Round 2 of the Friction Hydraulics Series saw the wind rise from the west as riders had to battle to make progress in the Velotik 15 – as Dean Callister took the win in his first appearance of the season. The Aerologic rider stopped the watch on the popular Hodnet – Stanton – Tiddly circuit, coping best with the tough start along the Hodnet bypass with a gradual climb towards Hopton added to the mix before the relief of a turn towards Ellerdine Heath and a push. Callister stopped the watch on 32 minutes 4 seconds to see off the attentions of Round 1 winner Paul Horton by 36 seconds. Callister graphically described the conditions facing riders, stating: “My first solo time trial of the season, always a great event and a good course. Dry conditions but windy, a bit choppy in places due to gusts, but not too bad. I paced it well and settled into it pretty quick. Pleased to take the Shropshire win and the team award for Aerologic – a great event from Velotik”.
Horton maintained his lead at the head of the Friction Series with County runner-up in 32:40, 39 seconds ahead of Matt Garthwaite to double his point’s advantage over the Newport rider to 10 points. The Bridgnorth rider was getting his first experience of a popular course, but like many battled into the wind which proved sapping: “I enjoyed the course. Went out a little too hard in the first five minutes, but then settled down into a decent rhythm. I could have done with a little more for the head wind section but managed a good effort from the last island to the line – happy with the effort”.
Callister wasn’t the only Aerologic rider making his 2024 Friction Series debut as Jonathan Mills-Keeling took a solid win in the Veteran’s event, winning in +6:11. Mills-Keeling had suffered in the unexpected chill of the previous day’s SB Series event, but this time he made no mistakes and wrapped up enough: “My first open of the year, I dressed correctly was just as cold as the previous day, which was freezing. I under paced the tailwind section but pleased to take the win – great event and great cake, thanks to Velotik for putting on”. Mills-Keeling saw off the attentions of Paramount’s Simon Romei, runner-up in +5:37; and Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies just six seconds further back; with this pair tied at the top of the Friction Veteran’s Series.
The first entries to the Female Series saw just one rider take the start line despite three entering, with Oswestry Paragon’s Helen Tudor taking the maximum 60 points on offer in 42:18. She lamented that the unfavourable conditions put competitors off this little seen standard distance, commenting: “One of my favourite events, a shame so many riders didn’t start. Not as bad as the weather on Saturday afternoon, good to be racing again”
Wrekinsport’s Ben Southgate also made hay, even if it wasn’t while the sun shone as he battled around the course in 38:57, enjoying his morning, stating: “Windy conditions, but it was a good race overall”.
SCCA:
| Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Time | Points |
| 1 | Dean | Callister | Aerologic RT | 32:04 | 60 |
| 2 | Paul | Horton | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | 32:40 | 55 |
| 3 | Matthew | Garthwaite | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 33:19 | 50 |
| 4 | Tomos | Hales | Wrekinsport CC | 33:20 | 45 |
| 5 | Jonathan | Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | 34:15 | 40 |
| 6 | Simon | Romei | Paramount CRT | 34:18 | 35 |
| 7 | Bryn | Davies | Hafren CC | 34:47 | 30 |
| 8 | Devon | Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 35:05 | 25 |
| 9 | Oli | Freeman | Wrekinsport CC | 35:45 | 20 |
| 10 | George | Coombes | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 37:45 | 15 |
| 11 | Ian | Connolly | Ludlow CC | 37:50 | 10 |
| 12 | Neil | Wilson | Paramount CRT | 38:25 | 5 |
| 13 | Ben | Southgate | Wrekinsport CC | 38:57 | 5 |
| 14 | Simon | Jones | Hafren CC | 40:03 | 5 |
| 15 | David | Drew | North Shropshire Wheelers | 41:17 | 5 |
| 16 | Les | Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | 41:29 | 5 |
| 17 | Robert | Garbett | Wrekinsport CC | 42:15 | 5 |
| 18 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 42:18 | 5 |
| 19 | Geoff | Edgerton | North Shropshire Wheelers | 43:17 | 5 |
| 20 | Ashley | Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | 44:47 | 5 |
| Phil | Guy | North Shropshire Wheelers | DNS-A | ||
| Deb | Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | DNS-A | ||
| Karl | Lombardi | Oswestry Paragon CC | DNS-A | ||
| James | Elgar | Paramount CRT | DNS | ||
| Sorrel | Williams | SCCA Private Member | DNS |
Veterans:
| Vets Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Vet +/- | Vets Points |
| 1 | Jonathan | Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | +6:11 | 60 |
| 2 | Simon | Romei | Paramount CRT | +5:37 | 55 |
| 3 | Bryn | Davies | Hafren CC | +5:31 | 50 |
| 4 | Geoff | Edgerton | North Shropshire Wheelers | +3:33 | 45 |
| 5 | David | Drew | North Shropshire Wheelers | +3:05 | 40 |
| 6 | Ian | Connolly | Ludlow CC | +3:04 | 35 |
| 7 | Neil | Wilson | Paramount CRT | +2:29 | 30 |
| 8 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | +1:52 | 25 |
| 9 | Les | Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | +0:47 | 20 |
| 10 | Robert | Garbett | Wrekinsport CC | +0:14 | 15 |
| 11 | Simon | Jones | Hafren CC | -0:01 | 10 |
| 12 | Ashley | Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | -4:52 | 5 |
Females:
| Female Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Time | Female Points |
| 1 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 42:18 | 60 |
| Deb | Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | DNS-A | ||
| Sorrel | Williams | SCCA Private Member | DNS |
Juniors:
| Junior Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Ben | Southgate | Wrekinsport CC | 38:57 | 60 |
Road Bikes:
| RB Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | RB Adj Time | RB Points |
| Phil | Guy | North Shropshire Wheelers | DNS-A |
Top Club Award:
| Pos’n | Club | Points |
| 1 | Aerologic RT | 100 |
| 2 | Wrekinsport CC | 80 |
| 3 | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 65 |
| 4 | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | 55 |
| 5 | Paramount CRT | 40 |
| 6 | Hafren CC | 35 |
| 7 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 25 |
| 8 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 15 |
| 9 | Ludlow CC | 10 |
| 10 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 5 |
Cumulative Standings after two rounds
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Paul Horton | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | S | 115 |
| 2 | Matthew Garthwaite | Newport (Shropshire) CC | S | 105 |
| =3 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 80 |
| =3 | Simon Romei | Paramount CRT | V | 80 |
| =5 | Dean Callister | Aerologic RT | S | 60 |
| =5 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | S | 60 |
| =5 | Oli Freeman | Wrekinsport CC | S | 60 |
| 8 | Tomos Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 45 |
| 9 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | V | 40 |
| 10 | Christopher Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 30 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
| Vets Position | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| =1 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 110 |
| =1 | Simon Romei | Paramount CRT | 110 |
| 3 | Ian Connolly | Ludlow CC | 70 |
| 4 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | 60 |
| 5 | Christopher Riley | Paramount CRT | 50 |
| =6 | Geoff Edgerton | North Shropshire Wheelers | 45 |
| =6 | Paul Bailey | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | 45 |
| =8 | David Drew | North Shropshire Wheelers | 40 |
| =8 | Mark Fenn | Shropshire CCA | 40 |
| =10 | James Elgar | Paramount CRT | 30 |
| =10 | Neil Wilson | Paramount CRT | 30 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship
| Road Bike Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Matthew Garthwaite | Newport (Shropshire) CC | S | 60 |
| 2 | Paul Bailey | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | V | 55 |
| 3 | Mark Fenn | Shropshire CCA | V | 50 |
| 4 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | 45 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship
| Female Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 60 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Ben Southgate | Wrekinsport CC | 60 |
Top Club Award
| Position | Club | Total Points |
| =1 | Paramount CRT | 145 |
| =1 | Wrekinsport CC | 145 |
| 3 | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | 135 |
| 4 | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 120 |
| 5 | Aerologic RT | 100 |
| 6 | Hafren CC | 85 |
| 7 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
| =8 | Ludlow CC | 15 |
| =8 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 15 |
| 10 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 5 |