The fastest 10 mile course in Shropshire saw Jonathan Mills-Keeling take the opportunity to stretch his lead at the top of both the SB Sports Injuries Series and the SB Veterans Series as riders headed to the south of Shropshire for a chance to hurl themselves off the top of Brimfield Bank in Round 7 of the SB Sports Injuries Series. After a speedy 1.8 mile start much of the Ludlow bypass-based course is flat, with just a small matter of digging in to the turn at Sheet island to test the stamina. Won overall by Aerocoach rider Richard Bussell in a fabulous and untouchable time of 18 minutes 50 seconds, Bridgnorth CC’s Mills-Keeling stretched his lead to 26 points over Tomos Hales in the Overall and 48 points over Deb Hutson-Lumb in the Veterans thanks to adding 18 points in the former and the full 20 on offer to SCCA-affiliated County riders in the latter with a 21:31 actual and +5:15 Veteran’s Standard – exactly a minute behind Team Echelon’s Jon Howard.

Reflecting on a good evenings racing Mills-Keeling stated: “I always enjoy this course, but the wind was all over the place. It was great to have two new Bridgnorth members race – thanks to Ludlow cc for putting the event on”. Mills-Keeling’s comment referred to Rob Childs and Scott Palmer, both making first appearances in the 2022 SB Series with Childs posting a 22:23 effort and involved in a thrilling four rider melee bunched from 22:21-21:24.

Mills-Keeling didn’t have it all his own way with Revolutions Racing’s Dean Callister taking the 20 points offered to lift himself to third in the Overall standings thanks to a fine effort of 20:09, just missing out on a 30mph average. His anticipation of getting a long-awaited try at this course which routinely registers personal bests was high, as he explained: “I’ve been waiting to ride this course again for two years, really happy with my effort which resulted in a course PB and County win. Look forward to doing it again – thanks Ludlow for a great night of racing”.

A first-timer took the third County spot with Revolutions Racing’s Mark Pritchard enjoying his trip south. Pritchard posted a fine time of 21:42, stating: “My first time riding this course and I really enjoyed it. I was happy with my ride with very little warm up. Thanks to Ludlow CC for organising; hopefully I’ll be back again this season to ride it”.

In the Women’s race it was a first time entrant to the SB Series who took the honours, with Ludlow CC’s Nicki Doherty recording a good effort of 27:56 to win by over four minutes and enter the SB Women’s standings at joint fifth. 

Full:

Pos’nNameClub CatTimePoints
1Richard BussellAerocoachS00:18:50.
2Dean CallisterRevolutions RacingS00:20:0920
3Jon HowardTeam EchelonV00:20:52.
4Jonathan Mills-KeelingBridgnorth CCV00:21:3118
5Mark PritchardRevolutions RacingS00:21:4216
6Jack WilsonLudlow Brewery Race TeamS00:22:21.
7Ian TaylorBeacon RCCV00:22:22.
8Rob ChildsBridgnorth CCV00:22:2314
9Steve MintonLudlow Brewery Race TeamV00:22:24.
10Scott PalmerBridgnorth CCV00:23:0112
11Robbie DisneyLudlow CCS00:23:2510
12Richard ColemanStourbridge VeloV00:23:46.
13Ian ConnollyLudlow CCV00:24:278
14William BaughLudlow CCV00:25:046
15Julian ChurchWorcester St Johns CCV00:26:10.
16Nicki DohertyLudlow CCW00:27:564
17Lesley MorrisRedditch Road & Path Cycling ClubWV00:32:13.

Veterans:

Vets Pos’nNameClub CatVet +/-Vets Points
1Jon HowardTeam EchelonV+6:15.
2Jonathan Mills-KeelingBridgnorth CCV+5:1520
3Rob ChildsBridgnorth CCV+5:1418
4Richard ColemanStourbridge VeloV+5:12.
5Steve MintonLudlow Brewery Race TeamV+4:37.
6Ian TaylorBeacon RCCV+4:29.
7Scott PalmerBridgnorth CCV+3:1316
8Ian ConnollyLudlow CCV+2:4014
9William BaughLudlow CCV+2:0812
10Julian ChurchWorcester St Johns CCV+0:46.
11Lesley MorrisRedditch Road & Path Cycling ClubWV-2:12.

Women:

Women’s Pos’nNameClub CatTimeWomen’s Points
1Nicki DohertyLudlow CCW00:27:5620
2Lesley MorrisRedditch Road & Path Cycling ClubWV00:32:13.

Cumulative Standings after seven Rounds

Overall:

PositionNameClubCatBest 12
1Jonathan Mills-KeelingBridgnorth CCV116
2Tomos HalesWrekinsport CCS90
3Dean CallisterRevolutions RacingS54
4Darren ShawSCCA Private MemberV42
5Mark PritchardRevolutions RacingS40
6Tim BeardmoreBridgnorth CCV38
7Dan WattsSCCA Private MemberS36
8Oliver RodwellWrekinsport CCV32
9Chris RileyParamount CRTV28
10Bryn DaviesHafren CCV26
10Deb Hutson-LumbWrekinsport CCWV26

Veterans:

PositionNameClubCatBest 12
1Jonathan Mills-KeelingBridgnorth CCV128
2Deb Hutson-LumbWrekinsport CCWV80
3Darren ShawSCCA Private MemberV58
4Chris RileyParamount CRTV50
5Tim BeardmoreBridgnorth CCV38
6Bryn DaviesHafren CCV30
6Oliver RodwellWrekinsport CCV30
8Rich SmithWrekinsport CCV26
9James PowellNorth Shropshire WheelersV18
9Rob ChildsBridgnorth CCV18

Women:

PositionNameClubCatBest 12
1Deb Hutson-LumbWrekinsport CCWV80
2Clare O’DonnellWrekinsport CCWV36
3Helen TudorOswestry Paragon CCWV32
4Jan DaviesHafren CCWV28
5Clare CotterillWrekinsport CCWV20
5Nicki DohertyLudlow CCW20
7Bethan TillWrekinsport CCW18
7Cerys GreavesSCCA Private MemberWJ18
7Jenny NewtonNova RaidersWV18
7Marie LlewellynNova RaidersW18

Juniors:

PositionNameClubCatBest 12
1Ben SouthgateWrekinsport CCJ58
2Cerys GreavesSCCA Private MemberWJ20
2Chester RomeiNorth Shropshire WheelersJ20
2Harry CorneyNorth Shropshire WheelersJ20