R5 SB Sports Injuries Series: Ludlow CC 10

Conditions didn’t look the best for Round 5 of the SB Sports Injuries Series, but thankfully heavy rain abated to leave competitors with a stiff headwind up the climb to Sheet roundabout and a chilly evening to battle against – not that that stopped some great performances. Held on the Brimfield – Ludlow bypass course entirely on the A49, Aerologic’s Dean Callister made it two wins in a row with a stonking 20 minute 7 second ride, making light of the conditions which saw the longer ‘out’ leg require some power output to punch through: “I was pleased to take the win, I always enjoy the course. It was raining when we arrived but stopped for the start. The headwind out made it a hard outward leg, but I paced it well for a decent time on the night – thanks to Ludlow CC”.

Callister’s nearest challenger was Tomos Hales registering two bizarre factoids – his first ever 20 minute ride, completely jumping from 21 minute efforts to 19 on the fastest 10 mile course in the country in May; and making his first ever visit to arguably Shropshire’s fastest course. He was pleased with what he found, and on a better evening would undoubtedly have gone faster, but expressed pleasure at his 20:47 effort to extend his SB Series lead to 16 points. The Wrekinsport rider commented: “The first time I have raced this course and the surface didn’t disappoint. I went hard on the outward leg and held on in the return. It was my first ever 20 minute time so I was chuffed – thanks Ludlow CC for organising; and congratulations Dean for the win on the night”.

Callister’s team mate Mark Pritchard took third spot in 21:33, just eight seconds ahead of another Aerologic rider Jonathan Mills-Keeling, with Pritchard scoring a personal best – just, despite not feeling at his best. He stated: “Happy to scrape a personal best on the course with not great legs and power. The weather was horrendous driving over, but the course dried up quite well by the time we raced – thanks to Ludlow CC for putting it on”.

Mills-Keeling took the Veterans win to extend his SB Veterans Series lead to a huge 58 points having made it five victories out of five in a dominant showing. Mills-Keeling pushed another Aerologic rider, Scott Palmer, out by 47 seconds with a fine effort of +5:16 sealing a great evening for this new club. He commented: “Always enjoy riding the Ludlow events, friendly and makes a change. Very happy to take the Veterans win, windy out but a push back. Well done to Dean for the win, and thanks for putting on”.

Mills-Keeling isn’t the only rider heading up a Series with a maximum 100 point tally as Hayley Wells took another 20 points to stretch her lead to 46 points over Hafren CC’s Jan Davies – but was disappointed to ride unchallenged on the night. This never dampened her competitive spirit as she took 8^th place overall with a solid 23:08 despite suffering from a competitive weekend, as she explained: “I was carrying a bit of fatigue from the weekend, but soon got the head down! I enjoyed the course and Ludlow CC were very welcoming, but a shame not to have any female competitors at this one”.

What was competitive was the new Road Bike category, with five riders electing to ride ‘standard’ bikes with no aero equipment. All five were first time entrants, with Ludlow Brewery rider Steve Minton taking the win in an age adjusted 22:50, 42 seconds ahead of team mate Stacey Morgan. Minton showed the effect of the weather when it’s almost impossible to present the small frontal profile which makes time trial bikes cut through the wind better, explaining: “A really hard night to be on a road bike, I couldn’t get aero enough with the strong head wind on way out! Plenty of watts, not a lot of speed, but I was happy get the Road Bike win though”.

Full:

Veterans:

Females:

Road Bikes:

Cumulative Standings after five rounds

Overall

Veterans

Females:

Road Bike:

Juniors