The SCCA’s Top Club Award is changing and will adopt a new approach in 2026, with the aim of being more dynamic to reflect the diversity of riders from member clubs. County level time trial racing in Shropshire aims to be inclusive, covering a range of categories most recently expanded by the addition of Road Bike competitions. However, the Top Club Award has, since its introduction in 2004, always been decided based upon fastest Overall positions in any race regardless of age, gender or bicycle type. This change aims to make this club competition more inclusive – for instance, despite scoring 60 points in the Female category a rider may still only add 5 points towards their club’s Top Club Award under the system up to now.
The new Category scoring expansion aims to encourage greater interest from a wider range of abilities; with the new scoring system seeing the points tally of all member clubs being compiled using rider’s highest scoring points from across their Overall, and relevant Category scores. For example, if an under-40 male rides a road bike to 3rd place in that category and 17th overall, his club’s points tally will now benefit from that 3rd place. Similarly, any Female, Veteran or Junior riding an event will see their highest counting Category points used to help their club’s Top Club score.
This approach helps to level the playing field in this competition, and will allow all riders to contribute on an even footing; no matter their age, gender or bicycle type. The change offers the opportunity for any club to be competitive without the requirement of having the very fastest males riding time trial bikes among their ranks. Please make sure your riders and team mates know about this change. Whatever their age, gender or bicycle type; your club’s chances of lifting the Top Club Award in 2026 just got a whole lot bigger thanks to your contribution.
Examples – ‘Best Score’ model
Rider A: Male, Veteran, Time Trial Bike
| Overall Points | 15 |
| Veterans Points | 45 |
Rider B: Female, Senior, Road Bike
| Overall Points | 15 |
| Female Points | 55 |
| Road Bike Points | 25 |
Rider C: Male, Junior, Time Trial Bike
| Overall Points | 15 |
| Junior Points | 60 |