The longest event in the Shropshire Time Trialling calendar saw a new name engraved on The Jack Parker 100 mile Trophy as SCCA and WCTTCA presented The Shropshire Championship 100. Held on a new course but using familiar roads largely comprising multiple circuits of Hodnet – Shawbury – Shawbirch triangle. Mason Durant of Paramount CRT took immediate dividends at his first attempt with a sub-four hour effort to win by 1 minute 26 seconds from Bridgnorth CC’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling to take 100 Gold. Durant stopped the watch on 3 hours 58 minutes 11 seconds, over 25mph average and knew he had been in a race, riding his time trial bike four times the distance he had ever ridden it before. This, as he soon discovered, seeks out any positional weaknesses: “The 100 was a baptism of fire. The furthest I’d ridden on the TT bike was the 25 three days before. I went out steady and managed to hold the pace in the second half despite the suffering. I’m delighted to take the 100 title at the first time of asking – thanks to the organisers for getting up so early on a Sunday morning”!
Mills-Keeling didn’t only take Overall 100 Silver with his actual time of 3:59:37; he also captured Veterans 100 Gold too with a Veterans Standard of +48:25, +1:21 ahead of Paramount’s Chris Riley, as well as leading Bridgnorth CC back to the head of the Top Club Award standings by 75 points. This was a satisfying morning’s work which saw him narrow the gap at the top of the Friction Series and Friction Veterans Series standings to team mate Tim Beardmore, with Mills-Keeling commenting: “I was strangely looking forward to it. I knew the triangle from my early Wrekinsport days, the first two laps I took maybe a little too hard, so I backed off and just cruised the rest. Really enjoyed it and missed the rain, thanks to everyone involved”.
Beardmore however had a more torrid time of it despite taking the Overall and Veterans 100 Bronze. Having suffered in the classic Anfield BC 100 he again had to fight through the pain to even make it to the finish line, taking the Overall by a slim 48 seconds from Riley in 4:05:42, but capturing the Veterans by an altogether more comfortable margin of +19:31 from North Shropshire Wheeler James Neale after recording +43:22. Beardmore explained: “This was my second 100 of the season, and unfortunately I had the same issues. My lower back was extremely painful from 50 miles in, meaning I really struggled to put any power out. I was peddling on one leg at times. I almost packed in at 60 miles, but managed to plod on until the end. Well done everyone who completed the course; and a massive thanks to the organisers”.
Despite missing out on Overall Bronze Riley went home with a brace of medals after capturing Veterans 100 Silver and, with Simon Romei, backing up Durant to take Team 100 Gold in a combined 12:27:36. Riley showed the importance of keeping energy levels up by a regular feeding, which if not done correctly at this distance can see riders run out of fuel: “A lovely morning for the 100, and despite my reservations the course wasn’t half bad. I ate one more gel than I did during the Anfield event which clearly made me four minutes quicker – thanks to the SCCA”.
Romei meanwhile was over the moon to take a County medal with his 4:22:55 effort, adding: “Absolutely chuffed to bits to take 100 Championship Team Gold. Both my team mates Chris Riley and Mason Durant raced extremely well. I also managed a personal best on this course which was tougher than the last 100 I competed in. Great result and thanks to the Shropshire CCA for such a well organised race”.
In the Women’s Championship experience counted as reigning champion Helen Tudor retained her title by 3:01 from two first-timers; Emma Serjeant and Victoria Doran. The Oswestry Paragon rider was pleased to hang onto The Women’s 100 mile Trophy in 5:05:41, fending off a strong challenge from Hafren CC’s Serjeant, and like many of the field endured an unexpected soaking towards the end of the event. She had particular thanks for event organiser Dave Drew: “A new course for the 100 this year, and I was pleased to improve on my Anfield 100 time. Well done to Emma and Victoria on their first 100s. Great work from Dave Drew putting together a new course, and thanks to all the marshals, I just wish it hadn’t rained on the last lap”.
Like many first-timers Serjeant encountered the bad patch that many riders have to grit their teeth to punch through at this distance, but put in an excellent attempt of 5:08:42 for Women’s 100 Silver. She had particular thanks for Beardmore who helped her post-race: “My first official 100 time trial; and I was so happy to have got it done! It was all going well until about 75 miles and then my body started to hurt! I’m so happy to have got through it. Well done to Helen; and thank you to Tim for carrying my bike back to my car”!
Doran also suffered, but determination and planning got her through to earn Women’s 100 Bronze in 6:12:36. She stated: “It was my first ever 100 mile time trial. I made a lot of mistakes doing my first ever 50 earlier in the season and I certainly put that experience to good use! I got my pacing, nutrition and hydration right, but it’s a long way and was a tough challenge. I had to have a few pit stops and was suffering from lower back pain, both of which slowed me down. However, I’m proud of myself for completing it, especially with limited training, and getting a bronze is the icing on the cake”!
SCCA:
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Mason Durant | Paramount CRT | S | 3:58:11 | 80 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth CC | V | 3:59:37 | 75 |
| 3 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | S | 4:05:42 | 70 |
| 4 | Christopher Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 4:06:30 | 65 |
| 5 | James Neale | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 4:17:38 | 60 |
| 6 | Simon Romei | Paramount CRT | V | 4:22:55 | 55 |
| 7 | Robie Disney | Ludlow CC | S | 4:29:34 | 50 |
| 8 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 5:05:41 | 45 |
| 9 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | WV | 5:08:42 | 40 |
| 10 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | 5:54:12 | 35 |
| 11 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | WV | 6:12:36 | 30 |
| . | Robert Elliot | Wrekinsport CC | V | DNF | . |
| . | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNS | . |
Team 100 Gold: Paramount CRT (Mason Durant, Chris Riley, Simon Romei) 12:27:36
Veterans:
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Vet +/- | Vets Points |
| 1 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth CC | V | +48:25 | 80 |
| 2 | Christopher Riley | Paramount CRT | V | +47:04 | 75 |
| 3 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | S | +43:22 | 70 |
| 4 | James Neale | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +23:51 | 65 |
| 5 | Simon Romei | Paramount CRT | V | +21:15 | 60 |
| 6 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | +14:33 | 55 |
| 7 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | WV | -00:43 | 50 |
| 8 | Ashley Kirkham | Wrekinsport CC | V | -60:02 | 45 |
| 9 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | WV | -64:37 | 40 |
Women:
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Women’s Points |
| 1 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 5:05:41 | 80 |
| 2 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | WV | 5:08:42 | 75 |
| 3 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | WV | 6:12:36 | 70 |
Top Club Award:
| Pos’n | Club | Points |
| 1 | Paramount CRT | 200 |
| 2 | Bridgnorth CC | 145 |
| 3 | Wrekinsport CC | 65 |
| 4 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
| 5 | Ludlow CC | 50 |
| 6 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 45 |
| 7 | Hafren CC | 40 |
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 | 705 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth CC | V | 605 |
| 3 | Tomos Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 500 |
| 4 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 360 |
| 5 | Graeme Donnell | Revolutions Racing | V | 350 |
| 6 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 335 |
| 7 | Mason Durant | Paramount CRT | S | 250 |
| =8 | Daniel Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 220 |
| =8 | Dean Callister | Revolutions Racing | S | 220 |
| 10 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 160 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
| Position | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | 740 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth CC | 665 |
| 3 | Graeme Donnell | Revolutions Racing | 505 |
| 4 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | 460 |
| 5 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 340 |
| 6 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 295 |
| 7 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | 290 |
| 8 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 265 |
| 9 | Andrew Rose | Revolutions Racing | 185 |
| =10 | Robert Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | 170 |
| =10 | Simon Romei | Paramount CRT | 170 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 540 |
| 2 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | 485 |
| 3 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 435 |
| 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 | Bridgnorth CC | 1395 |
| 2 | Wrekinsport CC | 1320 |
| 3 | Paramount CRT | 930 |
| 4 | Revolutions Racing | 815 |
| 5 | Hafren CC | 505 |
| 6 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 300 |
| 7 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 180 |
| 8 | Ludlow CC | 80 |
| 9 | Holohan Coaching Race Team | 60 |
| 10 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 10 |
| =11 | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 5 |
| =11 | Nova Raiders | 5 |