After a 2022 race that started in sub-zero temperatures Mid Shropshire Wheeler’s Battlefield 25 again saw the weather Gods dampen proceedings, this time with un-forecast drizzle and temperatures in distinctly single figures. Getting going in the wet and cold can be an issue for some riders, but not so for Dean Callister, who took his second win in as many rounds of The Friction Hydraulics Series in Round 4. Callister coped best with a course that features hardly any flat, with the rollercoaster ride meaning power is needed to get up the many climbs and drags on the ‘out and back’ between Prees and Battlefield. The Revolutions Racing rider stopped the watch on 55 minutes 57 seconds and seemed to benefit from starting towards the back of the field when the on/off drizzle finally decided to desist. He stated: “Drizzle decided to stop for my run which was good, although a headwind on the way out meant full gas from the off. I had a good outward leg but got caught up in traffic on the return leg though Hadnall which cost me, but that’s racing – thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for a top morning”.

Callister’s closest competitor was 2022 Friction Series Silver medallist Tomos Hales, who edged out reigning Champion Tim Beardmore for the first time this Series – but it was a close call. The pair were split by just five seconds as Wrekinsport’s Hales took the runner-up spot in 56:29 in spite of enduring the worst of the conditions with an early start. Hales was delighted with his efforts, commenting: “I had an early damp start on the time trial but built into it and felt like I had a strong return leg. One of my best performances on that course; thanks for Mid Shropshire Wheelers for organising, and all the marshals that helped out – roll on the warmer weather”!

Despite the heroics Beardmore still holds a firm hand at the head of both the Overall and Veteran’s standings in a determined defence of both titles, with this race opening up a 40 point lead in the former and a 75 point advantage in the latter thanks to winning that category in +11:36 ahead of Bridgnorth CC team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling with +10:47. Like many, he was caught out by conditions which appeared localised: “I wasn’t expecting a wet race; my feet were cold and soaking before I got to the start. I felt I paced it well; I pushed really hard on the climbs and tried to recover a bit on the descents. I don’t think I could have gone any harder on the day. Some close racing with the first three riders covered by a minute. Very happy to take the Veteran’s win; thanks to everyone at Mid Shropshire Wheelers who braved some pretty miserable weather to make the event happen”.

In the Friction Women’s Series a first time entrant took the win as Paramount’s Hayley Wells gained her first experience of a tough course that tests the mettle. Wells stopped the watch on 1:07:48, and despite it not being her best she was pleased with her effort, commenting: “A grim morning left wet roads and a slight chill in the air. This was my first time on this course so it was all about pacing and taking each stretch of road as it came. Not my quickest ride, but happy to have taken the Women’s win. Well done to all; and thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for organising”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 4

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 55:57 60
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 56:29 55
3 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 56:34 50
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 57:09 45
5 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 58:30 40
6 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 59:34 35
7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 1:00:12 30
8 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:00:25 25
9 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 1:00:57 20
10 Dan Cutting Ludlow CC V 1:02:39 15
11 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 1:05:45 10
12 Peter Jukes Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:06:54 5
13 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 1:07:48 5
14 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:08:52 5
15 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 1:09:21 5
16 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:13:15 5
. Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV DNF .
. Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. James Powell North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS .
. Mason Durant Paramount CRT S DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 4

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet Std +/- Vets Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +11:36 60
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +10:47 55
3 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +07:55 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +07:31 45
5 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V +06:58 40
6 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +06:30 35
6 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +06:30 35
8 Dan Cutting Ludlow CC V +04:16 25
9 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +02:10 20
10 Peter Jukes Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +01:58 15
11 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +00:15 10
12 Simon Jones Hafren CC V -02:02 5
. Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV . .
. Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V . .
. James Powell North Shropshire Wheelers V . .
. Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV . .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 4

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 1:07:48 60
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:13:15 55
. Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV DNF .
. Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS .

Top Club Award – Round 4

Pos’n Club Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 95
2 Wrekinsport CC 90
3 Revolutions Racing 60
4 Ludlow CC 55
=5 Hafren CC 35
=5 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 35
=5 Paramount CRT 35
8 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

Cumulative Standings after four rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 215
2 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 175
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 150
4 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 120
5 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 110
=6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 75
=6 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 75
8 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 70
9 Mason Durant Paramount CRT S 60
=10 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 55
=10 Peter Jukes Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 55

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club 235
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club 160
3 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 100
4 Peter Jukes Mid Shropshire Wheelers 95
=5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 90
=5 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers 90
7 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC 80
=8 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 60
=8 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC 60
=8 John Westhead Paramount CRT 60

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 115
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 110
=3 Catherine Coley Bridgnorth CC 60
=3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 60
=3 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT 60
6 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 55
7 Helen Blake Wrekinsport CC 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers 120
2 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 55

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 420
2 Wrekinsport CC 385
3 Ludlow CC 205
4 Paramount CRT 200
5 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 145
6 Revolutions Racing 120
7 Hafren CC 100
8 North Shropshire Wheelers 40
9 Oswestry Paragon CC 10