Early leader Griffiths out for round two

Battle recommences in the Hawk Plant Shropshire Championship Points Series on Sunday - but without the early series leader.

Dave Griffiths stormed home to a great victory in the Wrekinsport Hilly 18 to shock Andy Bason with his increased fitness.

But he misses round two, the Mid Shropshire Wheelers' 25 at Prees due to a clashing mountain bike event in Wales after surprising himself with a great aptitude for the discipline at the start of the month.

Despite the loss of Griffiths, Paramount still field a strong squad with Richard Watson, Huw Roberts and Tim Challinor all out to gain big points in the 25.

However, this throws the door wide open to Bason to recapture the lead and open up a lead.

He is supported by six Wrekinsport team mates, including Dan Soltys - who came within 10 seconds of usurping Bason at Worfield - and triathlete Mark Griffiths who has eyes on the Hawk Plant Veterans Series.High Ercall's Griffiths will have his work cut out with the presence of reigning champion and veterans series leader Pete Griffin of Newport.

He also faces challenges from Ludlow's Peter Ding, the 2007 silver medalist, as well as the strong combination of Phil Guy and Bryan Cliff of North Shropshire Wheelers.

Guy is the current Merseyside Veterans champion, both on standard and actual, and is sure to make Griffin work hard for victory.

Mid Shropshire Wheelers support their own event in some style with a team of 11 riders led by Anthony Hough.

The squad includes three ladies all out to make their mark in the Hawk Plant Ladies Series with series leader Julie Moore backed up by Jenny York and Denise Hazlewood.

With Paramount's Amanda Watson and North Shropshire Wheeler Mo Cliff also riding, reigning champion Helen Tudor, the sole lady in a team of eight Oswestry Paragon riders, will have to pull out all the stops.

Oswestry's squad also includes Neil Coles, making his first appearance of the season, and Matthew Griffiths.

Shropshire riders make up 40 from a field of 76 solo riders, with a separate two-up competition featuring 10 pairs of riders preceding the main event at Prees.