SB Sports Injuries Series R14: SCCA Autumn 10 No.1

Shropshire Cycling Clubs Association’s traditional run of three Autumn 10 mile time trials to close the season kicked off with Round 14 of the SB Sports Injuries Series on the popular Tiddly triangle – with one further Series medal resolved. Heavy rain an hour before the start dried up quickly in a stiff westerly breeze that hampered competitors on the second leg – not that that stopped reigning SB Champion Tomos Hales taking another win and one step closer to retaining his title. The Wrekinsport rider stopped the watch on 21 minutes 44 seconds to push out Aerologic’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling, the rider who has been pushing him all season, by 57 seconds.

Hales was happy with his effort as the welcome sight of the sun warmed things up after the rain, but he had to battle against conditions to take the win, as he explained: “The windy top section made the course rather zapping. Luckily the rain held off and was happy with my time on a tough day. Thanks Fletch and Rita for organising; couldn’t do it without you”.

Taking the win in the SB Female Series with a course personal best was Hayley Wells, pushing out an audacious challenge from Junior rider Carys Blowers, who took the Junior win in consolation in 23:55. Wells crossed the line in 23:14 to finish a strong 4^th among a 25 rider field. Already having sewn up the SB Female Series title for the second season in a row, she was the day’s medal winner, capturing a mightily impressive Overall Bronze. She stated: “I do enjoy the Tiddly circuit, and thankfully the roads dried up nicely! The stretch from Hodnet to the Tiddly turn is always a challenge into a strong headwind. I was chuffed to take the win and to be so high in the overall standings; I managed to knock just over 30 seconds off my personal best here”.

Mills-Keeling was also one of the day’s category winners, adding the Veterans win to his Overall runner-up spot with +4:16. In both cases the rider he pushed out was Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies, who took Overall 3^rd in 23:06, just eight seconds ahead of Wells; and runner-up in the Veterans with +3:45. Mills-Keeling was almost a no show however, as he had second thoughts about the pre-race conditions; but thankfully he was rewarded for persevering: “I was in two minds about going after driving through rain to the start, but it ended dry and sunny with a block head wind along the top section of the course. Great to see so many racers; tea and cafe at the end was perfect. I look forward to the final two races of 2026; it’s been a good season’s racing”.

Davies meanwhile felt that he didn’t make the most of the advantageous first leg due to tiredness from racing the current ‘in’ format, as he explained: “I felt good going out with a tailwind, but didn’t really capitalise across the back straight. A bit of fatigue in the legs from the previous week’s gravel race, though I managed to rally a little to push on the Tiddly run to the finish – not my quickest time but pleased with the result considering. Thanks again to everyone for organising and marshalling. Cake was amazing, made the effort worth it”!

In the SB Road Bike Series the age-related handicapping system came to the fore as North Shropshire Wheeler’s Richard Simpson overhauled Newport’s George Coombes by a single second to take the win in an adjusted 23:50. Simpson was another rider having second thoughts about the conditions, but was happy he turned up: “Another surprise, but delighted to have just pipped it. I almost didn’t ride this one with thunder and heavy rain at lunchtime; but the weather cleared just in time – still, a tough middle section into the headwind, but enjoyable nevertheless”.

Full:

Veterans:

Females:

Road Bikes:

Juniors:

Cumulative Standings after fourteen rounds

Overall:

Veterans:

Females:

Road Bikes:

Juniors: