Oswestry Paragon Time Trials Series

A warm and sunny evening combined with a round of the Coaching Revolutions 2-up series saw a maximum field of 60 riders take part in round three of the Oswestry Paragon Evening Time Trials series.

There were 20 pairs, 18 solo riders and even a tandem on the start line.

Taking the win in the solo competition by over a minute was Owen Line of Wales Racing Academy who set the fastest time so far this year on the Queens Head to Gobowen course to stop the clock on 21 minutes and 51 seconds.

Taking second place was Andy Rose of Nova Raiders CC who knocked 30 seconds off his round two time finishing in 23:02, while third and fastest of the Paragon riders was Glyn Jones who was another rider to improve, his time of 24:02 put him ahead of Dylan Roberts of Wrecsam Tri (24:09).

Paragon's Andy Howell took fifth in 24:31 with teammates Neil Coles (24:48), Jolyon Henry(25:26) and Darrell Walsh (25:57) behind him.

Louise Downward of Hafren CC was the only woman competitor clocking 26:47 for ninth and with many of the junior riders competing in the 2-up competition William Jones was the only junior rider clocking 31:35 for his first ride.

The 2-up event is part of a season long series and Matt Gibbons and Scott Harris made it three straight wins in as many events. The popular event attracted a good turnout of riders and plenty of spectators too with a huge crowd roaring the competitors on at Whittington.

The encouragement certainly spurred the Nova Raiders riders Gibbons and Harris on as they posted a strong time of 21:25 to push teammates Ed Middleton and Nick Long into the runners-up spot with a time of 22:11 and so pushed out the junior pairing of Ben Pierce (Mid Shropshire Wheelers) and Kieran Morris (Oswestry Paragon) by just 10 seconds.

Fourth team was another Mids/Paragon pairing with Andrew Birch and Gary Duncan not far behind with 22:56, while Bernard and Deb Hutson-Lumb, (Nova Raiders CC) set a fine 24:29 to beat Market Drayton CC’s Matthew Harrison and Alice Mackie by 59 seconds in the Mixed Team Series.

In the Women’s Series traffic played a vital part as Alison Dockney and Sarah Grant took the win in 25:46 – just seven seconds ahead of series leaders Jane Chapman and Jenny Newton.

Grant is already anticipating the battles ahead in future rounds: “We are so pleased with our performance. A beautiful evening, thanks to Oswestry Paragon for putting on such a great, well attended event. We especially enjoyed riding through Whittington with all the support there! We are really looking forward to the upcoming events."

Newton meanwhile was left rueing ‘if only’ after that vital delay but still enjoyed her race: “I love that course. We were happy with our overall performance but unfortunately, we were held up by two trucks on the return. Thanks to all the organisers and helpers."

One Paragon team took part with Adam Riley and Jack Morris clocking 24:31 on standard road bikes, while Howard and Becky Lewis on their tandem crossed the line in 20:24.

Meanwhile, Oswestry's Dave Vart put in a commendable time in the second North Shropshire Wheelers 10-mile time trial series.

The Oswestry Paragon cyclist was sixth across the line in a time of 27 minutes and 46 seconds, against a field of 12 riders who took to the course in better weather than the first round.

Richard Kay won the race in 23:37.