The 15th and final round of the SB Sports Injuries Series for 2024 saw eight medals in play, and a win for one of the fastest riders in the area on the comeback trail as Josh Williams become only the fourth-ever rider to beat the 20 minute/30mph benchmark on the Waters Upton – Hodnet course and post the second fastest time ever. Williams stopped the watch on 19 minutes 16 seconds in a powerful victory of over two minutes on his first test on the flattest 10 mile course in Shropshire – a victory of over two minutes for the visiting Team Bottrill rider, who now only has the small matter of former Team Bottrill rider Dan Bigham’s outstanding 18:36 record to consider. Williams was pleased with his efforts, stating: “It was nice to finally finish the comeback season off with a win. I’m looking forward to a good winter training and getting stuck into next year”.

The margin of Williams’ victory saw the rare sight of SB Series winner Tomos Hales being overtaken – and before the halfway point as he finished in runner-up spot with an otherwise excellent 21:18. Hales however had to marvel at the strength of Williams, who routinely wins events in the Liverpool area, commenting: “I felt good for the last time trial of the year. I held good power and position; however I felt like I was going backwards when my minute man Josh caught me before the island. A class time by Josh; and thanks Bridgnorth CC for hosting”.

The final podium position almost seemed like an accident for Aerologic rider Mark Pritchard, who had a new purchase he wanted to test. The value of the purchase seemed to justify itself with a solid third spot in 22:22, with Pritchard commenting: “Happy with a third place, but I was only really riding to test out some new wheels I had! Nice to get a third place still; and I’m already looking forward to next season’s racing – thanks to everyone who volunteered at this year’s races”.

There was a close battle between the Female winner and the Veterans winner as Carys Blowers put in another strong performance to take fourth spot in 22:50, and beat Overall SB Silver medallist Jonathan Mills-Keeling by nine seconds. She stated: “I really enjoyed racing on this course and was pleased with my time – thanks to the organisers and volunteers that make these events possible”. Blowers also beat SB Female Series winner Hayley Wells in a rare loss for the Wrekinsport rider by 28 seconds, but Wells was more surprised at a course personal best as she captured the Overall Bronze in the SB Series to round off a glittering season: “This stretch of road has become one of my favourite local 10’s. Chuffed to have picked up another personal best on this course and end the season on a high! Well done to Carys on a strong ride. Bronze was an unexpected one to pick up but a pleasant surprise! The SB Series has thrown a variety of challenges with the courses on offer, which has definitely helped build strength throughout the season – thanks to all who make the Series possible, and looking forward to building up again for the 2025 season”.

Mills-Keeling showed just why he has won the SB Veterans Series however with +3:58, pushing Bridgnorth CC’s Paul Mulready into second place on the day with +2:09. Mills-Keeling didn’t find things easy however despite far better conditions than riders faced in Rounds 13 and 14: “My last race of season and I found it tough in every direction. It has been a good season battling with Tomos, thanks to all throughout the year for putting on the racing”.

Despite winning the Road Bike event on the day with an adjusted 25 minutes exactly, Mark Fenn just couldn’t overall Propel CC’s Matt Muir when the final points tally was calculated, with Muir taking Road Bike Silver and Fenn the Bronze. Muir’s post-race comments focussed on how much the events can help riders gain top end fitness and the strong sense of community: “I was delighted to hear I had come second in the Road Bike section of this event. These events are run by the affiliated clubs and are designed to accommodate athletes of all fitness levels. These events are strategically scheduled in the early and late seasons; which help participants gradually build and maintain their fitness throughout the year. Special thanks go out to the clubs, timekeepers, and marshals; and to Ellerdine Village Hall. Their contributions are crucial for the smooth running of these events, ensuring everything goes off without a hitch. Without their support, such events wouldn’t be possible”.

Fenn’s concentration has largely been focussed on taking the inaugural Friction Road Bike Series title, so his ability to ride the SB events has been by his own admission limited, but his comments show how he has built the races into his commute: “I was surprised by taking Bronze with only being able to compete in four of the SB Series. I enjoyed having some fun on my gravel bike and commuting from work at the same time. A big thank you to all involved it is very much appreciated. There were favourable conditions for the course and with Hayley, Tomos and Josh starting just behind it was good to see how close to the island I could get before being passed like I was standing still – a good way to finish off my time trial year”.

That left several riders not in competition on the day to seal the final medals on offer – with Deb Hutson-Lumb just taking the Veterans Bronze ahead of Helen Tudor by two points, the smallest margin possible. Like Fenn, opportunities to race have been limited in 2024, as she commented: “I haven’t done many SB events this season so was pleased to pick up a medal. Well done to Gold and Silver winners; and thanks to everyone involved in organising the events”.

Female Bronze was taken by Hafren CC’s Jan Davies, eight points ahead of Hutson-Lumb whose early season was affected by injury. When told she had won the medal she stated “Some tough competition this year against some very fast ladies. I was happy to walk away with Bronze; thanks to all involved, and roll on 2025”!

The SB Junior Series has been wide open for 2024 and all three medals were decided at the death, with Wrekinsport’s Ben Southgate taking Gold ahead of Hafren CC’s Jess Bufton capturing Silver and Newport Shropshire CC’s Ben Bramford-Hale taking the Bronze. Southgate commented: “Happy to take Junior SB Gold from all the hard work I put in”.

Result:

Pos’nForenameSurnameClubCatTimePoints
1JoshWilliamsTeam BottrillS19:16.
2TomosHalesWrekinsport CCS21:1820
3MarkPritchardAerologic RTS22:2218
4Carys BlowersLiv CC Halo CyclesFJ22:50.
5JonathanMills-KeelingAerologic RTV22:5916
6AdamMumfordWrekinsport CCS23:1614
7Hayley WellsWrekinsport CCF23:1812
8PaulMulreadyBridgnorth Cycling ClubV24:5410
9MarkFennShropshire CCAV25:238
10TimEvansNewport (Shropshire) CCV26:496
11AndrewCoombesShropshire CCAV27:314
12ChrisMarrsMid Shropshire WheelersV28:152
13Mike DoyleOswestry Paragon CCS28:422
14MattMuirPropel Cycling ClubV31:282

Veterans:

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V +3:58 20
2 Paul Mulready Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +2:09 18
3 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V +1:08 16
4 Chris Marrs Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +0:17 14
5 Tim Evans Newport (Shropshire) CC V +0:14 12
6 Andrew Coombes Shropshire CCA V 0:00 10
7 Matt Muir Propel Cycling Club V -4:52 8

Females:

Female Pos’nForenameSurnameClubCatTimeFemale Points
1Carys BlowersLiv CC Halo CyclesFJ22:50.
2Hayley WellsWrekinsport CCF23:1820

Road Bikes:

RB Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat RB Adj Time RB Points
1 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 25:00 20
2 Andrew Coombes Shropshire CCA V 26:08 18
3 Mike Doyle Oswestry Paragon CC S 28:42 16
4 Matt Muir Propel Cycling Club V 31:00 14

Juniors:

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Carys Blowers Liv CC Halo Cycles FJ 22:50 .

Final Cumulative Standings after fifteen rounds

Overall

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 240
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 214
3 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 120
4 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 108
5 Dean Callister Aerologic RT S 60
6 Mark Pritchard Aerologic RT S 50
7 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 48
8 Mark Hill Hafren CC V 46
9 Oil Freeman Wrekinsport CC S 44
10 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 40
=11 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 38
=11 Devon Round Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 38
=13 Alvydas Janusauskas Paramount CRT S 36
=13 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 36
15 Richard Nickless Paramount CRT V 26
16 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V 24
=17 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 22
=17 Mark Fenn SCCA 1st Claim Member V 22
=17 Phil Roberts Wrekinsport CC S 22
=17 Robbie Disney Aerologic RT S 22

Veterans:

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 240
2 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 136
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 82
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 80
5 Mark Hill Hafren CC V 76
6 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 74
7 Jan Davies Hafren CC FV 54
=8 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 44
=8 Rob Kennard Aerologic RT V 44
10 Rob Garbett Wrekinsport CC V 42
11 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V 34
=12 Paul Mulready Bridgnorth CC V 32
=12 Richard Nickless Paramount CRT V 32
=12 Tim Evans Newport (Shropshire) CC V 32
=15 Dave Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V 28
=15 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V 28
=17 Matt Muir Propel CC V 26
=17 Stacey Morgan Ludlow Brewery RT V 26
=19 Mark Fenn SCCA 1st Claim Member V 24
=19 Steve Minton Ludlow Brewery RT V 24

Females:

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 226
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 126
3 Jan Davies Hafren CC FV 88
4 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 80
5 Jess Bufton Hafren CC FJ 26
6 Karen Proctor Hafren CC FV 16
7 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 14

Road Bikes:

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 122
2 Matt Muir Propel CC V 92
3 Mark Fenn SCCA 1st Claim Member V 80
=4 Andrew Coombes SCCA 1st Claim V 38
=4 Steve Minton Ludlow Brewery RT V 38
6 Peter Everett Oswestry Paragon CC V 34
7 Anthony Corbutt Ludlow CC V 32
=8 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 20
=8 Dan Watts SCCA Private Member S 20
=8 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 20
=8 Jack Wilson Ludlow Brewery RT V 20
=8 Mick Case Hafren CC V 20
=8 Tom Herbert Bridgnorth CC S 20
=14 Alun Roberts Hafren CC V 18
=14 Ben Bramford-Hale Newport Shropshire CC J 18
=14 Dave Allen Bridgnorth CC V 18
=14 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC S 18
=14 Nick Hickman Paramount CRT V 18
=14 Richard Simpson Market Drayton CC V 18
=14 Stacey Morgan Ludlow Brewery RT V 18
=14 Tim Mayo Propel CC S 18

Juniors:

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 60
2 Jess Bufton Hafren CC FJ 40
3 Ben Bramford-Hale Newport Shropshire CC J 20