Clean sweep for Hafren

It was a remarkable clean sweep for Hafren Cycling Club as they led the way in the sixth round of the SB Sports Injuries Series on their own Buttington-Four Crosses course.

Hafren riders won Overall, Veteran, Ladies and Junior categories to show huge strength in depth.

Leading the Series pre-event, Bryn Davies stretched that lead to 28 points with a fine effort of 21 minutes 55 seconds, a 38-second winning margin over Bridgnorth CC’s Tim Beardmore.

But Davies wasn’t finished there with a narrow victory of just three seconds in the Veteran’s Series over Gary Duncan thanks to a +4:14 ride.

He said: “I was pleased to get a win again, but slower than my last time out on that course. There was no help from the wind, it seemed to be coming from all directions. Thanks to Tony Brooks and the marshals – a great turnout as well.”

Beardmore seems to be getting better as the season progresses with the Bridgnorth rider taking second spot and strengthening his hold on the runner-up spot in both the overall and Veterans standings.

Davies’ three-second advantage over Gary Duncan in the Veterans stretched his lead in that competition to 24 points over Beardmore, and despite Duncan making only his second appearance in the Series this year he elevated himself up to sixth place in the Veterans standings on this showing.

But if Davies’ win had been expected on home turf what happened in the Ladies race came as a huge shock. Having quietly made a name for herself in hill climbs Cyclo-Cross and road races, Rebecca Richardson seemingly came from nowhere to not only outpace the rest of the Ladies’ field by over two minutes, but also to finish equal eighth overall from a field of 46 with a fabulous 23:33 on her first attempt at any County time trial. Believed to be the fastest 10 mile ride by any affiliated woman in a County level event, Richardson’s ride was one deserving huge plaudits. Outpacing former County Champion Jenny York by 2:02, this fantastic ride clearly demonstrated Richardson’s huge potential in her first local time trial of 2016.

Richardson explained: “This was my first 10-mile time trial of the season so I had no idea what to expect. I was very pleased to get that time, it is over three minutes better than my previous Personal Best on the course. Conditions weren’t ideal with crosswinds and no bike computer, so I just went on feel. I’d not done any specific training, so it was exciting to see this result!”

In the Juniors it was another Hafren CC rider making his first entry into the Series with 13 year-old Sam Holwill stopping the watch with a fine effort of 27:16.

PICTURE: Bryn Davies sets off on his winning ride.