Midland DC

	Jackie Harris Most improved overal

In the last event of the Women's Series the weather was overcast but fortunately, although it had been threatening to rain, it stayed dry and the wind dropped compared to earlier in the day. As well as a warm evening the reception from Shirley RC was very hospitable with plenty of marshals and a results board with runners relaying the times back as quickly as possible.

	The first three: Nadine Mayhew, Suzy Patience and Elizabeth Clayton

Once again Banbury Star CC produced a superb event for the penultimate race of the series, with plenty of marshals on the course, a village hall for hot drinks, medals for the fastest three women and something not all organizers manage, a beautiful warm and calm evening. Perfect for most but not all.

Expected winner on the night was unable to take advantage of these conditions when a puncture put paid to her quest for overall leader in the series. Michelle King, Team Jewson-MI Racing had to be rescued by the photographer and was unable to finish the race, which was doubly disappointing for the recent Midlands Championship winner as she had made a considerable effort to take part. Also thwarted on home ground was Banbury Star rider Moira Goodway. Heavy traffic held up the rider and forced her to abandon the race. Moira may take some consolation in the fact she remains Series winner for Vets on Standard.

It is always nice to see a new winner and Suzy Patience, Banbury Star CC has not had to wait long for this to happen. Showing some impressive results in her last few races, this time she was able to claim one of the medals on offer. Her time of 31.44 not only put her in first place but made a new record on this course. Second and third place were closely contended by Nadine Mayhew Leamington C & AC, 32.34 and Elizabeth Clayton, Lichfield City CC 32.37. Nadine is the current Series leader, with Elizabeth in second place. Elizabeth took the Vets lead on the night and is second to Moira in the Vets table overall.

In fourth place was Nicky Xandora, Banbury Star CC, who lies in third place overall in the series. Nicky finished in 32.55. Then came Janet Marsden Solihull CC, 34.15 and Gabriella MacKinnon, Team Midland Racing, 35.47. Janet is in third place in the Series Improvement which is currently led by Jackie Harris.

Using the race as a warm up to the forthcoming World Age Group Sprint Triathlon, Helen Howells, Leamington C & AC, finished the twenty kilometer route in 38.03 and then went for a run, as you do! Most improved on the night, Jackie Harris, Bromsgrove Olympique CC, clocked a 39.33 and Clair Parfrey, Cult Racing, riding her fourth event of the Series, a 43.09.

A quick mention to one of the women who is not in the series but who raced on the night, Helen Clayton, daughter of Elizabeth. Helen is a very competent track, circuit and off-road rider and finished the course in 34.42. Thirty seven riders took part in total and the winner overall was Jon Simpkins, Drag2zero in 26.50.

Thank you to Rob Frowen, Nick Bullen and all the other members of BSCC for their excellent hospitality and a great night for most.

Miranda Harris

As reported by Steve Walker, riders taking part in the fifth event of the Women's Series had superb conditions for their evening race on the K3/10 on July 2nd 2011. With fewer riders than last year, there was a new winner on the warm and calm night, Michelle King, now riding for Team Jewson MI Racing, taking a clear two minutes out of the next contester Nadine Mayhew, 22.22 and over a minute quicker than the winner last year.

Quality not quantity was the order of the day for the 25 mile time trial organised by Team Midland Racing (TMR). Great lengths had been taken to make the race special, as well as nominating it as a memorial event to Cath Ward as this Series time trial was the last one she rode in 2010. Number 11 slot was kept blank in her memory and a minute's silence was granted at the event headquarters after the competition.

The course is based on the A452 between Balsall Common and the Stonebridge island visiting Hampton in Arden via a nasty long drag twice. Weather conditions were very cool and breezy with a couple of brief showers just before the start. However, the rain stayed off for the race and there were a few sunny spells which warmed things up a bit later on in the event.

All the riders seemed to really enjoy the event. Jackie Harris, Bromsgrove Olympique CC was riding her first 25 and she did get confused at one of the many roundabouts and went all the way round it once before deciding which exit to take! She finished in 1.22.44.

	Nicky Xandora - Winner of event 4

Nadine Mayhew, Leamington C & AC and Nicky Xandora, Banbury Star CC knew their times were close and there was an anxious wait at the HQ for the results to come through........... this time in Nicky's favour with 1.07.50 putting her in second place in the overall points series. Nadine was just seconds behind her with 1.08. She is top of the Series Actual Points table and Nicky is in second!! They both hold the same places in the overall Vets competition.

Gabriela MacKinnon, TMR was using the event as a stepping stone to riding the Shirley 50 the following weekend and finished in 1.14.18. Also riding were Jackie Hobson, Warwickshire RC and Helen Howells Leamington C & AC who finished in 1.16.05 and 1.22.52 respectively. Jackie finished ‘Most Improved' on the day and she now goes top of the PB Improvement table so a few changes have taken place just over half way through the Series.

Lisa Wells of TMR also rode and did 1.19.17, however she is not in the Series. Grigor Wallace of TMR was the fastest man and he did 56.35, the only person to go under the hour.

Graham Hewson in particular deserves a special mention for the hard work he put in to the organisation including producing a special flyer which was designed to promote the event. There were trophies for the first three placed female riders, marshals on all the roundabouts and the whole club made the women feel very welcome as commented upon by the winning woman, "I was delighted how friendly the club was, how good the marshalling was and what a treat to have a shower afterwards....all so civilised ! And yes I was very proud to receive such a lovely trophy, thanks to the hosting club."

Graham explained, "We decided to celebrate the Midlands Women's Series by using this event to raise money for Christopher's Smile and I hope you will find time to search through Google for Christopher's Heart Breaking Story, how his parents fought to help him through and used his memory to raise some money to help other kids make it. Today you all did your bit and we raised £100 to add to this year's efforts so ‘thank you'"

Miranda Harris

There are several factors which make for a night of PB's, one of those being perfect weather. Beth Clayton, Lichfield City CC took advantage of the lovely sunny evening with minimal breeze and finished the third event of the Women's Series in 23.32. Beth now holds the women's record for the course as no women had raced on it until June 1st. It was very thoughtful of Stafford RC to measure a new course specially for the Series, and even kinder to make it a little short, another factor which helped with the PB's!

There were two unanimous comments following the second of the Women's series: it was great to see another excellent turn-out for the women and with slightly less enthusiasm but as much gusto, ‘that was a tough race'.

‘The course is not known as a particularly quick course unless it is absolutely still,' consoled Ruth Eyles, Series organizer. The wind direction can also make quite a difference as noticed by most of the riders on May 21 so once again, there was not an abundance of PB's. That is if your name isn't Janet Marsden, Solihull CC, who rode another impressive ride to finish in 26.58. Janet puts her consistent improvement down to the training she is doing for the Raid Pyrenees coming up at the beginning of June. The event includes 11,000 meters of climbing, 450 miles and some formidable terrain to boot.

	Back: Nadine Mayhew, Rebecca Aicheler, Stacey Penn Front: Cath Fenn, Claire Hansell, Tomlinson

As well as Janet there were three other riders who improved on PB, including Jackie Harris, Bromsgrove Olympique CC, 31.09, Jackie Hobson, Warwickshire RC, 28.25 and Lucy Tomlinson, Warwick Uni Tri Club, 30.52. Jackie Hobson's improvement puts her joint leaders of the Series Improvement Table with Janet. Jackie Harris, Clair Parfrey, Cult Racing, 31.35, and Lucy share the next place in the same table.

As commented upon by Clair, it was great to see so many women at the event and such a wide age range. Agreeing with her about the positive number of women was overall female winner, Rebecca Aicheler, Castle Bikes Cycle & Tri Club, 24.03.

Although there were many regulars competing in this popular Janet Kelly Memorial Open, Rebecca is a stranger to the series. Travelling from near Cardiff, Rebecca is a welcome member and no doubt we will be seeing her again despite the fact she will have to cover some considerable miles to retain her title.

It was great to see the fastest Series contender of this event last year, Nadine Mayhew, Leamington Cycle & Athletics Club, 24.47 back in action and though unable to clinch the trophy today, she agreed it was not a day for PB's. Finding the going tough was third- placed Series rider Emily Ducker, Rugby RR, who finished dead on the line with her minute marker Rebecca with 25.03. Pleased to have provided some incentive for the newcomer, Emily reflected back to one of her past performances when her time was 90 seconds faster. Emily's opening two performances put her at the top of the leader board in the Series, with Nicky Xandora, Banbury Star CC in second place and Janet in third. So it looks like there are some interesting developments already. Nicky finished in 25.13 and team mate Moira Goodway in 27.04, first place for the Vets. Moira leads the Vets on Standard for the Series with Nicky in second place and once again Janet is in third place.

Some of the riders were pleased with their times including Claire Sadler, Cult Racing just three seconds behind Emily. Claire spoke warmly of the excellent organization of the event and the added comfort of the red flags at each roundabout. Wendy Kirby, Team Jewson-MI Racing was another rider who was ‘chuffed' with her ride in such difficult conditions. Her time of 27.13 puts her in a respectable place in pretty much all of the tables.

It was good to see Sue Semple, Stafford RC, competing again. Sue spends a lot of time on the track these days and wishes she had more time for time trialling. A time of 25.23 put her in third place on the Vets table.

Team prize went to Warwick Uni, all three riders who are part of the series. Claire Hansell and Cath Fenn clocked 25.22 and 28.02 respectively, although Cath had a late start of two minutes.  

Many thanks to Beacon Roads Cycling Club for a superbly organized and well marshaled event. The field of over 120 riders saw Scott Westwood, Walsall RC win with a 20.36.

The photo is of Nadine Mayhew, Rebecca Aicheler and Stacey Penn at the back and Cath Fenn, Claire Hansell and Lucy Tomlinson (winning team) on the front. The next event is the Stafford RC club 10 on 1st June followed by Team Midland 25 on Sunday June 5th.

Miranda Harris

(click "Read more" for detailed result)

In a bid to encourage more women to the sport of time trialling, National champion Ruth Eyles founded the West Midlands Women's Time Trial Series five years ago. This has proved ever more popular and this year a bumper number of fifteen female riders took part in the first event, with another three signed up. The series includes seven races and competitors are invited to ride as many as possible but will still be recognized for taking part in one or two.

Thank you to all those who have sent in entries for the 2011 Women's Series. Here is an up to date list of entries received. It is hugely encouraging that we already have five newcomers to the series! Welcome to those coming and dipping your toe into time trialling for the first time. If you have any questions or concerns, however minor, about taking part in an event or the Series as a whole, please don't hesitate to ask. If you haven't entered already there is no need to panic because you can fill in a Series entry form at an event - just come and find me (ask someone - most people will know who I am!).

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