In what seems like a cursed season organiser Helen Tudor was sweating on removal of water board traffic lights at Pool Quay a few hours before the start of the Shropshire Championship 25, Round 11 of the Friction Hydraulics Series which would have seen it truncated to a 10 – and a quick application turn around time to lengthen Round 12, the Oswestry Paragon 10, also taking place on the A483 to 25 miles to replace the County Championship. Thankfully serious negotiations by Helen early afternoon saw the road cleared just in time to race, with many riders already on their way unsure of what distance they would be racing until they arrived at HQ, not ideal preparation.
The blue riband event of the Shropshire season saw a good entry and some serious competition for the medals and silverware on a fast course – although it was very much a game of two halves with riders bowled along to the turn and having to dig deep on the return into a significant headwind. Aerologic’s Dean Callister coped best to win 25 mile Gold and take The Freeston Trophy with a 1 minute 3 second advantage of reigning holder Tomos Hales with a superb time of 52:39. Callister hadn’t had the best preparation either, as he explained: “I wasn’t sure how the legs would be after a week’s holiday all inclusive. A strong tail wind on the way out gave for a brutal return, and strong cross winds which at one point blew me out the pedals. It was a painful and relentless return with heavy legs, but I gave it my all and was pleased to take the Shropshire win for Aerologic – thanks to all who make the event happen”.
Unlike Callister who had physical challenges to overcome Hales’ was more psychological with the confusion if the Championship could be run. Nevertheless he still took Silver in 53:42; and by the same 1:03 margin from Paramount’s Simon Romei, the Friction Series leader. Hales stated: ”The uncertainty of if we were going to get the race was difficult to get the head in the game, especially with the wind picking up. It was a very fast section out, then a hard slog back, but I managed to pace the race rather well. Thanks to Helen’s hard work and commitment for getting us an SCCA 25 mile, and well done to Dean and Hayley for the County wins”.
Hales’ final comment was levelled at Female winner and Wrekinsport team mate Hayley Wells, who took 25 Gold and The Brian and Gill Morrison Trophy at the head of seven women after dipping under the hour in 59:22 to push out the current holder of that trophy, Deb Hutson-Lumb by 2:03. Wells was delighted to take Gold with a superb ride capturing 10th spot Overall, but like others was worn down by the relentless headwind back: “A quick first half meant that the return was going to need some grit and determination. I struggled with around 10 kilometres to go, but was chuffed to have taken the win. Many thanks to Helen for persevering with road works to enable to event to go ahead, and great to see some more ladies racing”!
Hutson-Lumb didn’t go home empty-handed either, taking Veteran’s 25 Gold with a strong +14:05 ahead of Romei and Paramount team mate Chris Riley despite the return leg sapping her strength: “All was going well until the turn, and I really struggled coming back into the headwind, losing a lot of time compared to other riders. Surprised but pleased to win the Veterans; and congratulations to Hayley on the Female Championship win”.
Female Bronze went to an unexpected destination as Thea Osmund-Smith got immediate results in her first ever 25. The Paramount rider surprised herself with a solid effort of 1:04:54 and appears to have learnt a lot: “My first 25 mile time trial was a revelation. I had no idea how to pace it or what time I’d get, and enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. The joy of a tailwind out was soon put to bed by the brutal headwind back, but overall I was pleased with my performance and it’s a good benchmark to improve upon”.
Romei holds onto a 120 point lead in the Overall Friction Series, slightly narrowed by the charge of Hales, but extended his lead in the Friction Veteran’s Series to 110 points in a vintage evening where he went home with three medals: Overall Bronze with 54:45, Veteran’s Silver in +12:16, and Team Gold, leading Paramount CRT home in a combined 2:50:54 with great backup. This distance has been a target for Romei in 2024, and he was satisfied with the resulting haul: “The SCCA 25 was a great race with fantastic organisation and marshals; thank you all involved in making this race happen. A good day for this race, I was really pleased to have won Bronze overall, also taking Veterans Silver and Team Gold. What a brilliant evening’s racing. I have really focused on the 25 mile distance this season, so again had to work super hard to maintain a good speed and position. Really happy that we also managed to win the Team Gold, both of my fellow race team work hard and had great times”.
Riley finished 6th Overall, but took home a brace as second counter for Team Gold and Veterans Bronze, just 16 seconds behind Romei with +12:00. Like many his comments were a mixture regarding how hard the return was and how pleased he was to have gotten among the medals: “The wind flattened all but the fastest ambitions on the return leg, including my own. Well chuffed to bag a medal, and it was great to be in the Team Gold with the fast lads. Loads of thanks to Helen and Oswestry Paragon for holding their nerve and making it happen”.
That Team Gold win, as well as a giant leap forward in securing the SCCA’s Top Club Award was helped considerably by five Paramount riders in the Top 10 – and a highly unusual tie for third counting spot that means four medals will have to be issued, as Alvydas Janusauskas and Joh Goh shared the honours in 58:53, taking joint 7th Overall. For Janusauskas, speaking from Athens this was his best 25 of the season, and he was delighted to get among the silverware: “The combined team effort brought a medal, so we are very pleased indeed. It was my highest placement for this season, so all positive stuff. It was a night before my holiday, so I was happy to clock some miles before leaving England. I’m looking forward to maintaining the good results and strive with team for success. Well organised, very cosy atmosphere and it always delivers – especially the variety of cakes which were insane, but my girlfriend said I couldn’t have them! The traffic and the headwinds on the return legs was pretty tough, but is the same for all”.
Goh won the inaugural 25 mile Road Bike Championship, which given his time his non-aero optimised setup makes taking Team Gold all the more impressive. His margin of victory was the slimmest of the evening – just two seconds ahead of Paramount team mate Paul Duncan in an adjusted 58:04 in this handicap competition, with the club making it a clean sweep as William Preston took Bronze. Goh had set out happy to just enjoy racing, so taking Gold was a real bonus, as he revealed: “It was a surprise to win the SCCA Road Bike 25. My coach, Helen Thacker, gave me a good talk before the race. She said that the most important thing was to remember to enjoy the race and not worry about the result. So, with this in mind, I set off at a good pace and stayed focused on holding my form in the windy conditions. On the return leg, I suddenly got bad cramp in both legs with five miles to go. Experience told me that I could spin a low gear to avoid losing too much speed and time, and make it to the line. Paul Duncan is a club mate and we know each other well. To beat him by two seconds gave people something to talk about at the café! Overall, it’s been a fun season of racing that keeps on giving”.
Duncan was making his first appearance of the season and that slight lack of fine tuning seems to have been the marginal difference between the team mates: “My first time trial of 2024 so I still need to build some form, however I was really pleased with my average speed over the 25 miles. The outward leg was exceptionally fast, but the headwind on the return meant that the second half was at least a couple of mph slower. A really enjoyable event and congratulations to Jon on the win”!
That left the final word to William Preston, who like Osmund-Smith acquitted himself well in his first experience of the 25 distance and was delighted to take a medal: “I was very happy to win the Bronze. I haven’t done a lot of time trialling and, in fact, this was my first ever 25 mile TT. I was pretty happy with my finishing time given the windy conditions and completing it on my road bike”.
SCCA:
| Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Dean | Callister | Aerologic RT | S | 0:52:39 | 60 |
| 2 | Tomos | Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 0:53:42 | 55 |
| 3 | Simon | Romei | Paramount CRT | V | 0:54:45 | 50 |
| 4 | Mark | Pritchard | Aerologic RT | S | 0:55:35 | 45 |
| 5 | Bryn | Davies | Hafren CC | V | 0:55:45 | 40 |
| 6 | Christopher | Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 0:57:16 | 35 |
| 7 | Alvydas | Janusauskas | Paramount CRT | S | 0:58:53 | 30 |
| 7 | Jonathan | Goh | Paramount CRT | V | 0:58:53 | 30 |
| 9 | Paul | Duncan | Paramount CRT | V | 0:58:55 | 20 |
| 10 | Hayley | Wells | Wrekinsport CC | F | 0:59:22 | 15 |
| 11 | George | Coombes | Newport (Shropshire) CC | S | 0:59:36 | 10 |
| 12 | Mark | Hill | Hafren CC | V | 0:59:43 | 5 |
| 13 | Adam | Mumford | Wrekinsport CC | S | 0:59:52 | 5 |
| 14 | William | Preston | Paramount CRT | S | 1:00:22 | 5 |
| 15 | Deb | Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | FV | 1:01:25 | 5 |
| 16 | Richard | Nickless | Paramount CRT | V | 1:01:31 | 5 |
| 17 | Ian | Connolly | Ludlow CC | V | 1:01:54 | 5 |
| 18 | Benjamin | Nickolls | Paramount CRT | V | 1:02:53 | 5 |
| 19 | James | Elgar | Paramount CRT | V | 1:04:40 | 5 |
| 20 | Thea | Osmund-Smith | Paramount CRT | F | 1:04:54 | 5 |
| 21 | Karl | Lombardi | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 1:04:56 | 5 |
| 22 | Simon | Evans | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:05:24 | 5 |
| 23 | Simon | Jones | Hafren CC | V | 1:05:38 | 5 |
| 24 | John | Westhead | Paramount CRT | V | 1:06:16 | 5 |
| 25 | Ian | Townsend | Paramount CRT | V | 1:06:48 | 5 |
| 26 | Mick | Case | Hafren CC | V | 1:06:52 | 5 |
| 27 | Sorrel | Williams | SCCA Private Member | FV | 1:07:02 | 5 |
| 28 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | FV | 1:07:38 | 5 |
| 29 | Robert | Garbett | Wrekinsport CC | V | 1:07:41 | 5 |
| 30 | Colin | Wells | Paramount CRT | V | 1:08:14 | 5 |
| 31 | Jan | Davies | Hafren CC | FV | 1:08:21 | 5 |
| 32 | Les | Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:09:04 | 5 |
| 33 | Peter | Rickard | Paramount CRT | V | 1:10:02 | 5 |
| 34 | Richard | Goddard | Newport (Shropshire) CC | V | 1:10:57 | 5 |
| 35 | Ashley | Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | 1:11:56 | 5 |
| 36 | Jayne | Powell | Paramount CRT | FV | 1:14:52 | 5 |
| . | David | Cannell | Paramount CRT | V | DNF | . |
| . | Oliver | Rodwell | Wrekinsport CC | V | DNF | . |
| . | Rob | Kennard | Aerologic RT | V | DNS | . |
| . | Devon | Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | S | DNS | . |
| . | Jamie | Rossiter | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNS | . |
| . | Rob | Kerr | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | DNS | . |
| . | Neil | Wilson | Paramount CRT | V | DNS | . |
Team Gold:
Paramount CRT (Simon Romei, Chris Riley, Alvydas Janusauskas/Jon Goh (tie) 2:50:54
Veterans:
| Vets Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Vet +/- | Vets Points |
| 1 | Deb | Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | FV | +14:05 | 60 |
| 2 | Simon | Romei | Paramount CRT | V | +12:16 | 55 |
| 3 | Christopher | Riley | Paramount CRT | V | +12:00 | 50 |
| 4 | Bryn | Davies | Hafren CC | V | +11:54 | 45 |
| 5 | Mark | Hill | Hafren CC | V | +9:33 | 40 |
| 6 | Jonathan | Goh | Paramount CRT | V | +7:56 | 35 |
| 7 | Paul | Duncan | Paramount CRT | V | +7:54 | 30 |
| 8 | John | Westhead | Paramount CRT | V | +7:20 | 25 |
| 9 | Ian | Connolly | Ludlow CC | V | +7:04 | 20 |
| 10 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | FV | +6:32 | 15 |
| 11 | Richard | Nickless | Paramount CRT | V | +6:22 | 10 |
| 12 | Sorrel | Williams | SCCA Private Member | FV | +5:53 | 5 |
| 13 | Jan | Davies | Hafren CC | FV | +4:49 | 5 |
| 14 | Colin | Wells | Paramount CRT | V | +4:26 | 5 |
| 15 | Simon | Evans | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | +4:11 | 5 |
| 16 | Robert | Garbett | Wrekinsport CC | V | +3:42 | 5 |
| 17 | Benjamin | Nickolls | Paramount CRT | V | +3:07 | 5 |
| 18 | Karl | Lombardi | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | +2:29 | 5 |
| 19 | Mick | Case | Hafren CC | V | +2:24 | 5 |
| 20 | Les | Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +1:56 | 5 |
| 21 | Ian | Townsend | Paramount CRT | V | +1:36 | 5 |
| 22 | Simon | Jones | Hafren CC | V | +1:34 | 5 |
| 23 | James | Elgar | Paramount CRT | V | +1:20 | 5 |
| 24 | Richard | Goddard | Newport (Shropshire) CC | V | -0:41 | 5 |
| 25 | Jayne | Powell | Paramount CRT | FV | -0:57 | 5 |
| 26 | Peter | Rickard | Paramount CRT | V | -1:54 | 5 |
| 27 | Ashley | Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | -4:55 | 5 |
Female:
| Female Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Time | Female Points |
| 1 | Hayley | Wells | Wrekinsport CC | F | 0:59:22 | 60 |
| 2 | Deb | Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | FV | 1:01:25 | 55 |
| 3 | Thea | Osmund-Smith | Paramount CRT | F | 1:04:54 | 50 |
| 4 | Sorrel | Williams | SCCA Private Member | FV | 1:07:02 | 45 |
| 5 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | FV | 1:07:38 | 40 |
| 6 | Jan | Davies | Hafren CC | FV | 1:08:21 | 35 |
| 7 | Jayne | Powell | Paramount CRT | FV | 1:14:52 | 30 |
Road Bike:
| RB Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | RB Adj Time | Points |
| 1 | Jonathan | Goh | Paramount CRT | V | 0:58:04 | 60 |
| 2 | Paul | Duncan | Paramount CRT | V | 0:58:06 | 55 |
| 3 | William | Preston | Paramount CRT | S | 1:00:22 | 50 |
| 4 | Benjamin | Nickolls | Paramount CRT | V | 1:02:53 | 45 |
| 5 | Mick | Case | Hafren CC | V | 1:03:36 | 40 |
| 6 | Ian | Townsend | Paramount CRT | V | 1:04:24 | 35 |
| 7 | Peter | Rickard | Paramount CRT | V | 1:07:54 | 30 |
| 8 | Ashley | Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | 1:10:55 | 25 |
| . | David | Cannell | Paramount CRT | V | DNF | . |
Top Club Award:
| Pos’n | Club | Points |
| 1 | Paramount CRT | 215 |
| 2 | Aerologic RT | 105 |
| 3 | Wrekinsport CC | 90 |
| 4 | Hafren CC | 60 |
| 5 | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 15 |
| 6 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 10 |
| 7 | Ludlow CC | 5 |
| 7 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 5 |
| 7 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 5 |
Cumulative Standings after eleven 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 | 390 |
| 3 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 355 |
| 4 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | V | 305 |
| 5 | Dean Callister | Aerologic RT | S | 295 |
| 6 | Christopher Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 290 |
| 7 | Hayley Wells | Wrekinsport CC | F | 235 |
| 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 | 475 |
| 3 | Christopher Riley | Paramount CRT | 440 |
| 4 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Aerologic RT | 365 |
| 5 | Mark Fenn | Shropshire CCA | 240 |
| 6 | Colin Wells | Paramount CRT | 235 |
| =7 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | 225 |
| =7 | Ian Connolly | Ludlow CC | 225 |
| 9 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 205 |
| 10 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | 145 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship
| Female Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Hayley Wells | Wrekinsport CC | 560 |
| 2 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 380 |
| 3 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | 165 |
| 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 | 130 |
| =3 | Ian Townsend | Paramount CRT | V | 120 |
| =3 | Jonathan Goh | Paramount CRT | V | 120 |
| 5 | William Preston | Paramount CRT | S | 105 |
| 6 | Emma Brown | Paramount CRT | F | 85 |
| 7 | David Cannell | Paramount CRT | V | 65 |
| =8 | Matthew Garthwaite | Newport (Shropshire) CC | S | 60 |
| =8 | Sam Holwill | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | S | 60 |
| =8 | 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 | 1600 |
| 2 | Wrekinsport CC | 905 |
| 3 | Aerologic RT | 750 |
| 4 | Hafren CC | 465 |
| 5 | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | 315 |
| 6 | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 250 |
| 7 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 175 |
| 8 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 165 |
| 9 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 110 |
| 10 | Ludlow CC | 105 |