R5 SB Sports Injuries Series: Ludlow CC Brimfield 10

Personal bests seem to be arriving at the double during the 2025 season, and that was no exception in Round 5 of the SB Sports Injuries Series, the Ludlow CC Brimfield 10 as Tomos Hales took another fine win and registered a course best of 20 minutes 22 seconds. Hales opened up his defence of the Series to a 30 point advantage over Jonathan Mills-Keeling, who reduced the damage with a fine runner-up spot on this popular course. Starting at the top of Brimfield Hill just over the border into Herefordshire and tackling the Ludlow bypass, the event takes place entirely on the A49, with quick conditions assisting. Riders have to steel themselves to dig in on the toughest part of the course, the climb to Sheet island; with Hales’ comments showing how this can affect: “We had more preferable conditions than last year which meant I could set a personal best on this course. It was a quick out leg, however the drag up to the roundabout does take away a lot of speed. I managed to not loose too much time into the cross-headwind return to beat my time from last year – thanks for Ludlow CC for hosting”.

Whilst a busy road during the day, the 7pm starts see the traffic levels reduce markedly, allowing racers to largely concentrate on the prevailing conditions, with a straight southerly the best direction. Things weren’t quite as ordered though, with a cross-tailwind on the extremely fast opening 1.8 mile descent seeing competitors having to be wary as they got the full force of the blustery conditions, as Mills-Keeling explained: “I always enjoy the Brimfield course. Traffic reduced before the start, but it was quite gusty for the first mile. i settled in, and was pleased with my best 20 minute power this year. Thank you Ludlow CC: always friendly, and well done Tomos for another win”. Whilst Hales took the Overall win Mills-Keeling was in direct competition with John Westhead in the SB Veteran’s Series standings. Mills-Keeling’s actual 21:12 converted to +5:45 on Standard against Westhead’s +4:26, with the Paramount rider moving up to second in the SB Veteran’s Series as a result, 24 points behind Mills-Keeling.

Five rounds and a perfect 100 point score sees Hayley Wells open up a mightily impressive 50 point lead in the SB Female Series, taking a strong third place overall and recording an all time personal best. Like Mills-Keeling, Wells was a little off put by the swirling wind, which made her have second thought whether to start. By the end of the race she knew she had made the right decision with a fantastic 22:03: “I was in two minds to race, but with the course known for being a quick 10 in Shropshire I couldn’t resist! A quick start with some gusty patches put me a little on edge, but I kept my race head strong. Delighted to have picked up a personal best, and was so close to that sub 22 – thanks to Ludlow CC”.

In the SB Road Bike Series two Ludlow Brewery RT riders had distinct eyes on an internal club rivalry, with Chris Edwards starting a minute before Steve Minton. That proved the spur Minton needed to try to reel his team mate, clawing back 24 seconds to finish in an actual 23:03, which converted to 21:57 on the handicapping system. However, Minton’s post-race comments show how much badly timed traffic can affect, with a bow wave of air pushed by large vehicles stymieing his ambitions: “My team mate was my minute man, so I went all out to catch him! I was hoping for a 22-something but suffered from a string of Lorries coming the wrong way near the finish which cut my speed, and I just fell short”. Wells’ father Colin was also in competition and extended his Road Bike Series lead to 30 points, with his actual 27:50 converting to 25:10 on handicap for third spot in this category.

Full:

Veterans:

Females:

Road Bikes:

Cumulative Standings after five rounds

Overall

Veterans

Females

Road Bikes

Juniors