Just three seconds saw Wrekinsport’s Tomos Hales lift The Freeston Trophy for the first time as he narrowly beat 2018’s winner Dan Watts in the blue riband event of the Shropshire cycling calendar, The Shropshire Championship 25. Held on the fast Berriew – Four Crosses course, Round 14 of The Friction Hydraulics Series held a last minute panic for Helen Tudor, suffering the organiser’s nightmare – traffic lights popping up on the course shortly before the finish line. Thankfully they disappeared during the day leaving a clear run for riders on this fast course – albeit with a headwind to contend with on the return leg. Hales scorched around the course in 53 minutes exactly averaging 28.3mph and had reigning Friction Series Champion Tim Beardmore as a rabbit starting a minute ahead. Hales was full of determination as a result, stating: “One of my best performances on a bike racing the SCCA 25 mil Championship. I was very quick on the outward leg and it didn’t really feel too hard on the way back. I had my quickest ever 10 mile time let alone my 25 mile time so set a huge personal best. Big thanks to Helen for organising; and to all the marshals that helped out”.

Watts was up for the battle, but his 53:03 consigned him to Silver in a close tussle for the medals as he pushed out Paramount CRT’s Mason Durant by 20 seconds. Watts’ post-race comments were tongue-in-cheek as he rued not making it a double: “Another good and close battle with Tomos, this time just losing out to him by a mere three seconds – I must remember to pay the timekeeper bribe money in the future”!

Despite Hales slicing through the wind many other riders found it tricky, including Bronze medallist Durant who stopped the watch on 53:23. Durant’s height is a definite advantage for power but not so much for cheating the wind, and he suffered on the return leg, as he explained: “The 25 went well. I went off strong and held a good power throughout. The cross-headwind made the return leg tough, chipping away at the average speed. Congratulations to Tomos and Dan; and thanks to the organisers and volunteers”.

In the Women’s 25 Championship Wrekinsport’s Deb Hutson-Lumb took The Brian and Gill Morrison Trophy with a fabulous effort of 1:01:00 which extended her lead at the top of the Friction Women’s Series, and made it a double by winning the Veteran’s 25 Championship too with a strong +15:37 – but it nearly wasn’t to be after she almost fell off and considered giving up due to issues caused by the crosswind: “I nearly turned round at the first roundabout after close encounters with a Coke can and the kerb. My legs felt good though and I pushed on. The last two miles were tough, but I was really pleased to see my power numbers on the up – many thanks to all marshals and organisers”.

Hutson-Lumb’s closest rival in the Women’s was Hafren CC’s Jan Davies, who had never ridden a 25 before, but went home having won Silver in 1:06:02 as doubts were banished about how she would cope with the distance: “I really enjoyed my first 25 miler, the distance allowed me to get into a good rhythm. I surprised myself with my time – thanks to Mark Hill for his support, and all the organisers and marshals who encouraged all of us along the way”. Davies pushed Oswestry Paragon’s Tudor into the Bronze medal position by 1:04, and who was full of praise for Davies: “A little bit of organiser stress when traffic lights appeared on the course but all OK in the end. This is one of my favourite courses; well done to Jan taking silver in her first 25”.

With Hutson-Lumb also taking Gold in the Veterans 25 Championship Tim Beardmore went home with the consolation of stretching his lead over Bridgnorth CC team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling in the Friction Veterans Series after taking Veteran’s Silver with +13:49, 12 seconds ahead after the age adjustment factors had been applied. This was a relatively quiet evening by Beardmore’s high standards, and he explained how his race didn’t go to plan: “I didn’t want to get caught by faster riders starting behind me, but ended up going out too hard. I got to the turn and realised I had misjudged the wind and ended up dying on the return leg. Congratulations to Tomos on a great time; and thanks to everyone who helped organise“. Mills-Keeling meanwhile had his mind on the next race taking place just three days later – the Shropshire 100 Championship, and that thought alone was enough to keep him from performing too many heroics: “I always enjoy the Welshpool time trials; well organised and lovely cake at the HQ. I held back a little thinking of the 100”.

That left the Team award, given on cumulative time for the fastest three riders representing a club, with Wrekinsport trio of Hales, Phil Roberts and Adam Mumford posting a combined 2:50:25, beating Paramount by 5:02. Roberts stated: “Extremely happy and proud to have represented Wrekinsport in club colours and to take Team Gold. Tomos and Deb did exceptionally well to take Gold in the Men’s and Women’s.  Individually I rode my 25 personal best a day after the Wrekinsport 25. I’m super happy with my form at the moment; and to have two strong rides in two days”. Mumford added: “Very pleased I could fill that third spot. Fast outbound, but had to grit the teeth on the return leg in to the wind”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 14

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 53:00 60
2 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 53:03 55
3 Mason Durant Paramount CRT S 53:23 50
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 54:19 45
5 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 54:21 40
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 56:08 35
7 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 57:38 30
8 Philip Roberts Wrekinsport CC S 57:51 25
9 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 59:34 20
10 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 59:50 15
11 Alex Hall Wrekinsport CC S 1:00:22 10
12 Neil Vose Hafren CC V 1:00:33 5
13 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:00:46 5
14 Mark Hill Hafren CC V 1:00:49 5
15 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 1:01:00 5
16 Peter Fletcher Oswestry Paragon CC V 1:02:20 5
17 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V 1:02:32 5
18 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:02:35 5
19 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:03:11 5
20 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 1:04:26 5
21 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 1:04:52 5
22 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:05:17 5
23 Andrew Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:05:18 5
24 Jan Davies Hafren CC WV 1:06:02 5
25 James Elgar Paramount CRT S 1:06:05 5
26 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:07:06 5
27 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V 1:07:55 5
28 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 1:08:12 5
29 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT WV 1:12:03 5
30 Richard Goddard Newport (Shropshire) CC V 1:12:19 5
31 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 1:12:24 5
. Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Rob Kerr Oswestry Paragon CC V DNS .
. Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W DNS .
. Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V DNS .
. Alex Leek Wrekinsport CC S DNS .

Championship 25 Team Gold

Wrekinsport CC (Tomos Hales/Phil Roberts/Adam Mumford) 2:50:25

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 14

Vet’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vet’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV +15:37 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +13:49 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +13:37 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +11:35 45
5 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +11:29 40
6 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV +11:01 35
7 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V +8:39 30
8 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +8:19 25
9 Mark Hill Hafren CC V +8:18 20
10 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +8:12 15
11 Jan Davies Hafren CC WV +8:06 10
12 Neil Vose Hafren CC V +8:04 5
13 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V +7:53 5
14 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +6:32 5
15 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +6:12 5
16 Peter Fletcher Oswestry Paragon CC V +5:50 5
17 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V +5:46 5
18 Andrew Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +5:33 5
19 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +5:15 5
20 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V +3:58 5
21 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT WV +3:06 5
22 Simon Jones Hafren CC V +2:27 5
23 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV +0:25 5
24 Richard Goddard Newport (Shropshire) CC V -2:23 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 14

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 1:01:00 60
2 Jan Davies Hafren CC WV 1:06:02 55
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:07:06 50
4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 1:08:12 45
5 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT WV 1:12:03 40
6 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 1:12:24 35
. Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W DNS .

Top Club Award – Round 14

Pos’n Club Points
1 Wrekinsport CC 125
2 Paramount CRT 100
3 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 85
4 Hafren CC 55
5 Oswestry Paragon CC 30
6 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 20
7 North Shropshire Wheelers 10
8 Newport (Shropshire) CC 5

Cumulative Standings after fourteen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 685
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 500
3 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 370
4 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 300
5 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 265
6 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 240
7 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 215
8 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 205
=9 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 190
=9 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 190

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club 700
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club 545
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 515
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 330
5 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers 280
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 270
7 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers 230
=8 John Westhead Paramount CRT 210
=8 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 210
10 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers 175

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 550
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 455
3 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT 295
4 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 195
5 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers 155
6 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 115
7 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT 85
8 Catherine Coley Bridgnorth CC 60
=9 Jan Davies Hafren CC 55
=9 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT 55

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Chester Romei Paramount CRT 120
2 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 115
3 Tristan Harvey Ludlow CC 60

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 1300
2 Wrekinsport CC 1175
3 Paramount CRT 975
4 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 585
5 North Shropshire Wheelers 465
6 Hafren CC 380
7 Ludlow CC 300
8 Oswestry Paragon CC 230
9 Revolutions Racing 180
10 Newport (Shropshire) CC 5