Jonathan Mills-Keeling took his first ever win in the SB Sports Injuries Series having often played the bridesmaid role, with sheer consistency of results keeping him at the head of standings. However a great challenge from Tomos Hales had seen a slight dip following Round 10 – however Mills-Keeling wasn’t about to surrender the lead without a fight. Putting in a determined effort in Round 11, Hafren CC’s 10 mile event on the super fast Berriew – Welshpool course saw the Bridgnorth CC rider beat Hales by 14 seconds with a top effort of 21 minutes 14 seconds to tie things up at the top of the standings. Both riders are now on 178 points, a huge 98 points ahead of the third placed rider in a neck and neck battle for the SB title. Mills-Keeling was happy with his win and is now back on top form after the SCCA 100, a distance that always takes the after effects longer to flush from the system from than most, stating: “I’ve recovered from the 100 and took my first Series round win ever. I pushed on the way out and held on the way back, thanks to all involved”.

Hales was gracious in his post-race comments, knowing that the title challenge is likely to go down to the wire – and was in no doubt that Mill-Keeling had beasted himself to get back on level terms: “It was a very quick out leg in the 10 time trial at Berriew, I should have saved some legs for the hard leg back. However, I was beaten by the better man on the night who produced an awesome time. Well done to Jon, and thanks for Hafren for putting on the event“.

It was good to see Bryn Davies back on form after a long recovery from a road traffic accident has seen him failing to find his very best – until now. Riding on home roads Davies was just 10 seconds behind Hales on 21:38, showing the sort of pace that made him SB Champion in 2016 and 2017. He also took third spot in the SB Veterans with +5:08, the same 24 seconds behind Mills-Keeling as on actual with both riders the same age who took the runner-up spot on Veteran’s Standard and leads that Championship by an altogether more comfortable margin of 90 points. Davies commented: “Pleased with the effort and result, first time in a while I’ve felt like my old self and able to push throughout the effort as I’ve wanted to.  Hopefully I can reproduce this going forward with a bit more consistency – a great nights racing, thanks to all for organising and hosting”.

Mills-Keeling’s margin in the SB Veterans Series was nibbled away slightly by winner Deb Hutson-Lumb with a Veterans Standard of +6:28; and who also took her almost obligatory victory in the SB Women’s event too with a fine actual of 23:40 from Hafren CC’s Olivia Hughes in 24:57. Hutson-Lumb seemed to push a little too hard taking advantage of the tailwind out – something that saw her hit the classic ‘brick wall’ later: “I got a bit carried away on the way out. I paid for it in the last couple of miles when my power nosedived. Pleased to take the win, and thanks to Hafren for a great event”.

Result:

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Series – Round 11

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 21:14 20
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 21:28 18
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 21:38 16
4 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 22:07 14
5 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing V 22:34 12
6 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 23:01 10
7 Patrick Mayo Hafren CC V 23:10 8
8 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:40 6
9 Mark Hill Hafren CC V 23:45 4
10 Conrad Taylor Hafren CC V 24:04 2
11 Olivia Hughes Hafren CC WV 24:57 2
12 Mick Case Hafren CC V 25:11 2
13 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC WV 26:54 2
14 Jan Davies Hafren CC WV 27:08 2
15 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 27:32 2
. Steve Taylor Hafren CC . DNS .
. Peter Villiers Hafren CC . DNS .
. Carl Spencer Hafren CC . DNS .

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Veterans Series – Round 11

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV +6:28 20
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V +5:32 18
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +5:08 16
4 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V +4:44 14
5 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing V +4:38 12
6 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V +4:23 10
7 Olivia Hughes Hafren CC WV +3:45 8
8 Mark Hill Hafren CC V +3:27 6
9 Patrick Mayo Hafren CC V +3:26 4
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +2:09 2
11 Jan Davies Hafren CC WV +2:04 2
12 Mick Case Hafren CC V +2:01 2
13 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC WV +1:48 2

SB Sports Injuries and Physiotherapy Women’s Series – Round 11

Woman’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:40 20
2 Olivia Hughes Hafren CC WV 24:57 18
3 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC WV 26:54 16
4 Jan Davies Hafren CC WV 27:08 14
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 27:32 12

Cumulative Standings after eleven rounds

Overall

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
=1 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 178
=1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 178
3 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 80
4 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 56
5 George Coombes SCCA Private Member S 50
6 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 44
=7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 42
=7 Darren Shaw SCCA Private Member V 42
9 Mark Pritchard Revolutions Racing S 40
10 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 38

Veterans

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 190
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 100
3 Darren Shaw SCCA Private Member V 58
4 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 50
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 46
6 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 38
7 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 36
8 Karen Sherriff Nova Raiders WV 34
9 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 30
=10 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 26
=10 Jon Evans Wrekinsport CC V 26
=10 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V 26

Women’s

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 100
=2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 44
=2 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 44
4 Jan Davies Hafren CC WV 42
5 Karen Sherriff Nova Raiders WV 40
6 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 36
7 Elaine Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV 26
=8 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC WV 20
=8 Nicki Doherty Ludlow CC W 20
=8 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV 20

Juniors

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 110
=2 Cerys Greaves SCCA Private Member WJ 20
=2 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers J 20
=2 Harry Corney North Shropshire Wheelers J 20