Heavy rain and an at times strong southerly wind put off around a quarter of the entrants to Round 13 of The Friction Hydraulics Series – but they missed out an opportunity for personal bests with a number recorded through the field. Sopping wet or ‘scorchio’ are always the best conditions to offer relatively easy passage through the air, and Oswestry Paragon took full advantage with a 1-2 at the top of the standings in Nova Raiders 10, held on the Waters Upton – Hodnet course led home by Kieran Morris. Both riders had had a break from time trialling, but Morris put in a powerhouse effort to dip below the 20 minute mark with a fabulous 19 minutes 51 seconds. He stated “I wasn’t really sure how I was going to be going as I’ve had a bit of time away from races and was just using it as a warm up for the National 25 on the next day. I actually loved the conditions! Thanks to all the helpers, I’m sure the weather was much worse for them than it was for us riders”!

Whilst wet it was reasonably warm which was a plus point; but later starters definitely endured the worst of it, with last man off David Griffiths battling through the deluge to stop the watch on 20 minutes 22 seconds. Griffiths has won a coupe of Rounds in the Friction Series but had to settle for runner-up spot this time, although he appeared satisfied with his efforts: “I was pleased with my ride, having taken some time off the time trial bike. The torrential rain on the return leg made for challenging conditions. Congratulations to Kieran for the win”! 

Taking the honours for the promoting club Dean Callister helped himself to third spot in 20:47, 12 seconds ahead of Tim Beardmore and was lucky to miss the very worse of it having started 10 minutes before Morris and 20 before Griffiths. Callister entered the Top 10 Overall on the strength of his ride, but caught the headwind that preceded the rain belt: “Wet and windy with a strong headwind on the return. I paced it well and only really got rained on the last few minutes of the race so I was lucky. I was pleased with third in a strong field, thanks to Nova Raiders for putting on the event”.

Beardmore was delighted to post his first ever sub-21 minute ride with 20:59 and extended his lead at the top of the Overall standings from Henri Bedford, and in the Veterans standings too from Bridgnorth CC team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling who finished 3rd in +4:51 after taking the Veteran’s runner-up spot behind Nova Raiders’ Deb Hutson-Lumb with +5:47. Beardmore had the carrot of Hutson-Lumb, starting two minutes ahead of him on the road, and was delighted with how things went, and gave credit to the conditions helping with that personal best: “The weather wasn’t the best and I got a proper soaking on the return leg. The rain may have helped with my pace though, as I managed to finally get under the 21 minute mark for the first time. I’m very happy with how the race went, thanks to everyone Nova Raiders for organising.” Beardmore now holds a 105 point lead Overall and an impressive 145 point one in the Veterans, and with Beardmore and Mills-Keeling often scoring big points Bridgnorth CC are now just 40 points behind Nova Raiders in the Top Club Award standings.

Hutson-Lumb took a familiar double win in the Veterans competition thanks to her +6:40 effort and in the Women’s race too, with an actual 23:21 taking a strong 11th spot Overall and pushing out another Oswestry Paragon rider, Leonie Keeling by 36 seconds. Hutson-Lumb revealed a large course best time was set thanks to trying to stay away from Beardmore and the favourable conditions: “I was trying not to get caught for two minutes by Tim or get wet – I failed at both! I managed to lop over 30 seconds off my course personal best, so very pleased. Big thanks to everyone making the event happen on a bit of a grotty weather day”.

Junior Henri Bedford has already sealed the Junior Friction Championship but has his eyes on an Overall medal, just stretching his advantage to tighten his grip on the Silver medal position over Mills-Keeling to 70 points and finishing 5th Overall in 21:17. He commented: “I struggled a bit on the return leg in the wet and windy conditions. I enjoyed the race but I’m not so much of a fan of the spray from the Lorries passing! Big thanks to Nova Raiders for putting on an amazing event as usual”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 13

Posn Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 19:51 60
2 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 20:22 55
3 Dean Callister  Nova Raiders S 20:47 50
4 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 20:59 45
5 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 21:17 40
6 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 21:50 35
7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 21:54 30
8 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 21:55 25
9 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V 22:54 20
10 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC V 23:01 15
11 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 23:21 10
12 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V 23:23 5
13 Allan Henderson  Wrekinsport CC S 23:30 5
14 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV 23:57 5
15 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 24:00 5
16 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 24:12 5
17 George Coombes Shropshire CCA 1st Claim S 24:27 5
18 Jason Arnold Hafren CC V 24:43 5
19 Daniel Ramsbottom SCCA Private Member S 25:02 5
20 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 25:28 5
21 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 25:51 5
22 Mark Stocks  Newport (Shropshire) CC V 26:08 5
23 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 27:28 5
24 Alison Salthouse SCCA Private Member V 29:10 5
25 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 29:51 5
26 Mel Griffiths Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 38:48 5
. Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. Ben Gilpin Nova Raiders S DNS-A .
. Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. Andrew Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS-A .
. Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V DNS .
. Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Richard Goddard Newport (Shropshire) CC V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 13

Vets Posn Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV +6:40 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +5:47 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +4:51 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +4:47 45
5 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV +4:36 40
6 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V +4:30 35
7 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC V +4:29 30
8 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV +4:26 25
9 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V +3:49 20
10 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +3:01 15
11 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +2:54 10
12 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +2:07 5
13 Jason Arnold Hafren CC V +2:03 5
14 Alison Salthouse SCCA Private Member V +1:29 5
15 Mark Stocks  Newport (Shropshire) CC V +1:10 5
16 Simon Jones Hafren CC V +0:36 5
17 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV -0:16 5
18 Mel Griffiths Mid Shropshire Wheelers V -8:54 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 13

Womens Posn Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 23:21 60
2 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV 23:57 55
3 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 24:12 50
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 27:28 45
5 Alison Salthouse SCCA Private Member V 29:10 40
6 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 29:51 35
. Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS-A .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 13

Junior Posn Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 21:17 60

Top Club Award – Round 13

Pos’n Club Points
1 Oswestry Paragon CC 125
2 Nova Raiders 105
3 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 80
4 Hafren CC 45
5 Revolutions Racing 40
6 Wrekinsport CC 30
=7 Ludlow CC 5
=7 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 5
=7 Newport (Shropshire) CC 5
=7 Paramount CRT 5

Cumulative Standings after thirteen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 620
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 515
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 445
4 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 300
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 295
6 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 285
7 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 280
8 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 265
9 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 225
10 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V 205

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 730
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 585
3 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders 390
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 380
5 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member 325
6 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC 270
7 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders 235
8 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 210
9 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 155
=10 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers 130
=10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 130

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 480
2 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 335
3 Alison Dockney Market Drayton CC 310
4 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 285
5 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 255
6 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 140
7 Lauren Turley Nova Raiders 125
8 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 120
9 Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders 110
=10 Alison Salthouse SCCA Private Member 85
=10 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 85

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing 610
=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  1105
2 Bridgnorth CC 1065
3 Oswestry Paragon CC 805
4 Wrekinsport CC 575
5 Revolutions Racing 460
6 Hafren CC 430
7 Holohan Coaching RT 290
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 240
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 135
10 Ludlow CC 125
11 Newport Shropshire CC 90
=12 Clee Cycles 70
=12 Paramount CRT 70
14 Market Drayton CC 55