Shropshire & South Staffordshire RR League

Scott Palmer (Stourbridge CC) took a surprise victory when he powered clear on the finishing climb in round nine of the Shropshire & South Staffordshire Road Race League.

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Shropshire & South Staffordshire RR League

Report by Ben Goddard 

Scott Palmer (Stourbridge CC) took a surprise victory when he powered clear on the finishing climb in round nine of the Shropshire & South Staffordshire Road Race League.

For the second time this series the handicap format played into the hands of the slower riders with the first 20 finishers outfoxing those starting behind.

The 37-year-old, from Dudley, whose best finish in the series had been 16th grasped his opportunity and flew up the finishing climb near Bridgnorth leaving him enough time to celebrate the win.

Behind Ross Davies finished second and James Gibney (West Mercia Police) third some six seconds behind. “It’s my first year racing and after picking up a good result in a winter series event I got a buzz for it,” said Palmer.

“I had done the finishing hill two weeks ago so knew to get to the front and used my momentum to get up it. Ross (Davies) was in front of me so i drafted him for a little bit and then smashed at the finish. Originally I aimed to do time trials this year but got a buzz for road racing.

“I’m still buzzing from the win but had to go to work today which has brought me back down a little.”

Junior rider Charlie Fisher (Newport Shropshire CC) once again took advantage of the handicap format finishing fourth, after also finishing third in the second round.

The women riders also performed exceptionally well on the lumpy “rabbit run” circuit with three riders finishing in the top 12 places.

Fastest of those was Steph Clayton (Mammoth Lifestyle RT) who finished in sixth ahead of Mellissa Brand (Team Ford Ecoboost) in 10th and Annie Stanford (Paramount CRT) finishing 12th.

First of the “scratch” fastest group to finish was last week’s winner Charles Walker (Catford CC/Equipe Banks) who had to settle for 20th on this occasion, one minute and 17 seconds behind the winner.

Overall leader Ben Joughin (Pro Vision RT) was absent from this round while second place Matthew Morris (Wolverhampton Whls) was helping to organise the event so also didn’t ride.

Next week the event will be split into two races to suit the rider’s abilities around the closed road circuit of Sundourne.

Results
1 Scott Palmer (Stourbridge CC)
2 Ross Davies (unattached)
3 James Gibney (West Midlands CC)
4 Charlie Fisher (Newport Shropshire CC)
5 Jonathan Perry (Stourbridge CC)
6 Steph Clayton (Mammoth Lifestyle RT)
7 Sam Morris (Revolution Racing)
8 Gareth Vickers (Stourbridge CC)
9 Simon Haycock (Stourbridge CC)
10 Melissa Brand (Team Ford Ecoboost)

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