Midland District

The latest SPOCO standings can be viewed at http://spoco.midlanddc.org.uk.

... and five (often damp or wind-swept) open time trialling events in the Midlands. The month kicked off with the Walsall RCC’s 10-mile event and on the same weekend was the first of two events promoted by the Warwickshire RC. This first event was a sporting event on the Inkberrow circuit but two weeks later the hard-working club also promoted a 10 on the ‘D’ version of the K33/10 at Salford Priors. On the weekend in between the Wyre Forest CRC promoted its own ‘SPOCO’ event based at Great Witley with the option for riders to complete either one or two laps and finally the month closed with possibly the wettest, coldest and most windy Beacon Little Mountain TT in the event’s 64-year history.

Remember that the Midlands Rankings are based on a rider’s best five events in the previous 12 months so only riders who have done five open events in the district (that is, on ‘K’ courses) in the last 12 months are given a category. These range from 4^th-cat up to Elite based on points accumulated (just like road-racers).

So, what has changed in April? Just two riders have progressed up a category this month and one of these has merely returned to where he safely resided for the whole of last season. David Walker of the Worcester St John’s CC turned out a long ‘22’ in the Warwicks RC 10 to regain the few points he needed to go back up to 2^nd-cat. However, it is a different story for Simon Dighton (Beacon RCC) who has quietly made steady progress and been promoted up a category for the first time. With an emphatic personal best by well over a minute in the Warwicks RC 10 he earned his highest points score yet and lifted himself to 3^rd-category status. Congratulations to both David and Simon.

Each month riders also appear in the categories for the first time when they initally complete five counting events. Well done to the following riders who have just appeared in the categories above 4^th-cat for the first time:

• Andrew Shipton (Gloucester City CC) – 2^nd Cat
• Chris Morris (Wyre Forest CRC) – 2^nd Cat

Note that every rider can be put into an age category so that they can compare their ranking to others of the same age – but this is only possible if we know your date of birth. Do take a minute to drop a quick message to Steve Lockwood to tell him your DOB if your age category is not already showing.  There is an easy link to do this from the age-category page.

Ruth Eyles

** April brings the sweet spring showers
On and on for hours and hours
(Flanders and Swan - A Song of the Weather)

	The new Stafford RC team: Sue Smith, Nicola Hollywood, April Lewis and Susan Semple
	Top three: Helen Boatman, Rebecca Slack and Rosie Armitage

In the opening event of the Midlands Women’s Time Trial Series conditions were more reflective of the winter season than the beginning of May. Back on the K41/10 after last year’s move to the K10/10F, sixteen women were present to contest the various awards on offer. It was wonderful to see so many women turn up for the event including the insuppressible Gill Henshaw, however she decided not to brave the elements to race.

Bitterly cold with the odd shower of rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the girls racing however, with Rosie Armitage, Team Echelon-Rotor claiming first place in a time of 24.47. Hot on her heels came four riders, all within half a minute of each other, including new rider Samantha Anderson, Team Jewson- MI Racing just back from Israel where she came fifth in the European Duathlon Championships. Samantha finished second with 25.13, followed by Claire Hansell, Warwick Uni Tri Club, 25.20, Elizabeth Clayton 25.28, Lichfield City CC and Sue Semple, Stafford RC, 25.43. Sue was one of three Stafford riders in the series, together with Annis Moore and Nicola Hollywood, who finished in 28.35 and 29.10 respectively.

With new standard times this year, the veterans’ results are going to prove very exciting. Arja Scarsbrook, Team Echelon-Rotor now sits in third place after the first race with a time of 27.19 and Moira Goodway, Banbury Star CC, winner of last’s years Vets on Standard, in fourth place with 28.19.

Gabriela MacKinnon, Team Midland Racing finished in 28.22 just over a minute ahead of Jackie Harris, the winner of Most Improved Rider 2011, who recorded a time of 29.38. Top of the Most Improved table currently is Liz Powell, Mike Vaughan Cycles, another newcomer, with a time of 28.24 improving on her PB by 1.11. Other riders new to the series are Rosie Lee Croggon, University of Birmingham and Julie Hinds, Coventry CC with 32.44 and 37.55 respectively. Helen Howells, Leamington C&AC completed the ten mile out and back course in 30.33.

The overall winner of the women’s race which is named in memory of Diane Cooke, was Rebecca Slack, London Dynamo with 23.26 and the men’s race was won by Jon Simpkins Drag2zero in 20.39. Stafford RC won the women’s team event. Many thanks to the organizers and marshals from Coventry CC who made a special point of marking the various potholes on the course.

Miranda Harris

(read more for full result...)

Stolen from Stratford upon Avon April 30th.

Argon 18 Lo Pro with American Classic wheels and red bottle cages.

Any information to me http://midlanddc.org.uk/user/1/contact or Alex Laycock http://midlanddc.org.uk/user/65/contact please.