The trifling matter of the County 25 mile record being smashed to smithereens on the toughest 25 mile extant course in Shropshire dominated the post race talk following Round 10 of the Friction Hydraulics Series as Ribble Weldtite professional Dan Bigham became the first rider to dip below the 50 minute mark – and by some margin in the Mid Shropshire Wheelers 25. Held on the tough, rolling Prees – Battlefield course this switchback ride saw Bigham post a barely believable time of 46 minutes 34 seconds at nearly 32¼mph average to win the event by almost 8½ minutes. Bigham is renowned for his technical knowledge, which is right at the cutting edge of time trialling and is often seen and heard commentating on cycling for Eurosport/GCN, but clearly enjoys the grassroots of racing, as judged by his post-race comments: “I have a genuine love for a good sporting/challenging course. It was right up my street! A great local event – thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for putting it on”.

Delayed from its normal Easter Bank Holiday slot due to Covid restrictions that delay saw a significant number of riders not taking the line for the revised date miss out on being part of an historic morning – although Tim Beardmore was doing his bit to get in the record books as he took the County win with a fine effort of 55:06. Beardmore stretched his lead at the top of the Overall Friction Series standings as well as making it a brace of victories by taking the honours in the Veterans Series too in +12:37. This saw him edge away from chasers Jonathan Mills-Keeling, making it a 1-2 for Bridgnorth CC, and Revolutions Racing’s Henri Bedford. Beardmore stated: “A great morning for racing with little wind. I pushed hard on the climbs and tried to get some recovery on the down hills. I was very pleased with my time which was a big course personal best for me. I thought I had had a decent ride until I saw Dan Bigham’s time – absolutely astounding. British Cycling are you missing something”?

Mills-Keeling took County runner-up spot in 56:21, nine seconds ahead of Holohan Coaching’s Matthew Davies, with Bedford in 4th in a strong 56:54. Those favourable conditions saw Mills-Keeling also break his course best as well as take the runner-up spot in the Veterans in +11:10. He commented: “Nice and quiet roads, and over two minute personal best on the course. That was an insane time by Dan – thanks to all involved”.

Bedford added another 60 points to his massive Junior Series lead but with a 20 minute earlier start than Beardmore his experience of the wind conditions was quite different: “It’s always hard on the Battlefield course! An early start and windy weather made for less than favourable conditions, not like that stopped Dan Bigham from smashing the course record. Thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for putting the event on; and the marshals that helped”.

In the Women’s Series Hafren CC’s Emma Serjeant took the win in a fine 1:05:59, scoring her second maximum of the Series. The nature of the course can make it difficult to judge exactly how far is left to go, and Serjeant seems to have misjudged her finishing effort as there’s still a two mile drag to batter along after passing Prees village: “I think the only similarity between me and Dan Bingham is that we both enjoy a sporting course. I did pace it nicely, although I thought the finish was a lot closer to the bridge that it was and that last stretch seemed to take ages to get to the finish line. Thank you to all the marshals and helpers for a great event”. Serjeant beat Helen Tudor for the win, but that didn’t stop the Oswestry Paragon rider from taking over the lead of the Women’s Series thanks to her 1:16:18 effort.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 10

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 00:55:06 60
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 00:56:21 55
3 Matthew Davies Holohan Coaching Race Team S 00:56:30 50
4 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 00:56:54 45
5 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 00:58:27 40
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 00:58:41 35
7 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V 01:00:40 30
8 Karl Moseley Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 01:00:59 25
9 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 01:05:59 20
10 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 01:06:30 15
11 George Coombes Shropshire CCA S 01:07:46 10
12 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 01:09:44 5
13 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:16:18 5
. Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V DNF .
. Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V DNS (A) .
. Dean Callister Nova Raiders S DNS (A) .
. Jason Arnold Hafren CC V DNS .
. Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Milly Deer North Shropshire Wheelers W DNS .
. Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV DNS .
. Tom Richardson Oswestry Paragon CC S DNS .
. Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 10

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +12:37 60
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +11:10 55
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +08:50 50
4 Karl Moseley Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +08:40 45
5 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V +08:27 40
6 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV +06:25 35
7 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +05:23 30
8 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV -01:25 25
9 Simon Jones Hafren CC V -02:49 20

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 10

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 01:05:59 60
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:16:18 55
. Milly Deer North Shropshire Wheelers W DNS .
. Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 10

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 00:56:54 60

Top Club Award – Round 10

Pos’n Club Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 140
2 Nova Raiders 70
3 Hafren CC 60
4 Holohan Coaching Race Team 50
5 Revolutions Racing 45
6 Paramount CRT 15
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

Cumulative Standings after ten rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 465
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 420
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 300
4 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 240
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 225
=5 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 225
7 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 220
8 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 175
=9 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 165
=9 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V 165
=9 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 165

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 595
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 415
3 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders 320
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 285
5 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member 245
6 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders 235
7 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC 175
8 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 140
9 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers 130
=10 Dave Griffiths Clee Cycles 115
=10 Jason Walkley SCCA Private Member 115

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 320
2 Alison Dockney Market Drayton CC 310
3 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 225
4 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 210
5 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 185
6 Lauren Turley Nova Raiders 125
7 Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders 110
8 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 95
=9 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC 50
=9 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing 490
2 Max Bufton Hafren CC 55
=2 Harry Corney Market Drayton CC 55
4 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50
5 Noah White Mid Shropshire Wheelers 45

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders  960
2 Bridgnorth CC 750
3 Oswestry Paragon CC 500
4 Revolutions Racing 365
5 Wrekinsport CC 345
6 Hafren CC 335
7 Holohan Coaching RT 230
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 205
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 130
10 Clee Cycles 70
=11 Ludlow CC 65
=11 Paramount CRT 65
13 Market Drayton CC 55
14 Newport Shropshire CC 35