The first medal of the SB Sports Injuries Series was settled after Round 11, Ludlow CC’s Scenic 10 on a glorious evening as Jonathan Mills-Keeling took the Veterans title on the tough as old boots Long Meadowend – Purslow – Hoptonheath – Clungunford circuit through some of the most beautiful scenery Shropshire has to offer. Offering up a very different challenge to the norm thanks to swooping twists and turns, times are routinely 2-3 minutes down with Mills-Keeling finishing as Overall runner-up in 24 minutes 18 seconds, 27 seconds down on winner Tomos Hales to keep up the pressure for the main title; and finish as winner in the Veterans in +2:39, 18 seconds ahead of Chris Riley.
Mills-Keeling was delighted with his evening out, stating: “I always enjoy riding the Ludlow CC events – super chilled and friendly. It’s an interesting course, a block headwind up the climb and fast return. Some of the corners come up very fast. Well done to Tomos on the win”. When told he had sealed the SB Veteran’s Series title he added: “Really pleased to win the SB Veterans Series nice to do some different courses, thanks to all involved putting on the racing”.
Hales doubled his slim Series lead to four points with a fine 23:51 effort but had less than ideal preparation on a favoured course, as he explained: “One of my favourite time trials of the year. I had possibly the shortest warm up of the year, which I soon regretted when coming out of Aston on Clun up the long drag. I was happy with my time on a slow night – thanks Ludlow CC for hosting”.
Chris Riley took a tighter grip on the Bronze medal place Overall and silver position in the Veterans with 25:03 actual to see off the dual challenge from Robbie Disney and Jack Wilson tying 11 seconds back; and in +2:21 in the Veterans. Like Hales, this is one of Riley’s favourite circuits, and he lamented riders not travelling to ride what is a personal favourite of many who experience it: “The best kept secret course is loads of fun. 25+ minutes rarely comes up third. A lovely evening for everyone; thanks Ludlow CC”.
The two female entrants were having a first taste of the course, with both coming away with something as Hayley Wells extended her Female Series lead to 74 points with 25:57 and Carys Blowers took the Junior win in 27:36. Their comments are typical of first-time attendees, as Wells stated: “What an awesome, testing course! Rolling hills in a beautiful part of Shropshire, worth the trip”! Blowers added: “My first time doing this technical scenic course, I really enjoyed it – thanks to the organisers”.
A rider who knows the circuit very well took the win in the Road Bike Series, with Wilson pushing out Ludlow Brewery team mate Steve Minton by 40 seconds in an adjusted 25:12 in his first appearance of 2024. Wilson was using the testing circuit for a specific purpose, as he explained: “Been tapering for a road race, and it must be working as I did my best power of the season in this! Windy conditions, but thanks to Ludlow CC for putting on the time trial calendar this year”. Meanwhile Ashley Kirkham added a further 12 points to his Road Bike Series lead and now holds a 46 point advantage.
Full:
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Tomos Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 23:51 | 20 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | V | 24:18 | 18 |
| 3 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 25:03 | 16 |
| 4 | Robbie Disney | Aerologic RT | S | 25:14 | 14 |
| 4 | Jack Wilson | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 25:14 | 12 |
| 6 | Grant Womack | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 25:17 | 10 |
| 7 | Hayley Wells | Wrekinsport CC | F | 25:57 | 8 |
| 8 | Stacey Morgan | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 26:03 | 6 |
| 9 | Steve Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 26:11 | 4 |
| 10 | Ian Connolly | Ludlow CC | V | 26:54 | 2 |
| 11 | Anthony Corbutt | Ludlow CC | V | 27:00 | 2 |
| 12 | Chris Edwards | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 27:15 | 2 |
| 13 | Carys Blowers | Liv Halo | FJ | 27:36 | . |
| 14 | Andy Bryant | Ludlow CC | V | 30:25 | 2 |
| 15 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | 32:22 | 2 |
Veterans:
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Vet +/- | Vets Points |
| 1 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | V | +2:39 | 20 |
| 2 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | +2:21 | 18 |
| 3 | Grant Womack | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | +1:34 | 16 |
| 4 | Stacey Morgan | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | +1:07 | 14 |
| 5 | Jack Wilson | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | +0:56 | 12 |
| 6 | Ian Connolly | Ludlow CC | V | +0:23 | 10 |
| 7 | Steve Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | +0:16 | 8 |
| 8 | Anthony Corbutt | Ludlow CC | V | -0:50 | 6 |
| 9 | Chris Edwards | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | -1:05 | 4 |
| 10 | Andy Bryant | Ludlow CC | V | -2:30 | 2 |
| 11 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | -5:51 | 2 |
Females:
| Female Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Female Points |
| 1 | Hayley Wells | Wrekinsport CC | F | 25:57 | 20 |
| 2 | Carys Blowers | Liv Halo | FJ | 27:36 | . |
Road Bikes:
| RB Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | RB Adj Time | RB Points |
| 1 | Jack Wilson | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 25:12 | 20 |
| 2 | Steve Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 25:52 | 18 |
| 3 | Anthony Corbutt | Ludlow CC | V | 26:58 | 16 |
| 4 | Chris Edwards | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 27:13 | 14 |
| 5 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | 31:59 | 12 |
Junior:
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Carys Blowers | Liv Halo | FJ | 27:36 | . |
Cumulative Standings after eleven rounds
Overall
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Tomos Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 180 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | V | 176 |
| 3 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 92 |
| 4 | Hayley Wells | Wrekinsport CC | F | 82 |
| 5 | Dean Callister | Aerologic RT | S | 60 |
| 6 | Oil Freeman | Wrekinsport CC | S | 44 |
| 7 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | S | 38 |
| =8 | Alvydas Janusauskas | Paramount CRT | S | 36 |
| =8 | Mark Hill | Hafren CC | V | 36 |
| 10 | Mark Pritchard | Aerologic RT | S | 32 |
Veterans:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | V | 202 |
| 2 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 116 |
| 3 | Mark Hill | Hafren CC | V | 60 |
| =4 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | 56 |
| =4 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | FV | 56 |
| 6 | Jan Davies | Hafren CC | FV | 48 |
| =7 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | FV | 42 |
| =7 | Rob Garbett | Wrekinsport CC | V | 42 |
| 9 | Scott Palmer | Aerologic RT | V | 34 |
| =10 | Richard Nickless | Paramount CRT | V | 32 |
| =10 | Rob Kennard | Aerologic RT | V | 32 |
Females:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Hayley Wells | Wrekinsport CC | F | 166 |
| 2 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | FV | 92 |
| 3 | Jan Davies | Hafren CC | FV | 74 |
| 4 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | FV | 42 |
| 5 | Karen Proctor | Hafren CC | FV | 16 |
| =6 | Emma Brown | Paramount CRT | F | 14 |
| =6 | Jess Bufton | Hafren CC | FJ | 14 |
Road Bikes:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | 92 |
| 2 | Matt Muir | Propel CC | V | 46 |
| 3 | Mark Fenn | SCCA 1st Claim Member | V | 40 |
| 4 | Steve Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 38 |
| 5 | Peter Everett | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 34 |
| 6 | Anthony Corbutt | Ludlow CC | V | 32 |
| =7 | Adam Riley | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 20 |
| =7 | Dan Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 20 |
| =7 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | FV | 20 |
| =7 | Jack Wilson | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 20 |
| =7 | Mick Case | Hafren CC | V | 20 |
Juniors:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Ben Southgate | Wrekinsport CC | J | 60 |
| =2 | Ben Bramford-Hale | Newport Shropshire CC | J | 20 |
| =2 | Jess Bufton | Hafren CC | FJ | 20 |