The race nearly didn’t go ahead as organiser Helen Tudor had an anxious wait for a crashed car to be removed from the start line closing the A483 before Round 12 of the Friction Hydraulics Series. All day torrential rain had already seen the cancellation of a local road race due to standing water, but thankfully the Four Crosses – Welshpool 10 mile course has excellent drainage; and the car was cleared in time for the scheduled start. Conditions and the uncertainty of a race being on put 40% of the field off starting, but those who did brave the elements saw typical fast times guaranteeing easy passage through the air with personal bests recorded.

Tomos Hales took the opportunity to make up 60 points on Series leader Simon Romei, one of the non-starters with a commanding win. Hales finished in 20 minutes 39 seconds, a comfortable 1:35 ahead of the chasing pack in a great performance despite a jam-packed week of racing in the busiest period of the season. Hales was delighted with his time, stating: “The wet weather didn’t put us off as conditions suggested it could be a quick night. The outward section was very quick, but I made sure to hold some back for the return. Super happy with my time in what was one of my best performances of the season in a busy schedule time trial week – thanks to Helen again for organising; and all the marshals that stood out in the rain”.

Two Aerologic team mates took second and third, and were split by only a second as Scott Palmer made the long trip from South Shropshire worthwhile. Palmer stopped the watch on 22:14, with Jonathan Mills-Keeling taking the final podium spot in 22:15, 14 seconds ahead of Paramount’s Chris Riley. Despite the uncertainty and the conditions Palmer set off unsure if he would get a maiden race on this fast surface. He was not disappointed: “A long journey for me, so I was hoping it was still on. The rain subsided a little bit it was still extremely wet, which made visibility not that great. My first time on the course and I was pleased with my time in the conditions – thanks to all that volunteered”. Mills-Keeling added: “I’ve always enjoyed this course, but it was very wet and surprising cold this year. Despite that some fast times. The cake was very nice at the HQ, thanks for putting on”

Mills-Keeling took third in the Veterans Series with +4:36, with Riley ahead on +4:55 when the age-related adjustment was applied. But there was no stopping Wrekinsport’s Deb Hutson-Lumb for another win – literally! Hutson-Lumb recorded a fabulous +6:32 but struggled to see in the conditions, racing on well beyond the finish as she explained: “The promise of rain easing off didn’t really materialise, but fortunately the course was relatively quiet with few passing Lorries. My visor fogged up at eight miles and I completely missed the finish, pushing on for another confused mile. My ride went well and I was very pleased to get a course personal best – massive thanks to all the marshals”.

Hutosn-Lumb took the runner-up spot in the Female Series in 23:19, but 25 seconds ahead was another Wrekinsport rider scoring a big course personal best as Hayley Wells finished in 22:54. Wells extended her Female Series lead to 190 points on the strength of this effort, and was very pleased to go faster than ever before on the course: “I felt really strong on the evening, and found good momentum and power. I was chuffed to have gone over a minute quicker on this course compared to last year. Huge thanks to the marshals and timekeepers standing out in the miserable rain”!

Paramount’s Paul Duncan took the win in the new Road Bike Series, winning both on Actual and after the age and gender handicap had been applied. Duncan recorded an adjusted 22:44 to beat team mate Ian Townsend in only his second appearance of the Series after a late start and has already moved up to fifth overall. Duncan came into the race with a game plan: “With a slight tailwind out I knew the return leg was going to be tougher. I went hard for the first five miles and emptied the tank on the last five. I knew I was in with a chance of being fastest road bike so that was my goal. The conditions were horrendous but it was the same for everyone, so chapeau to everyone who competed. Thanks also to the organisers and marshals who also had to contend with the weather conditions”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 12

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 20:39 60
2 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V 22:14 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 22:15 50
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 22:29 45
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 22:42 40
6 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 22:54 35
7 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V 23:03 30
8 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 23:19 25
9 Mark Hill Hafren CC V 23:21 20
10 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC S 23:23 15
11 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V 24:25 10
12 Peter Fletcher Oswestry Paragon CC V 25:09 5
13 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 26:08 5
14 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 26:24 5
15 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V 26:26 5
16 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 28:19 5
. Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V DNS-A .
. Peter Rickard Paramount CRT V DNS-A .
. David Cannell Paramount CRT V DNS-A .
. Richard Nickless Paramount CRT V DNS-A .
. Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT F DNS-A .
. Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Rob Kerr Oswestry Paragon CC V DNS .
. Jayne Powell Paramount CRT FV DNS .
. Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S DNS .
. Simon Romei Paramount CRT V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 12

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV +6:32 60
2 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +4:55 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V +4:36 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +4:09 45
5 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V +4:05 40
6 Mark Hill Hafren CC V +4:03 35
7 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V +3:57 30
8 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V +3:24 25
9 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V +2:16 20
10 Peter Fletcher Oswestry Paragon CC V +1:54 15
11 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV +1:09 10
12 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V +0:39 5
13 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V -1:48 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship – Round 12

Female Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Female Points
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 22:54 60
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 23:19 55
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 26:08 50
. Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT F DNS-A .
. Jayne Powell Paramount CRT FV DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship – Round 12

RB Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat RB Adj Time RB Points
1 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V 22:44 60
2 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 25:29 55
3 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 27:56 50
. Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V . .
. Peter Rickard Paramount CRT V . .
. David Cannell Paramount CRT V . .

Top Club Award – Round 12

Pos’n Club Points
1 Wrekinsport CC 125
2 Aerologic RT 105
3 Paramount CRT 85
4 Hafren CC 60
5 Oswestry Paragon CC 35

Cumulative Standings after twelve rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 510
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 450
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 395
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 355
5 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 335
6 Dean Callister Aerologic RT S 295
7 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 270
8 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 215
9 Paul Horton Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 200
10 Alvydas Janusauskas Paramount CRT S 195

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT 585
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 520
3 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 495
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT 415
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 285
6 Colin Wells Paramount CRT 255
7 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA 240
8 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC 225
9 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 215
10 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC 150

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship

Female Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC 620
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 430
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 220
4 Emma Brown Paramount CRT 105
5 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT 100
6 Jan Davies Hafren CC 80
7 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT 75
8 Sorrel Williams SCCA Private Member 45
9 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 180
3 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 175
4 Jonathan Goh Paramount CRT V 120
5 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V 115
6 William Preston Paramount CRT S 105
7 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 85
8 David Cannell Paramount CRT V 65
=9 Matthew Garthwaite Newport (Shropshire) CC S 60
=9 Sam Holwill Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 60
=9 Thomas Herbert Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 60

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 1685
2 Wrekinsport CC 1030
3 Aerologic RT 855
4 Hafren CC 525
5 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 315
6 Newport (Shropshire) CC 250
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 210
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 165
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 110
10 Ludlow CC 105