R10 SB Sports Injuries Series: Bridgnorth CC 10

It was road bikes to the fore in Round 10 of the SB Sports Injuries Series as a first-time entrant in 2026 took the win by a considerable margin in Bridgnorth CC’s 10. Utilising the sporting Boningale to Shifnal course, Tom Herbert stopped the watch on 22 minutes 18 seconds for a convincing victory of 2:14 over Paramount’s Mitchell Fletcher. Herbert put his road racing skills to good use to battle the drag to the turn at Shifnal into the prevailing wind, features that usually mean a rider has to tough things out on the ‘out’ leg and hopefully have enough strength left to take advantage of a fast return. His post-race comments show how conditions affected the race: “It didn’t feel like a particularly fast night and after the first 2½ miles had gone by I still didn’t feel like I’d gotten on top of my own effort really. Things improved on the return leg with a slight cross tail wind, but I could tell I was going to be some way off my own personal best. All in all it was a great night for the club though, and great attendance. I was honestly more chuffed to see my partner, Hayley Brain, break the 30 minute barrier on her shiny new bike with a 29:10.

Brain took the Female runner-up spot after Fletcher’s wife, Evie, took the win in 29:01 to head to the top of the standings in the SB Female Series to depose Hayley Wells. Riders broadly fit into polar opposite camps on the character of a course, with one side liking fastest and flattest available; another relishing technical and challenging. Fletcher clearly fits into the latter category, as she relished the chance to make up points, stating: “I saw this as a great opportunity to pick up points and close the gap in the Series standings. I have really enjoyed all the different courses this year and this was another I liked the look of. Is it the fastest course? No, but I love a challenge and these hills gave it. I tried to push hard into the headwind on the way out, knowing I would have some assistance on the way back. It was lovely to see some super strong ladies out on the night too, and thank you to Bridgnorth CC for hosting an amazing event. I am very pleased to have taken the female victory”.

Husband Mitchell took the runner-up spot in 24:32 by just four seconds and tightened his grip on the Bronze medal position on a course that was new to him. Like Evie, he judged that this event was going to be a good way of scoring big points, and it didn’t disappoint as he went home with 18 of them: “With not too many events left in this Series I saw this as a crucial piece of the puzzle to get a good overall result. This was another new course for me, and I was warned! Climbing is never my strong suit, so this course was always going to be a challenge. The first half was crucial for a good result with a strong headwind, so I got my head down and stamped on the pedals. At the turn, this was now a different story with a lovely tailwind the whole way back to the finish. I always love an out and back; you can see everyone’s pain face! I was pleased to finish second overall, pick up some good points, and see some real class from Bridgnorth CC on road bikes – thanks for hosting a great event”.

But one rider’s performance really stood out, as Ian Lister not only finished third overall in 24:36, but also took the wins in the SB Veterans and SB Road Bike Series, a hugely impressive feat. Another first-time entrant; Lister edged out Chris Riley in the overall standings by 35 seconds, beat the same rider into runner-up spot by 1:27 On Veterans Standard after recording a fine +3:48; and in the Road Bike handicap just beat Herbert by two seconds after the age-adjusted system was applied by two seconds in 22:16. Lister commented: “I enjoyed taking part in the Shropshire time trial. It was a tough challenge but that’s what makes it rewarding. Cycling is something I really enjoy, and it’s great to be involved in local events that bring people together”.

Riley didn’t go home empty-handed however as he added 14 points to his overall SB Series lead, and another 18 to his SB Veterans Series lead which gives him exactly 100 points lead over Richard Simpson. With five rounds remaining and a maximum 20 points on offer for the win in each event, Simpson can technically draw level by winning each of the remaining events; but even the minimum two points offered for finishing just one event would seal victory for Riley in a fabulous season for the Paramount rider, with the Veterans Championship all but mathematically certain.    

Full:

Veterans:

Females:

Road Bikes (on handicap):

Cumulative Standings after ten rounds

Overall

Veterans

Females

Road Bike

Juniors