A cold morning and a 9½ mile slog from Hodnet to Shawbirch into a block headwind made Round 5 of the Friction Hydraulics Series, the WCTTCA and SCCA 30 a character building experience as the rarely seen 30 mile distance left riders with a quandary – whether to ride at 25 mile pace and try to hang on, or conserve strength for the extra five miles. Bridgnorth CC’s Tim Beardmore took his third Overall win of the Series to stretch his lead at the top of the standings to 45 points over team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling after a close battle with Dan Watts, a rider on the comeback trail with the pair separated by just 13 seconds. Reigning Friction Series Champion Beardmore took the win in 1 hour 5 minutes and 32 seconds, but he suffered for it as the headwind wore him down late in the race. He explained: “I decided to ride it at 25 mile pace and hang on. I settled into a good rhythm after the first five miles, and tried a ride a consistent power to the finish. The drag up to Shawbirch into a headwind was torturous so close the finish. Pleased with my time and pacing – thanks to all the organisers and volunteers”.

Beardmore also took victory in the Veteran’s race with a fine +16:19, with his nearest challenger Graeme Donnell of Revolutions Racing finishing in +12:55. This gives Beardmore the maximum possible 300 points over the five rounds so far in a superb defence of his Friction Veteran’s Championship title.

Watts also suffered in the wind but was pleased to get the runner-up spot in 1:05:45 after injury kept him out for much of 2021: “A 30 mile time trial is always a hard one to judge. I felt OK, but I started to run out of legs at 22 miles and then it was a slog to the finish. I was happy to get second in the County after a strong ride from Tim”.

Third spot was a close battle too with Revolutions Racing’s Dean Callister just nudging out Wrekinsport’s much improved Tomos Hales by 10 seconds with a fine effort on 1:07:20. Callister’s post-race comments echoed Watt’s interpretation of the race – hard: “A 30 mile time trial is always a hard one to pace; and not the best performance for me personally. I started to fade at 40 minutes and went downhill from there. It was a tough return leg with headwind, but some great times on the day so well done to all – thanks to the organisers for a top event”.

There was a simply great performance from Hafren CC’s Emma Serjeant to take the win in the Women’s competition by nearly 10½ minutes. Showing the kind of form she is in after a belated start to her season. This is two wins from two events for the Welsh Women’s Masters Time Trial Champion, clearly on sparkling form. She stated: “I do like the 30 distance, and planned to treat it like a 25 but went off too hard! I was surprised I was able to hold it until I hit the headwind to the Shawbirch island, then I definitely needed the tailwind back to the finish – so pleased to take the win and to get a two minute Course personal best”.

North Shropshire Wheelers’ Chester Romei stretched his lea at the top of the Friction Junior Series with a rare outing at this distance for a young rider, with this his first attempt at a 30. He commented: “It was a great race with tough conditions out on the course. The longest race I’ve ever done, I treated it as a 25 and lasted for the final five miles to the finish”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 5

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 1:05:32 60
2 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 1:05:45 55
3 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 1:07:20 50
4 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 1:07:30 45
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 1:09:50 40
6 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 1:09:59 35
7 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 1:10:36 30
8 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 1:10:42 25
9 Mark Pritchard Revolutions Racing S 1:10:49 20
10 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers S 1:12:31 15
11 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers J 1:13:59 10
12 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 1:14:00 5
13 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 1:15:30 5
14 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 1:17:06 5
15 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC V 1:17:54 5
16 Allan Henderson Wrekinsport CC S 1:18:48 5
17 George Coombes SCCA First Claim Member S 1:19:00 5
18 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:19:31 5
19 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:25:18 5
20 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:26:13 5
21 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V 1:32:11 5
22 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 1:39:03 5
. Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV DNS-A .
. Mason Durant Paramount CRT S DNS .
. Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 5

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +16:19 60
2 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V +12:55 55
3 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +12:42 50
4 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV +11:58 45
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +11:37 40
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +11:31 35
7 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +11:24 30
8 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +10:00 25
9 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers S +7:25 20
10 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V +6:37 15
11 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC V +6:23 10
12 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +4:20 5
13 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V -0:39 5
14 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V -1:53 5
15 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV -11:35 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 5

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 1:15:30 60
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:26:13 55
3 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 1:39:03 50
. Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV DNS-A .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 5

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers J 1:13:59 60

Top Club Award – Round 5

Pos’n Club Points
=1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 95
=1 Revolutions Racing 95
3 Wrekinsport CC 65
4 Hafren CC 45
5 Paramount CRT 40
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 35
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

Cumulative Standings after five rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 285
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 240
3 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 210
4 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 155
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 125
6 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 105
=7 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers J 75
=7 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 75
9 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 70
=10 Mark Pritchard Revolutions Racing S 60
=10 Mason Durant Paramount CRT S 60

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 300
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 260
3 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing 230
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 130
5 Chris Riley Paramount CRT 100
6 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 85
7 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 70
8 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 55
=9 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing 50
=9 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 215
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 165
3 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 120
=4 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 60
=4 Robin Jones Bridgnorth CC 60
6 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 45

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers 180
2 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 55

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Bridgnorth CC 610
2 Wrekinsport CC 435
3 Revolutions Racing 330
4 Paramount CRT 160
5 Hafren CC 155
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 130
7 Ludlow CC 30
8 Oswestry Paragon CC 25