TRANSFER NEWS: Mould returns home to Newport

As the transfer deadline shuts this evening, arguably the biggest winter move sees Wednesfield’s British Champion, Ben Mould moving back to his home town club Newport – making him the fourth rider to return to their first club after Lewis and Chris Osborne’s move to Great Blakenham and Gavin Wheeler reportedly back at Southampton.

Wednesfield manager Wayne Aris said: “With all the changes brought into the sport for 2017, it has had a big impact on the Aces club, and I feel this has forced Ben to make this move.

“Some people will say this is good for the sport, but for us it’s a big loss, not only because Ben is one of the top riders in the world, but Ben has been with the club for 5 years and he has become a personal friend to me and a lot of the members at the Aces club. He is a top bloke and a great character to have in the pits.

“Ben spoke to me last week saying he has had his best racing years with us and it was a very hard decision for him to make. Ben went on to say that Wednesfield has not only made him into the British Champion that he has become, but also the rider and person that he is now.

“But Ben feels with the defence of his British title and with Australia at the end of the year, he needs to train a lot more to meet the goals that he wants to achieve and feels this is the right time to move back to his home club.”

“Ben has won four British Team titles, two British Club Senior titles, U19 British title, one British Senior Team Indoor title, and of course the Senior British Champion 2016 whilst being with the Aces.

“Ben and his family, Helen and Dave, will be missed at the club and all of us at Wednesfield Aces wish him all the best.

Aris concluded: “It was a privilege to work with Ben. He was a challenge at times, but a hard and determined rider. Exciting to watch and when on top form probably one of the best riders I’ve seen. For the period that I’m manager at the club, I will always have a space at the Aces for Ben. I do think that this won’t be the last time you will Ben Mould in a Wednesfield Aces shirt.”

The return of riders to their home town clubs will be what the British Cycling CS commission had hoped would happen, and with seemingly few transfers taking place this winter in comparison with previous years, the message might be getting across that home grown stability is one of the many keys to sport-wide growth.

Mould’s move to Newport will make the Welsh club favourites, in some quarters, for the new CS KO Cup play off final in September, as they utilise their home grown talent, which also includes 2016 British finalists, Mark Carmichael and Jack Harrold.