A first appearance in the 2023 Friction Hydraulics Series paid immediate benefits for Oswestry Paragon’s David Griffiths as he took a win in Round 10, Hafren CC’s 10 on the speedy Berriew – Welshpool by-pass course. Griffiths charged around the ‘out and back’ course in 21 minutes 4 seconds to beat off the attentions of Friction Series leader Tim Beardmore by 16 seconds. However it nearly wasn’t so, as Griffiths arrived late, as he explained: “Thanks to organisers and volunteers for being flexible with start time as I arrived from work 10 minutes before I was due to start. Hopefully I can get a bit faster at some point this season!”

Beardmore stretched his lead at the top of the Overall Series and the Friction Veterans Series despite being placed in the Runner-up spot in each. His 21:20 Actual pushed out the rider lying in the Silver medal position Jonathan Mills-Keeling by 27 seconds, making for a 100 point lead; whilst his +5:16 Veterans Standard put 12 seconds into the same rider in this age-adjusted competition. Beardmore was, however not happy with his ride, abandoning looking at his computer to see how he was doing against target to do things the old-fashioned way: purely on feel: “My up and down season continued with a below par ride. The legs did not feel great in the warm up, and I soon realised my target power was not going to be achieved, so I raced on feel to put in a half decent time – thanks to all at Hafren CC for organising”.

Mills-Keeling took the final podium spot and helped Beardmore increase Bridgnorth CC’s lead in the Top Club Award, topping 1,000 points with a commanding 225 point lead. Mills-Keeling beat Paramount CRT’s Chris Riley by exactly a minute with his 21:47 effort, and by 33 seconds after the age adjustment in the Veterans was applied, and clearly enjoyed his evening trip into Wales: “Always a nice change and location. Slower then I expected, but happy to get County third – thanks for all involved for putting the race on”.

Deb Hutson-Lumb didn’t enjoy her evening quite as much initially thanks to a troublesome crosswind – but changed her mind after recording a course best of 23:25 to take the Women’s win from Paramount’s Hayley Wells by 35 seconds, and making it a double with victory in the Veterans contest with +6:50. This saw her consolidate her third place in the Veterans standings and stretch her lead to 15 points in the Friction Women’s Series. She stated: “I started the race rather tentatively as the wind was snatching the front wheel. I settled into the ride and just managed a course personal best – many thanks to Hafren CC for running the event”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 10

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 21:04 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 21:20 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 21:47 50
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 22:47 45
5 Alex Leek Wrekinsport CC S 22:55 40
6 Conrad Taylor Hafren CC S 23:09 35
7 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:25 30
8 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 24:00 25
9 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 24:14 20
10 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 24:15 15
11 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 25:13 10
12 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 25:59 5
13 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 26:24 5
14 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V 26:26 5
15 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V 27:21 5
. Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV 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 WV +6:50 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V +5:16 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V +5:04 50
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +4:31 45
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +3:24 40
6 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:37 35
7 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:32 30
8 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:01 25
9 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V +1:54 20
10 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:25 15
11 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V +0:37 10

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 10

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:25 60
2 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 24:00 55
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 26:24 50
. Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS .

Top Club Award – Round 10

Pos’n Club Points
1 Bridgnorth CC 105
2 Oswestry Paragon CC 85
=3 Paramount CRT 75
=3 Wrekinsport CC 75
5 Hafren CC 35
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 25
7 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 5

Cumulative Standings after ten rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 515
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 415
3 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 225
4 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 215
5 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 205
6 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 190
=7 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 180
=7 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 180
9 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 175
10 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 155

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club 525
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club 420
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 365
=4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 230
=4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 230
=6 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers 210
=6 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers 210
8 John Westhead Paramount CRT 160
9 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 130
10 Simon Romei Paramount CRT 110

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 370
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 355
3 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT 225
4 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 160
5 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 115
6 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers 90
7 Catherine Coley Bridgnorth CC 60
8 Helen Blake Wrekinsport CC 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
=1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 60
=1 Chester Romei Paramount CRT 60
=1 Tristan Harvey Ludlow CC 60

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 1005
2 Wrekinsport CC 780
3 Paramount CRT 680
4 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 370
5 Ludlow CC 300
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 275
7 Hafren CC 240
8 Oswestry Paragon CC 195
9 Revolutions Racing 180