trial. Naturally she was delighted, and seems to have the bit between her teeth to go on to greater things, stating: “I am thrilled to win the Bronze, and with a bit more training for my Dad over the winter I think we can come back stronger next year to see if the Silver is in reach”! Dad Mark added: “Florence just turned 12 years old in May, so this was a perfect race to introduce her to time trialling, with a 2-Up together as a father-daughter team”.
In the Female teams competition Paramount’s Emma Brown and Liz Hagen had sealed Gold as early as Round 4, but the finale saw Silver settled by another first-time pairing, Jane Morris and Jenny Cooper of Market Drayton CC. Both decided the 2-Up format was the perfect introduction to time trialling, similar to the Parkinson’s decision; and Cooper’s comments show just how easy having a go is for the inexperienced and those without full aero equipment, which is not a barrier to competition: “It was the first time either of us had competed in a time trial – it felt a bit less daunting doing 2-Up to start with. Everyone was very welcoming, and it was a very relaxed environment to have a go. I haven’t got any specific aero kit and was just on a normal endurance road bike”.
An old hand surprised team mates in Round 12 of The Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport as Chris Halford took a win on a warm evening an by a good margin. Coming back to time trialling after some time away, Halford has made marginal gains as the season has progressed and registered an impressive 22 minutes 33 seconds to see off Round 11 winner Oli Freeman by 34 seconds. Taking third spot was Freeman’s 2-Up partner Phil Roberts on 23:43.
The Road Bike category continues to be keenly contested with 50% of the field eschewing time trail steeds, Won overall by regular visitor Hamish MacLean of Musselburgh RCC in 25:25, interest was on the battle for club points and medals. Rich Smith took his fourth maximum six points in a row in 26 minutes exactly ahead of Peter Jukes 51 seconds back which sealed Series Gold in a season Smith has dedicated to this format.
In the Denso and Tern Cycles 2-Up Series Dave Moore and Matt Price rode unopposed to a 26:02 time and can in theory draw level with Freeman and Roberts on 30 points – if they take six points from each of the two remaining events in this best of 5 Series.
Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport No.12
Pos’n
Name
Club
Cat
Bike
Time
No.
1
Chris Halford
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
22:33
6
2
Oli Freeman
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
23:07
5
3
Phil Roberts
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
23:43
4
4
Ian laverie
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
24:15
17
5
Ben Bramford-Hale
Newport Shropshire CC
J
TT
24:52
15
6
Andy Fletcher
Royal Navy & Royal Marines CC
V
TT
25:12
14
7
Hamish MacLean
Musselburgh RCC
V
RB
25:25
13
8
Hayden Beebee
Total Tri Training
S
TT
25:55
18
9
Rich Smith
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:00
3
10
Peter Jukes
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:51
7
=11
Dean Gapper
Unattached
V
RB
27:02
11
=11
Cameron Coley-Smith
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
27:02
16
=13
David Seager
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
27:28
9
=13
Chris Dunn
Unattached
V
RB
27:28
12
15
Paul O’Brien
Unattached
V
RB
27:32
10
16
Paul Coupe
Unattached
V
RB
28:41
8
Denso and Tern Cycles 2-Up Series by Wrekinsport No.12
Traffic lights at Longdon on Tern saw a course change to the tight and technical Long Lane circuits for Round 11 of The Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport and which saw an impressive 69% of the field use road bikes, the growing area of time trialling –with the first Series medals taken without turning a pedal in the respective competitions. Oli Freeman and Phil Roberts can no longer be caught in the Denso and Tern Cycles 2-Up Series, with the best five scores counting their maximum 30 points acquired by Round 10 can no longer be overhauled. This saw Freeman instead ride to victory in the solo competition in 23:23, exactly 30 seconds ahead of team mate Paul Edwards. Freeman commented how tough the race was, with riders facing a brisk northerly wind three times down the mile straight between Shawbirch and Long Lane.
With Series leader Tomos Hales absent Ben Wood made up some ground by finishing third in 24:15, seven seconds ahead of an impressive performance by overall Road Bike winner George Coombes of Newport Shropshire CC stopping the watch on 24:22. Best placed of Wrekinsport’s riders in this contest was Rich Smith, whose 26:05 meant he extended his Series lead to 10 points with a maximum 18 remaining after pushing Matt Price out by 10 seconds.
Despite Hayley Wells being absent, she can no longer be caught in the Women’s standings and takes a well deserved Gold medal. The only female in competition on a tough evening was unattached Megan du Toit in 28:24.
After a shortage of under-18 riders in competition three showed up at once – and all were closely matched, spread by just seven seconds. Best placed was Ben Bramford-Hale of Newport Shropshire CC registering 24:53 for 6th place overall, and who pushed out Jude White of Mid Shropshire Wheelers by two seconds despite a superb third lap evidenced by split times; and Tom Oxley of Wolverhampton Wheelers CC by seven in a tight competition.
One of those all too rare red hot ‘float’ evenings, with the lightest of southerly winds saw fast times throughout the field in Round 10 of the Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport with a large turnout of 20 riders in part due to conditions, but also the late cancellation of a County level event due to road works as riders hurried to make the most of conditions. Two of those riders took the top two spaces with Aerologic’s Dean Callister taking a fine win in 20 minutes 21 seconds, ahead of Tomos Hales by 28 seconds – despite Hales recording a course personal best of 20:49, his first time ever under 21 minutes.
Hales’ closest challenger overall was unattached rider Mike Senior in 21:34, and among Wrekinsport riders looking to compete for club Evening 10 medals Hayley Wells, registering a fine 22:37. Hales now holds 48 points in a comfortable lead over Ben Wood on 32, but Wells narrowed the gap after Wood finished in 23:02 – as well as adding six points to an almost unassailable lead in the Women’s Series.
Rich Smith is easing away in the Road Bike Series, taking the six points on offer with his 25:12 effort to move to 43 points, with Allan Henderson now on 35 points after finishing in 25:29, 17 seconds back. But it was visiting riders who took the overall spoils with another unattached rider Sam Messingham stopping the watch on a great time of 23:01 ahead of Newport Shropshire CC’s George Coombes on 23:14.
Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport No.10
Pos’n
Name
Club
Cat
Bike
Time
No.
1
Dean Callister
Aerologic RT
S
TT
20:21
2
2
Tomos Hales
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
20:49
5
3
Mike Senior
Unattached
V
TT
21:34
12
4
Jon Mills-Keeling
Aerologic RT
V
TT
21:59
3
5
Hayley Wells
Wrekinsport CC
F
TT
22:37
4
6
Sam Messingham
Unattached
S
RB
23:01
22
7
Ben Wood
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
23:02
16
8
George Coombes
Newport Shropshire CC
S
RB
23:14
19
9
Ian Laverie
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
23:21
20
10
Michell Fletcher
Paramount CRT
S
TT
24:08
14
11
Cameron Coley-Smith
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
24:10
21
12
Rich Smith
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
25:12
10
13
Allan Henderson
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
25:29
1
14
Peter Jukes
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:34
11
15
Ashley Kirkham
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
26:55
17
16
David Seager
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:59
13
17
Chris Dunn
Unattached
V
RB
27:02
18
18
Paul O’Brien
Unattached
V
RB
27:40
15
19
Colin Wells
Paramount CRT
V
RB
27:59
6
20
Vince Evans
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
28:15
7
Denso and Tern Cycles 2-Up Series by Wrekinsport No.10
A tough evening saw riders battle into a wind down the mile straight twice in Round 9 of the Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport – not that it seemed to affect Tomos Hales who took a great win in 21 minutes 16 seconds by a margin of 1:08 ahead of Oli Freeman. The nature of the 9.1 mile circuit sees 0.9 miles tackled twice to make up the distance, meaning that wind was just in the wrong direction. Hales extended his Series lead to 14 points over Ben Wood as a result of this ride, with Phil Collins in only his second event taking third in 22:37 – seven seconds ahead of another second-timer Paul Edwards.
There was a fine turnout of 24 riders, seven of them unattached – and with Sam Messingham winning the Road Bike category in 23:30 showing great promise. A tightly contested club Road Bike Championship saw things open up just a little as Rich Smith took the six points on offer with his 25:42 to open up his Series lead to six points over Matt Price, nine seconds back.
There’s no doubting who’s the dominant force in the Women’s Series though as Hayley Wells took another fine win in 23:06, helping herself to sixth place overall ahead of newly-signed Emma Horne in 26:15.
A red hot evening saw some red hot rides as the course record fell twice, the female course record was decimated, and personal bests were lowered in Round 6 of the SB Sports Injuries Series, Wrekinsport CC’s 25 as 11 riders broke the hour from 16 competitors. Held on the Crudgington – Shawbirch – Tern Hill – Waters Upton course; the benchmark of 52 minutes 37 seconds had been set by Fibrax Wreham RC’s Benjamin Goodfellow in 2020 in one of the limited events held when Covid restrictions were eased. First to break it was Tomos Hales, slicing 31 seconds off after charging for the line in 52:06. However, Hales held that record for just 52 seconds as Aerologic’s Dean Callister again reset the benchmark to 50:58.
Callister was delighted to take the Course Record, one of several he holds, stating: “A great evening for weather which gave fast conditions. My legs felt good on the night so I maintained good pace. Pleased to take the win and Course Record – thanks to all involved”.
Hales was philosophical about holding a record for less than a minute thanks to extending his SB Series title defence points tally to 120, 32 ahead of Jonathan Mills-Keeling. He battled hard into the initial headwind to Shawbirch and made hay to Hodnet thanks to a tailwind, but like many others reported the final few miles were hard going: “Beautiful conditions suggested a very low weather impact for the Wrekinsport 25 mile time trial. I set off hard into the headwind, then was blown all the way from Shawbirch to Hodnet. The last five miles were tough, but I knew I was on for a good time as my average speed was so high. It was nice to have the Course Record – even if it was for 52 seconds! Well done to Dean who bettered me by over a minute to break it again. Also thanks for the Wrekinsport marshals that help out on a heavy marshal course”.
Mills-Keeling took 3rd spot on actual in 54:48, 40 seconds ahead of Chris Halford, and extended his SB Veterans Series lead with +13:14, again 40 seconds ahead of Halford who moved up to 3rd spot in the Veterans standings as a result of his efforts. Mills-Keeling now holds a 34 points advantage over Paramount’s John Westhead and enjoyed his evening on a personal favourite course: “A fast night, I really enjoy that course but only done once before in 2021. Great to see Dean smash the Course Record and so many breaking the hour”
A single female took the line – not that that bothered Hayley Wells who smashed Charlotte Chapman’s longstanding record of 1:01:48 set in 2018 to become the first female to dip below the hour – and by a considerable margin. Wells stopped the watch on 56:57, good enough for 6th overall among a quality field, and added a further 26 points to her Series lead in this bonus point round designed to attract newer riders stepping up and riders with an interest in the Championships to ride a longer distance. A 25 is no bother to a strong rider like Wells as she defends her SB Series title, making her lead a giant 76 points, though incredibly this course was new to her. She stated: “My first time riding this course and it didn’t disappoint. A tough leg out to Shawbirch into the headwind meant a quick ride all the way to Tern Hill. I had saved enough in the tank for a tough return to Crudington; but was pleasantly surprised that this was quicker than expected, the toughest part being the final kilometre! Super chuffed to not only go under the hour on a local course but also taken the Course Record; many thanks to Wrekinsport for arranging all the fabulous marshals to allow us to safely navigate a roundabout heavy course”.
In the Road Bike Series Wells’ father Colin continues to make similar gains to his daughter, with a 50 point lead opened up after taking the County win and 26 further points. Wells crossed the line in 1:14:55 actual, which when the handicap was applied converted to 1:07:57, only beaten by unattached rider Chris Dunn by 57 seconds. Wells commented: “It was hard, and age catches up with you. However, it looked like a hard first few miles, then a good tailwind to Tern Hill and a hard slog eight miles back. I tried to pace myself and I think the last two miles hurt. A great evening though with some cracking times, if only I could roll back the years – thanks for organising and everyone involved”.
For Dunn this was a step into the almost unknown, and he finished with a creditable 1:08:08 on actual. His post-race comments show however that you can’t treat it like a 10 and expect to hang on: “This 25 mile time trial was only my second one, so I was not too good with the pacing strategy. It was a tough start back to Shawbirch with a good tailwind all the way to Hodnet, I tried to make the most with the wind by pushing a bit too much paid the price later and found the last eight miles tough. I was aiming for a sub 1:10, and enjoyed the ride”.
Oli Freeman took a solid win on a less than ideal evening in Round 8 of The Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport in only his third appearance of the Series – beating a rider making his first by a narrow margin. Freeman stopped the watch on 2 minutes 49 seconds, coping best with a SSW cross-headwind hampering rider’s progress up Cotwall Bank. That pushed Phil Collins into the runner-up spot 16 seconds back on 23:05, with Ben Wood taking the final podium position in 23:13. All made ground up on absent Series leader Tomos Hales, who was competing at County level in an event taking place at the same time at Hafren CC.
Hales wasn’t the only notable absentee, with Hayley Wells at the same event, but there was no change in the Women’s standings with the only ones in competition both unattached at the time – although winner Emma Horne has subsequently joined Wrekinsport. Horne tied for 10th spot overall in 26:12.
There was significant competition in the Road Bike Series however with nine riders entering in this simplified non-aero category. Overall plaudits went to regular Scottish visitor of Musselburgh RCC, Hamish Maclean, who took the win in 24:06 to help himself to 5th spot overall, with Chris Halford enjoying a foray away from the maximum six points on offer 19 seconds back. Halford’s presence didn’t stop Rich Smith rising to sole lead of the Road Bike Series however, heading up the best of the rest in 25:20 ahead of Peter Jukes in 26:03 who is now just two points off the pace after former joint leader Matt Price elected to compete in the 2-Up competition with Dave Moore instead. They stopped the watch on 25:11.
Denso and Tern Cycles Evening 10 Series by Wrekinsport No.8
Pos’n
Name
Club
Cat
Bike
Time
No.
1
Oli Freeman
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
22:49
3
2
Phil Collins
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
23:05
16
3
Ben Wood
Wrekinsport CC
S
TT
23:13
15
4
Clive Middleton
Wrekinsport CC
V
TT
23:52
8
5
Hamish Maclean
Musselburgh RCC
V
RB
24:06
13
6
Chris Halford
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
24:25
17
7
Andy Fletcher
Royal Navy & Royal Marines CC
V
TT
24:29
12
8
Rich Smith
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
25:20
18
9
Peter Jukes
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:03
4
10
Emma Horne
Unattached
FV
TT
26:12
2
11
Allan Henderson
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:12
9
12
David Seager
Wrekinsport CC
V
RB
26:44
10
13
Chris Marrs
Mid Shropshire Wheelers
V
TT
27:32
7
14
Chris Dunn
Unattached
S
RB
27:36
14
15
Paul Cadman
Unattached
V
RB
28:00
1
16
Kev Flint
Unattached
V
TT
30:30
19
17
Jane Godfrey
Unattached
FV
RB
33:10
11
Denso and Tern Cycles 2-Up Series by Wrekinsport No.8