R11 SB Sports Injuries Series: Ludlow CC Scenic 10

The Course Record and Female Course Record were both smashed on arguably the toughest 10 mile course in Shropshire as a returning Kirk Vickers got in some early fitness preparation for the upcoming BBR Hill Climb Series in Round 11 of the SB Sports Injuries Series, the Ludlow CC Scenic 10 held on the Long Meadowend – Purslow – Hoptonheath – Clungunford circuit – and Hayley Wells lowered her own benchmark. Vickers beat the old record set by Dan Watts in 2020 of 22 minutes 31 seconds in one of the few events when Covid restrictions were eased – and in his first time trial for four years; lowering that benchmark by 13 seconds to 22:18 despite windy conditions added into the mix of a swooping, technical rollercoaster of a course which routinely sees times two minutes down on normal.

Vickers took nearly a minute out of SB Sports Injuries Series leader Tomos Hales in an impressive performance, showing muscle memory of how to deal with a tricky course hadn’t left him. He explained: “I dusted off the time trial bike after four years! I was happy with my performance and course record; however the gusty winds were sketchy on the bars. Well done to all the riders, and thanks to Ludlow CC for hosting”.

Wells sliced seven seconds off her own record of 25:57 set in 2024 on her first sight of the course, and which was already a considerable improvement over Alison Dockney’s 2020 standard of 27:32. Her 25:50 took fourth spot overall and tightened her grip on the overall Bronze medal position. She stated: “Having only done this course once before I wasn’t overly familiar with all the twists and turns! A testing course which feels like a bit of a rollercoaster, but great to do something different on a lovely summer’s evening of racing, many thanks to Ludlow CC”.

Hales stretched his Series lead by two points after edging out Jonathan Mills-Keeling with 23:14 with all the Top 3 in competition. This edged his lead out to 48 points, and he revealed his strategy was much more offensive given growing familiarity with a course that has been known to bite: “Always a beautiful evening down South Shropshire for the Ludlow Scenic 10. I really tried to attack the hills this year and to attack the course. Knowing this course does help, but I still managed to overcook one corner – however I still managed a Course personal best. Well done to Kirk for a phenomenal time on that course; also thanks for Ludlow CC for hosting”.

Mills-Keeling took the final podium spot in 24:31 actual, and took a dominant win of +2:20 in the Veteran’s race to recapture the SB Veterans Series lead from Paramount’s John Westhead by a slender two points in a ding-dong battle, beating Road Bike winner Steve Minton into the runner-up spot on the night, with Minton the only other Veteran to beat his standard, showing the nature of the circuit. The Aerologic rider was pleased with his evening’s work on a favourite course: “It’s been a good season, one of my favourite courses put on by Ludlow CC, I do like the Scenic hilly 10; it has got a bit of everything and a change from the normal roads. A warm evening; and I thought it was fast; but maybe I didn’t push enough on the climbs. Some fast times done by Tomos and Kirk, very impressive, but very happy to take in the Veterans win”.

Ludlow Brewery’s Minton, who has more experience of the course thought otherwise however, with his actual time of 27:05 converting to 25:59 on handicap: “The wind direction made it a slow night on a road bike usually a couple of mph faster average on this course! But it was the same for everyone; thanks to Ludlow CC for putting on the time trial”.

Full

Veterans

Females

Road Bikes

Juniors

Cumulative Standings after eleven rounds

Overall:

Veterans:

Females:

Road Bikes:

Juniors