A weekend of events which were acting as the Emergency Services Championships were added to the Friction Series for 2024 as taking place on local roads and open to local riders entering – and who made up 50% of the entry. A great turnout saw what was almost guaranteed to produce a Course Record in only the second ever use of the Shawbury – Hodnet 10 for Round 13 – until the curse of road works which has plagued the 2024 season struck again. Mobile traffic light controlled ‘pop up’ works between the start and finish meant the event had to be truncated to 9.6 miles, leaving that record breaking opportunity to another day, as Tomos Hales took the County win on a sunny afternoon with light winds. Hales stopped the watch on 19 minutes 58 seconds, a 29 second advantage over Friction Series leader Simon Romei to narrow the gap at the top.

Hales was looking forward to a chance to race on the smooth A53 surface given the sole previous running was held in drizzly, cold and windy conditions, but like many riders was left frustrated by the truncation: “I was excited to use this course again as I believe it can be a fast course. However I was disappointed the road works cut it short. It was tough going out and felt hard on the uphill sections, but I managed to fly back with a tail return. Happy to take the win, and thanks for James Gibney for organising – it was a great event”.

Romei took the runner-up spot in 20:27 ahead of Bryn Davies, and that same position in the Friction Veterans contest with +5:00, 26 seconds ahead of Chris Riley and maintains a 55 point lead Overall and an 85 point advantage in the Veterans standings in a solid defence. His margin was 49 seconds over Davies, who enjoyed his taste of the course’s potential, stating: “I enjoyed the race, shame about the road works cutting the course short but it didn’t take anything away from the race – great organisation. I enjoyed riding the course; it would be good to use that course more often”.

Romei was 1:06 behind Wrekinsport’s Deb Hutson-Lumb who took her fifth Veteran’s win from six races entered with +6:06. On actual she was well placed in the Friction Female Series too, taking the runner-up spot in 22:33. She commented: “Despite better weather the course felt tougher than last time I rode, so I wasn’t too disappointed that we were short of 10 miles. I was pleased to take the Veteran’s win and looking forward to racing on here again on 17th August. Many thanks to everyone involved in running the event”.

But there was no stopping Females Series leader Hayley Wells as she almost sealed Series victory in her 11th straight win in the Series, now just 10 points away from that mathematical certainty. In a glittering season this was another fabulous effort of 21:51 on a course already becoming a favourite: “I loved this course last year, so I was excited to give it another whirl. I felt sluggish to start with but pushed on and managed to maintain decent power throughout. A shame the course had to be cut slightly short, but another fun afternoon of racing; hopefully this course can be used more often”!

In the Road Bike Series Paul Duncan made a late start, but already has two wins from the three he has entered with an adjusted 21:57, 58 seconds ahead of Series leader Mark Fenn. Duncan would have been heading for a personal best at the full distance based upon his computer readings, but still enjoyed his afternoon’s racing, commenting: “An average speed personal record for me over the distance on the road bike. A shame it wasn’t over the full 10 in order for me to get a course personal record. I enjoyed the event, nice conditions on the day which were conducive to a fast ride. Well done to my club, Paramount for such a strong showing on the day, a good haul of points accrued for the team! Thanks, as usual, to organisers and marshals”. Following this event Paramount hold a 630 point lead in the Top Club Award with five events remaining.

Junior Ben Southgate rode unchallenged to a further 60 points in the Friction Junior Series with a solid 22:52 for 12th place Overall. He stated: “My race went well, but annoying that it got cut short due to road works”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 13

Pos’n First Name Last Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 19:58 60
2 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 20:27 55
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 21:16 50
4 Oli Freeman Wrekinsport CC S 21:27 45
5 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 21:43 40
6 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 21:51 35
7 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 21:54 30
8 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 22:07 25
9 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V 22:15 20
10 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 22:33 15
11 Ben Wood Wrekinsport CC S 22:41 10
12 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 22:52 5
13 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 23:06 5
14 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 23:17 5
15 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT F 24:06 5
16 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 24:55 5
17 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V 25:10 5
18 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V 25:47 5
19 David Cannell Paramount CRT V 26:15 5
20 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 27:23 5
21 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V 28:51 5
22 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V 29:32 5
. Jayne Powell Paramount CRT FV DNS .
. Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 13

Vets Pos’n First Name Last Name Club Cat Vet +/-
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV +6:06
2 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V +5:00
3 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +4:34
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +4:31
5 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V +3:08
6 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +3:05
7 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V +2:23
8 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V +2:10
9 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V +1:18
10 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V +1:03
11 David Cannell Paramount CRT V +0:59
12 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V +0:17
13 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V -1:55

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship – Round 13

Female Pos’n First Name Last Name Club Cat Time Female Points
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 21:51 60
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 22:33 55
3 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT F 24:06 50
4 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 27:23 45
. Jayne Powell Paramount CRT FV DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship – Round 13

RB Pos’n First Name Last Name Club Cat RB Adj Time RB Points
1 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V 21:57 60
2 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 22:55 55
3 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 24:02 50
4 David Cannell Paramount CRT V 24:06 45
5 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V 24:48 40
6 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 24:49 35
7 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V 27:00 30

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 13

Junior Pos’n First Name Last Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 22:52 60

Top Club Award – Round 13

Pos’n Club Points
1 Wrekinsport CC 200
2 Paramount CRT 175
3 Hafren CC 50
=4 Ludlow CC 5
=4 North Shropshire Wheelers 5

Cumulative Standings after thirteen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 565
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 510
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 445
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 375
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 355
6 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 305
7 Dean Callister Aerologic RT S 295
8 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 245
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 640
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 565
3 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 545
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT 415
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 345
6 Colin Wells Paramount CRT 285
7 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA 265
8 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC 260
9 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 215
10 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC 150

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship

Female Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC 680
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 430
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 275
=4 Emma Brown Paramount CRT 150
=4 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT 150
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 400
2 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 225
3 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 180
4 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V 175
=5 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 120
=5 Jonathan Goh Paramount CRT V 120
7 David Cannell Paramount CRT V 110
8 William Preston Paramount CRT S 105
9 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V 80
10 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V 75

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 180

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Paramount CRT 1860
2 Wrekinsport CC 1230
3 Aerologic RT 855
4 Hafren CC 575
5 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 315
6 Newport (Shropshire) CC 250
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 210
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 165
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 115
10 Ludlow CC 110