A fast and furious Autumn 5 mile event brought the curtain down on Wrekinsport’s club season as the low key closer saw ten riders test themselves on a tight circuit of Long Lane – Shawbirch. Designed around the southern end of the club’s usual 10 mile course, it was brought back into use after many years due to long term road works affecting the first choice circuit near Allscott. The distance is suitable for both flat-out speed merchants and beginners alike, with Phil Roberts taking a maiden win right at the close.
Roberts stopped the watch on 11 minutes 42 seconds in glorious conditions to see off a strong challenge from team mate Adam Mumford by seven seconds, the only two riders to dip below the 12 minute mark. Visibly straining for the line up the slight gradient beyond the former Gate at Bratton pub to the finish line, Roberts was delighted to end the club season on a high.
Best placed of the visiting riders was Paramount CRT’s Chris Riley, ending his evening on 12:12 and pushing out Nova Raiders’ Ben Gilpin by 16 seconds. Indeed it was an evening for Ben’s with four placed from 4th to 7th with Ben Southgate taking Junior honours in 12:33 pushing out Ben Wood by four seconds, and with Bridgnorth CC rider Ben Upton putting in a creditable 13:05 in his first ever time trial.
13 year-old Newport CC Junior Megan Fletcher was the only female in competition, ending her evening on 16:38, whilst club vice-Chairman Dave Poulter kept a continuous 47 record of competing at least one event every season going with 15:03, something he wryly described as his “First and last event of the season; and a top 10 finish to boot”!
