A rare return to a formerly popular course saw the Prees – Tern Hill – Hodnet 25 impress riders who never had the chance to try it. Pressed into action for Round 10 of the Friction Hydraulics Series due to continuing road works at Crudgington, the Birkenhead North End CC 25 saw riders blasted along the A41 by a roaring tailwind – and having to dig deep on the return leg; as Simon Romei made it two wins out of two with exactly the same Top three as in Round 9. Romei took the County win in 54 minutes 15 seconds, beating Paramount team mate Chris Riley by 1:25. Romei extended his lead at the top of the Friction Series standings to 125 points with this win and enjoyed his first experience of the course, commenting: “The Birkenhead 25 was a great race, I hadn’t raced this course before so was unsure of what to expect. The outward bound leg was super quick, so I had a feeling that on the return leg we were going to be faced with a headwind. I had to dig deep and go hard on the return leg so super pleased to get the County win & Veteran’s third. A big shout out to all the marshals and the event organiser for making this race happen all your hard work certainly doesn’t go unnoticed”. Despite taking third spot in the Friction Veteran’s competition with +12:46, Romei doubled his lead at the top of this Series to 100 points in a top morning’s effort.

Riley took the runner-up spot overall in 55:40, and was one place ahead of Romei in the Veterans when the age-adjusted standard was applied, registering a fine +13:36. Riley raced his fastest ever 25 in the county thanks to the mainly smooth surface – although keeping a look out for errant potholes which blight the course was essential. His description of being bowled along by the wind was particularly graphic: “The A41 in a TT helmet was Grand Theft Auto with potholes. It was fast and furious, and even the wind couldn’t keep me from my fastest ever ride on a Shropshire course. Thanks to Birkenhead North End CC and their army of marshals”.

Aerologic’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling took the final podium spot in 56:12 and his comments echoed the ‘game of two halves’ feeling surrounding the event with a slog back: “A nice morning, tough on the way back. Great times from Simon and Chris – a great event, thanks for putting on”

A huge personal best took 4th spot overall and the Female win as Wrekinsport’s Hayley Wells dipped under the hour significantly in 58:57 – one of only four county riders to beat the magic 25mph benchmark. This fabulous effort almost saw Deb Hutson-Lumb join her, but she just missed out in 1:00:12. Wells was delighted with her first experience of the D25/8e course, commenting: “I was looking forward to riding this course and it didn’t disappoint. Lovely smooth tarmac sections made for an enjoyable ride. First time under the hour, very happy with this ride! Great to be racing alongside team mate Deb”.

Hutson-Lumb didn’t go home without a customary win however as her return to form continues with a course personal best and the Friction Veteran’s win with +15:18. Hutson-Lumb has spent an early season blighted by injury, but is now coming back strong thanks to a strategy alteration, as she explained: “I had changed my pacing plan and managed to stick to it which resulted in a course personal best for me. Pleased with the result, but slightly disappointed not to dip under the hour”.

In the new Friction Road Bike Series which operates on a handicapped basis, Mark Fenn opened up a highly impressive 240 point lead as he strives for the inaugural championship thanks to an adjusted 1:00:02, with his comments showing the paucity of events on this course: “Eight years since I last raced on this course, and was happy with my progress. The weather was good, and I compared well to other riders – a well organised event”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 10

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 54:15 60
2 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 55:40 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 56:12 50
4 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 58:57 45
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 1:00:12 40
6 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 1:00:38 35
7 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 1:01:03 30
8 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 1:01:16 25
9 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 1:05:29 20
10 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V 1:07:17 15
11 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:09:00 10
12 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 1:12:09 5
13 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V 1:18:17 5
14 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT FV 1:19:01 5
. Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V DNF .
. Robbie Disney Aerologic RT S DNS .
. Alvydas Janusauskas Paramount CRT S DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 10

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV +15:18 60
2 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +13:36 55
3 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V +12:46 50
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V +11:41 45
5 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +8:20 40
6 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V +5:58 35
7 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V +5:23 30
8 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:00 25
9 Simon Jones Hafren CC V +1:43 20
10 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT FV -5:06 15
11 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V -7:17 10

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship – Round 10

Female Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Female Points
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 58:57 60
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 1:00:12 55
3 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 1:12:09 50
4 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT FV 1:19:01 45

Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship – Round 10

RB Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat RB Adj Time RB Points
1 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 1:00:02 60
2 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 1:05:22 55
3 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V 1:13:17 50

Top Club Award – Round 10

Pos’n Club Points
1 Paramount CRT 145
2 Wrekinsport CC 110
3 Aerologic RT 50
4 Ludlow CC 35
5 Hafren CC 20
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 10

Cumulative Standings after ten rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 460
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 335
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 315
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 305
5 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 255
6 Dean Callister Aerologic RT S 235
7 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 220
8 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 215
9 Paul Horton Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 200
10 Alvydas Janusauskas Paramount CRT S 165

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT 530
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 430
3 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 390
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT 365
5 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA 240
6 Colin Wells Paramount CRT 230
7 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC 205
8 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 190
9 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 165
10 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC 140

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship

Female Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC 500
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 340
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 110
4 Emma Brown Paramount CRT 105
5 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT 50
=6 Jan Davies Hafren CC 45
=6 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT 45
8 Kathryn Rossiter North Shropshire Wheelers 35

Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship

Road Bike Pos’n Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 345
2 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 105
=3 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 85
=3 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 85
5 David Cannell Paramount CRT V 65
=6 Jonathan Goh Paramount CRT V 60
=6 Matthew Garthwaite Newport (Shropshire) CC S 60
=6 Sam Holwill Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 60
=6 Thomas Herbert Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 60
=10 Chris Childs Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 55
=10 Paul Bailey Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 55
=10 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V 55
=10 William Preston Paramount CRT S 55

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 120

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Paramount CRT 1385
2 Wrekinsport CC 815
3 Aerologic RT 645
4 Hafren CC 405
5 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 315
6 Newport (Shropshire) CC 235
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 165
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 160
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 105
10 Ludlow CC 100