The blue riband event of Shropshire Time Trialling perhaps fittingly saw a rider whose early season was ruined by an inattentive driver in March as David Griffiths took Gold and The Freeston Trophy in the Shropshire Championship 25, Round 12 of the Friction Hydraulics Series. Griffiths suffered nasty facial injuries which have kept him off a bike, but his excellent time of 52 minutes 28 seconds on the fastest 25 course in the area between Berriew and Four Crosses saw him take this Championship for the first time. The Holohan Coaching rider is finally back to full fitness and was raring to go, as evidenced by his post-race comments: “Good to be back! It’s been a long road back from injury and illness, but I’m now at the level I was at when I got injured. I hope to keep improving and have a good latter part of the season. Thanks very much to Helen and all the volunteers involved in putting on the event”.
This keenly-fought race saw a close call for Silver as Paramount CRT’s Mason Durant just got the better of Friction Series leader Tim Beardmore by 11 seconds with a fine 53:13; also leading Paramount to Team Gold by 45 seconds over Revolutions Racing in a combined 2:49:52 thanks to solid backup from Chris Riley and Rob McGregor. Having also finished with Silver in the Coaching Revolution Shropshire Championship 10 Durant’s comments ruminated on that: “The 25 went well, although I seem to be making a habit out of coming second! I got into a good rhythm on the way out, and conditions felt quick to the turn. I managed to navigate the roundabouts without any hold ups and thankfully the rain held off, so not much to complain about! Congratulations to David for taking the County win. It’s great to take the team title, following up on the Paramount team success at the Anfield 100. There is a good group of testers developing at the club and it’s great to get some good results – thanks to the organisers and all the volunteers at the roundabouts”.
Durant’s 53:13 was strongly backed up by two sub-hour rides with Riley recording 58:03 for 10th Overall and McGregor just 33 seconds back in 11th. When told of the win Riley commented: “Team Gold is brilliant, and all thanks to rapid team mates – another great SCCA event”. McGregor added: “This is fantastic news! The weather looked ominous on the way to Welshpool, but stayed dry for my run. I went out a bit too hard and really had to dig in on the return leg to go under the hour on my first attempt at a 25. Well done to Chris and Mason, and thank you to everyone who helped to make the event happen”.
Beardmore clearly tried his hardest with a best ever 25 mile race on this fast, smooth surface, going home with a brace of medals after winning Overall Bronze in 53:24 and Veterans Gold in +14:32, as well as stretching his lead in both the Overall and Veterans Friction Series as a consequence. He commented: “Thankfully the rain held off. I tried to pace it quite evenly, but found the return leg very tough. Pleased with a course personal best and chuffed to bits to take Veterans Gold – thanks to everyone who helped organise”.
Beardmore beat Bridgnorth CC team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling to the Veterans 25 Championship, but it nearly wasn’t the case as heavy thunderstorms over parts of Shropshire almost convinced Mills-Keeling to abort his trip. Luckily just over the border conditions were much more conducive to racing, with Mills-Keeling posting +12:34 to take Veterans Silver: “I nearly turned around driving through heavy rain. I rode sensible to the turn hoping to push on the return I didn’t kept the same power but was happy with the result, though maybe not the time – it was really good to see so many people there, and thanks to all”.
Revolutions Racing’s Andy Rose took Veterans Bronze in +11:05; 16 seconds ahead of Riley after recovering from Covid-19. Clearly the rest had done him good with a great timeon actual of 57:47: “I was delighted to have won the Veterans Bronze, my best 25 mile time trial for a couple of seasons. It’s taken a few weeks to find my legs post Covid-19 – many thanks to all officials and marshals who helped out on the night”.
In the Women’s 25 Championship Hafren CC’s Emma Serjeant put local knowledge to good use to take a dominant win in 1:02:42 to seal Women’s Gold and The Brian and Gill Morrison Trophy. Serjeant came home 6:12 in front of Helen Tudor to seal that win and was pleased with the win: “Nice to be racing so close to home for a change. I was hoping for a faster time on the night, the night before had been a fast evening but a course personal best evaded me! I was still very happy to take the Championship Gold”.
Event organiser Helen Tudor went home with Women’s Silver with her 1:08:54 effort, though preferring the longer distances. Her post-race comments were understandably directed towards the helpers, without whom there simply wouldn’t be a race: “Only my second 25 this year, I always like the Berriew course – thanks to Oswestry Paragon CC, Hafren CC, Paramount CRT and Mule CC for providing marshals and well done to Emma on the win”.
Women’s Bronze was taken by Wrekinsport’s Victoria Doran who was shocked to hear she had won a medal thanks to her 1:18:01 effort: “I had no idea that I got Bronze, so that’s a nice surprise! I certainly rode better than I did in the 25 the previous Sunday, so that was good! Luckily we missed the rain and the conditions were OK on the whole, although a headwind for the last few miles made it tough”.
In the Junior 25 Championship Wrekinsport’s Ben Southgate took Gold with a fine 1:01:10 having ridden a 25 the previous evening. Southgate also won The Jack Pitchford Trophy for his efforts having pushed North Shropshire Wheelers’ Chester Romei into the Silver medal position as well as narrowing the gap to Romei in the Friction Junior Series. Never especially effusive, the modest 15 year-old stated: “It went really well, I was happy with my time”. Romei tried his hardest and was rewarded with a big personal best of 1:03:37 for his efforts, adding: “A great race, going out to the island was a rapid turn; however I faded on the way home finishing with nearly a two minute personal best”.
SCCA:
| Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | David | Griffiths | Holohan Coaching Race Team | S | 52:28 | 60 |
| 2 | Mason | Durant | Paramount CRT | S | 53:13 | 55 |
| 3 | Tim | Beardmore | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | V | 53:24 | 50 |
| 4 | Tomos | Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 54:33 | 45 |
| 5 | Dean | Callister | Revolutions Racing | S | 55:07 | 40 |
| 6 | Jonathan | Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | V | 55:09 | 35 |
| 7 | Mark | Pritchard | Revolutions Racing | S | 57:43 | 30 |
| 8 | Bryn | Davies | Hafren CC | V | 57:45 | 25 |
| 9 | Andrew | Rose | Revolutions Racing | V | 57:47 | 20 |
| 10 | Christopher | Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 58:03 | 15 |
| 11 | Robert | McGregor | Paramount CRT | S | 58:36 | 10 |
| 12 | Graeme | Donnell | Revolutions Racing | V | 59:20 | 5 |
| 13 | Ben | Gilpin | Nova Raiders | S | 1:00:01 | 5 |
| 14 | Adam | Mumford | Wrekinsport CC | S | 1:01:07 | 5 |
| 15 | Ben | Southgate | Wrekinsport CC | J | 1:01:10 | 5 |
| 16 | Philip | Roberts | Wrekinsport CC | S | 1:01:12 | 5 |
| 17 | John | Westhead | Paramount CRT | V | 1:02:14 | 5 |
| 18 | Emma | Serjeant | Hafren CC | WV | 1:02:42 | 5 |
| 19 | Mark | Devaney | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 1:02:50 | 5 |
| 20 | Andrew | Hellowell | Wrekinsport CC | V | 1:03:15 | 5 |
| 21 | Chester | Romei | North Shropshire Wheelers | J | 1:03:37 | 5 |
| 22 | Clive | Bourne | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 1:04:43 | 5 |
| 23 | Les | Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:07:08 | 5 |
| 24 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 1:08:54 | 5 |
| 25 | Geoff | Edgerton | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:08:56 | 5 |
| 26 | Richard | Goddard | Newport (Shropshire) CC | V | 1:09:48 | 5 |
| 27 | Robert | Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | 1:17:04 | 5 |
| 28 | Victoria | Doran | Wrekinsport CC | WV | 1:18:01 | 5 |
| 29 | Clare | O’Donnell | Wrekinsport CC | WV | 1:29:27 | 5 |
| . | George | Coombes | Shropshire CCA | S | DNS-A | . |
| . | Rob | Kerr | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | DNS-A | . |
| . | James | Neale | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNS-A | . |
| . | Oliver | Rodwell | Wrekinsport CC | V | DNS | . |
Team Gold: Paramount CRT (Mason Durant, Chris Riley, Rob McGregor) 2:49:52
Veterans:
| Vets Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Vet +/- | Time | Vets Points |
| 1 | Tim | Beardmore | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | V | +14:32 | 53:24 | 60 |
| 2 | Jonathan | Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | V | +12:34 | 55:09 | 55 |
| 3 | Andrew | Rose | Revolutions Racing | V | +11:05 | 57:47 | 50 |
| 4 | Christopher | Riley | Paramount CRT | V | +10:49 | 58:03 | 45 |
| 5 | Graeme | Donnell | Revolutions Racing | V | +10:03 | 59:20 | 40 |
| 6 | John | Westhead | Paramount CRT | V | +10:01 | 1:02:14 | 35 |
| 7 | Emma | Serjeant | Hafren CC | WV | +9:54 | 1:02:42 | 30 |
| 8 | Bryn | Davies | Hafren CC | V | +9:46 | 57:45 | 25 |
| 9 | Geoff | Edgerton | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +7:32 | 1:08:56 | 20 |
| 10 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | +6:15 | 1:08:54 | 15 |
| 11 | Clive | Bourne | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | +6:08 | 1:04:43 | 10 |
| 12 | Mark | Devaney | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | +6:02 | 1:02:50 | 5 |
| 13 | Andrew | Hellowell | Wrekinsport CC | V | +4:16 | 1:03:15 | 5 |
| 14 | Les | Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +3:06 | 1:07:08 | 5 |
| 15 | Richard | Goddard | Newport (Shropshire) CC | V | -0:09 | 1:09:48 | 5 |
| 16 | Robert | Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | -2:12 | 1:17:04 | 5 |
| 17 | Victoria | Doran | Wrekinsport CC | WV | -5:25 | 1:18:01 | 5 |
| 18 | Clare | O’Donnell | Wrekinsport CC | WV | -14:18 | 1:29:27 | 5 |
Women’s:
| Women’s Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Time | Women’s Points |
| 1 | Emma | Serjeant | Hafren CC | WV | 1:02:42 | 60 |
| 2 | Helen | Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 1:08:54 | 55 |
| 3 | Victoria | Doran | Wrekinsport CC | WV | 1:18:01 | 50 |
| 4 | Clare | O’Donnell | Wrekinsport CC | WV | 1:29:27 | 45 |
Juniors:
| Junior Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Ben | Southgate | Wrekinsport CC | J | 1:01:10 | 60 |
| 2 | Chester | Romei | North Shropshire Wheelers | J | 1:03:37 | 55 |
Top Club Award:
| Pos’n | Club | Points |
| 1 | Revolutions Racing | 95 |
| 2 | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | 85 |
| 2 | Paramount CRT | 85 |
| 4 | Wrekinsport CC | 80 |
| 5 | Holohan Coaching Race Team | 60 |
| 6 | Hafren CC | 30 |
| 7 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 15 |
| 7 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 15 |
| 9 | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 5 |
| 9 | Nova Raiders | 5 |
Cumulative Standings after twelve rounds
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | V | 635 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth CC | V | 530 |
| 3 | Tomos Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 500 |
| 4 | Graeme Donnell | Revolutions Racing | V | 350 |
| 5 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 335 |
| 6 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 295 |
| =7 | Daniel Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 220 |
| =7 | Dean Callister | Revolutions Racing | S | 220 |
| 9 | Mason Durant | Paramount CRT | S | 170 |
| 10 | Adam Mumford | Wrekinsport CC | S | 130 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
| Position | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | 670 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth CC | 585 |
| 3 | Graeme Donnell | Revolutions Racing | 505 |
| 4 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | 385 |
| 5 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 340 |
| 6 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | 290 |
| 7 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 245 |
| 8 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 210 |
| 9 | Andrew Rose | Revolutions Racing | 185 |
| 10 | Robert Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | 170 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 460 |
| 2 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | 415 |
| 3 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 360 |
| 4 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | 310 |
| 5 | Clare O’Donnell | Wrekinsport CC | 90 |
| 6 | Bethan Till | Wrekinsport CC | 65 |
| 7 | Robin Jones | Bridgnorth CC | 60 |
| 8 | Helen Blake | Wrekinsport CC | 45 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Chester Romei | North Shropshire Wheelers | 285 |
| 2 | Ben Southgate | Wrekinsport CC | 170 |
| 3 | Alex Hart | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
| 4 | Noah White | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 45 |
Top Club Award
| Position | Club | Total Points |
| 1 | Wrekinsport CC | 1255 |
| 2 | Bridgnorth CC | 1250 |
| 3 | Revolutions Racing | 815 |
| 4 | Paramount CRT | 730 |
| 5 | Hafren CC | 465 |
| 6 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 240 |
| 7 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 135 |
| 8 | Holohan Coaching Race Team | 60 |
| 9 | Ludlow CC | 30 |
| 10 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 10 |
| =11 | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 5 |
| =11 | Nova Raiders | 5 |