The 17th and penultimate race of the Friction Hydraulics Series suffered from the grim turn of the weather that seems to have blighted September in the VTTA Merseyside 25. Once again held on the Prees-Battlefield course due to road works elsewhere, conditions worsened as the race progressed to leave riders struggling to the finish line. No extra medals were settled this time out, but that didn’t stop Overall Silver medallist Simon Romei from setting a fine time of 56 minutes 22 seconds on this tough out and back course, reflecting the awful conditions. Romei had a margin of victory of over two minutes and despite that soaking he enjoyed his race: “I was really pleased to be the County winner in the VTTA 25, it was a good race. I felt good, so I made sure I really pushed hard during this race. The marshals were great again and as always do an awesome job, it was an all round great morning racing”. Romei also took victory in the Friction Veterans event, recording a fine +10:47 and showing why he has already sealed Veterans Gold, with the Silver medallist Chris Riley 30 seconds back.

One rider who has improved significantly as the season has progressed is Paramount’s Alvydas Janusauskas, who put his body building strength to good purpose powering along the rolling terrain which characterises this course. Janusauskas registered a fine course personal best of 58:22, finding easier passage through the air due to the sopping conditions which often produce good times. He was pleased with that improvement but hinted at more left in the tank for the final event: “I have to admit that I was hoping to improve as the season goes along, but I didn’t expect to improve that much this year alone! The VTTA 25 was an absolute disaster regarding the weather, but I kept my head down and fought through the course, improving by 20 seconds. I was pleased, but definitely not satisfied”.

Jonathan Mills-Keeling took the final podium spot in the Overall and Veterans with 58:50, nine seconds ahead of Riley, and +9:18 respectively: Unlike Romei he suffered in the conditions and was happy to be back enjoying the hospitality at HQ: “Another race at Battlefield, the weather wasn’t great and I struggled to get into any flow, but pleased to get County 3rd – great cake at the finish; thanks to everyone for putting the racing on”.

The event was a Veterans Time Trial Association Championship, and Female winner Helen Tudor of Oswestry Paragon was happy to get among the VTTA silverware with a win in 1:13:27. Her comments show how the day got worse as the race progressed: “It started to rain as I got to HQ then it got worse as the morning went on! It was nice to get a VTTA medal; thanks to all who marshalled on a truly awful day”.

The conditions didn’t hold any issues for Friction Road Bike Series winner Mark Fenn as he posted his best time of 2024 on Battlefield to help himself to his 6th win in this new handicapped Series in an adjusted 1:02:30, showing that sopping wet conditions are PB territory: “Although heavy rain was present for the whole ride I enjoyed the race, my performance was good, and compared to previous times on this course this year it was my fastest for 2024”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 17

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 56:14 60
2 Alvydas Janusauskas Paramount CRT S 58:22 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 58:50 50
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 58:59 45
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 59:36 40
6 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 1:00:17 35
7 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 1:03:31 30
8 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 1:08:55 25
9 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 1:10:41 20
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 1:13:27 15
11 Nick Hickman Paramount CRT V 1:15:24 10
12 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 1:21:43 5
. Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V DNF .
. Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 17

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V +10:47 60
2 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +10:17 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V +9:18 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +8:17 45
5 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V +3:30 40
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV +0:43 35
7 Simon Jones Hafren CC V -1:43 30
8 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V -2:01 25
9 Nick Hickman Paramount CRT V -5:49 20
10 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V -14:42 15

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship – Round 17

Female Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Female Points
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 1:13:27 60
. Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship – Round 17

RB Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat RB Adj Time RB Points
1 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 1:02:30 60
2 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 1:08:01 55
3 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 1:20:42 50

Top Club Award – Round 17

Pos’n Club Points
1 Paramount CRT 225
2 Hafren CC 65
3 Aerologic RT 50
4 Oswestry Paragon CC 15
5 Wrekinsport CC 5

Cumulative Standings after seventeen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 685
2 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 665
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 540
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 525
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 440
6 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 345
7 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 340
8 Alvydas Janusauskas Paramount CRT S 330
9 Dean Callister Aerologic RT S 295
=10 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 200
=10 Paul Horton Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 200

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT 705
2 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 670
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 620
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT 510
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 465
6 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA 375
7 Colin Wells Paramount CRT 325
8 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 320
9 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC 305
10 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC 180

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship

Female Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC 740
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 645
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 390
4 Emma Brown Paramount CRT 190
5 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT 150
6 Jan Davies Hafren CC 135
7 Sorrel Williams SCCA Private Member 90
8 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT 75
9 Caitlin Burke Paramount CRT 35
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 635
2 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 340
3 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 330
4 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V 175
5 David Cannell Paramount CRT V 155
6 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 140
7 Benjamin Nickolls Paramount CRT V 130
8 Jonathan Goh Paramount CRT V 120
9 William Preston Paramount CRT S 105
10 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V 85

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 180
2 Chester Romei Paramount CRT 60

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Paramount CRT 2600
2 Wrekinsport CC 1620
3 Aerologic RT 985
4 Hafren CC 825
5 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 315
6 Oswestry Paragon CC 305
7 Newport (Shropshire) CC 250
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 165
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 145
10 Ludlow CC 130