HALESOWEN Cycling Club had their strongest team to date for the fourth round of the Midland’s Series, which proved to be both the fastest and the longest of the rounds to date.

At over 70 miles, the racing was hard as it powered its way round the roads of Shropshire coincidentally close to Wenlock Spring, one of the club’s sponsors.

Halesowen had their strongest team so far with Tom Swingler returning to the racing team and Charles Walker making a quick return after a nasty road accident just a few weeks ago.

However, it was Jack Stanton-Warren that lit up the race attacking early on into a cold north-easterly breeze with one companion to share the workload.

He and teammate Walker managed to distance the peloton before they started to be wound back in. Even once caught, Walker showed excellent tactical nous in counter attacking immediately with a group of five to get a one-and-a-half minute gap.

Stanton-Warren’s day was not yet done. Recovering strongly he managed to bridge across to the lead group taking with him Matt Garthwaite, winner of the first race of the season.

At the finish it was Matt Garthwaite taking the uphill sprint with Stanton-Warren just being edged into fourth place. Walker secured an excellent seventh position in his comeback race.

Oli Dighton, Joe Hobbs, Ben Crone and Tom Swingler all strongly contested the bunch sprint from the pack to give the team a fine day out and propel them into second place in the overall league standings behind Team Rhino.

The next round of the series continues in two weeks’ time and is the Halesowen flagship event of the year.

Held on a rolling course on the roads around Astley and Great Witley, the course has enough challenges to allow the fast men to show their strength and will give Halesowen an opportunity to consolidate their league position.

The popular road race will be held on Sunday, May 8, starting from Astley Village Hall from 9.30am.

Meanwhile, a busy weekend for Halesowen Cycling Club continued as the club held a Youth Omnium racing event last Saturday.

More than 100 youngsters attended Manor Abbey Stadium in cold, blustery but dry conditions between 10am and 5.30pm.

The event was an outstanding success with a British Cycling National coach also present looking out for talented riders of the future.

The 100-plus field included youngsters aged from eight years up to 15.

The event was made possible thanks to organiser Andy Burns and his 30-plus team of volunteers.