West Midlands Region RRL Update

10 September 2009; thanks to Richard Lodge

The inaugural West Midlands Road Race League for 2/3/4 category riders, is close to being complete, but with the final results far from being certain. While the first counting event in March seems a distant past, there is till much of the competition yet to be decided. With two events remaining, Adrian Bird (Team Echelon–Spiuk) has finally overhauled the points score of Russell Falder (Mammoth Lifestyle RT) to take a slender lead.

Adrian scored in both the latest events with a 2nd place in the Beacon Roads CC event on 30th August and 6th in the Wrekinsport CC event on 6th September.  Adrian and Russell now have a sizeable gap over the chasing riders in the individual RRL scores, but with a maximum of 60 points available from the last two events, there are still 10 other riders in the hunt for the RRL champion award.

Three other riders have also made a late season push for glory, with Richard Barnett (Stone Whs), Ian Thomas (Paramount CRT) and Paul Thursfield (Tunstall Whs) each securing significant points in the last rounds.  These three, along with Wayne McKeown (Solihull CC) look favourites for the RRL 3rd place, but as noted earlier, with two rounds to go there remains scope for many riders to challenge for a high overall placing. Most consistent rider to date some would argue is Alister Clay from the Halesowen A&CC who has now scored most frequently, being placed in 6 of the 10 rounds.

The closest of battles is in the team award, with 5 teams still very close in the table. The final two rounds are the Wolverhampton Racing CC Tour of the Wrekin on 13 September, followed a week later by the Solihull CC event (now on a changed course at Princethorpe) on 20 September.  Of the 5 leadings teams Adrian Bird is the sole Team Echelon rider in each event, seeking to defend his lead from good entries from the Solihull CC, Halesowen A&CC and Tunstall Whs. 
Both events are close to maximum entries which yet further confirms the support in the Region for the RRL format right through to the end of the season.  Any West Midlands riders keen on securing entry in these events are recommended to liaise with the organisers and to turn up promptly on the day. Thanks again to all those organising and marshalling in these final rounds.
                                                  
West Midlands Region 2009 RRL :   

Individual Standings : 10 of 12 Events completed   
1    Adrian Bird    Team Echelon - Spiuk    81
2    Russell Falder    Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team    76
3    Wayne McKeown    Solihull CC    43
4    Richard Barnett    Stone Whls CC    42
5    Ian Thomas    Paramount CRT    39
6    Paul Thursfield    Tunstall Whls CC    35
7    Matthew Bailey    Halesowen A & CC    31
8    Alister Clay    Halesowen A & CC    30
9    Matthew Gee    Lichfield City CC    25
10    David Kirby    Team Coventry Cycle Centre    23
11=    David Watson    Coventry Road Club    21
11=    Lewis Cowley    Plan B Racing    21
13    Ian Treadwell    Beacon Roads CC    20
14    David Lowe    Tunstall Whls CC    18
15=    Euan Adams    Red Kite Cycles/Torq    17
15=    John Tonks    Elizabethan CC    17
17=    Andrew Udall    Tunstall Whls CC    16
17=    Chris Edwards    Halesowen A & CC    16
19    Richard Prebble    Candi TV - Marshalls Pasta RT    15
20=    Conor O'Brien    Solihull CC    14
20=    Matthew Blythe    Newport Shropshire CC    14
22=    Benjamin Mountford    Solihull CC    12
22=    Luke Moseley    Climb On Bikes RT    12
24    Giles Pidcock    Epic Cycles-Viner RT    10
25=    Neil Martin    CC Giro    8
25=    Simon Ward    Epic Cycles-Viner RT    8
27=    Phil Mason    Climb On Bikes RT    7
27=    Richard Nelson    Paramount CRT    7
29=    Andrew Peat    Solihull CC    6
29=    Ewen McDonald    Epic Cycles-Viner RT    6
29=    Jason Meyer    Stourbridge Velo    6
32    Craig Ansell    Wolverhampton Whls    5
33=    Joe Charley    Stourbridge Velo    4
33=    Stephen Edwards    Wolverhampton Whls    4
35=    Adam Studzinski    Brooks Cycles     3
35=    Daniel Bill    Team Echelon - Spiuk    3
35=    Perry Bowater    CC Giro    3
38=    Alex Cogswell    Halesowen A & CC    2
38=    Gary Dunne    Coventry Road Club    2
38=    Paul Dring    Team Echelon - Spiuk    2
41=    Christopher Taylor    Stourbridge Velo    1
41=    Gary Gee    Lichfield City CC    1

West Midlands Region 2009 RRL Teams:   
1    Team Echelon - Spiuk    86   
2    Halesowen A & CC    79   
3    Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team    76   
4    Solihull CC    75   
5    Tunstall Whls CC    69   
6    Paramount CRT    46   
7    Stone Whls CC    42   
8    Lichfield City CC    26   
9    Epic Cycles-Viner RT    24   
10=    Coventry Road Club    23   
10=    Team Coventry Cycle Centre    23   
12    Plan B Racing    21   
13    Beacon Roads CC    20   
14=    Climb On Bikes RT    19   
14=    Elizabethan CC    17   
16    Red Kite Cycles/Torq    17   
17    Candi TV - Marshalls Pasta RT    15   
18=    Newport Shropshire CC    14   
18=    CC Giro    11   
20    Stourbridge Velo    11   
21    Wolverhampton Whls    9   
22    Brooks Cycles     3