The Women’s Course Record was smashed as Deb Hutson-Lumb showed she is right back on form in the Velotik RT 15. The Nova Raider sliced an incredible 1 minute 50 seconds off Rebecca Richardson’s old benchmark to stop the watch on 35 minutes 36 seconds, also taking a fabulous Veterans win in Round 17 of the Friction Hydraulics Series. After a late start to her season the Nova Raider had hauled herself into the Bronze medal position in the Women’s Series and was delighted with her performance in this event, which is normally run on March but delayed due to a Covid-19 ban on racing during Lockdown 3. She stated: “I was really pleased to get the Women’s course record. It was a good morning for it and a bit warmer than the usual March event. It felt super quick on the Tiddly leg where my bike handling skills let me down a bit – many thanks to Velotic RT and everyone helping out”.

Hutson-Lumb wasn’t finished there either, taking a commanding win in the Veterans Series too with +9:37, with Bridgnorth CC’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling getting closest in +7:16, six seconds ahead of North Shropshire Wheelers’ Gino Trasatti. The least seen of the ‘standard’ distances, the 15 mile course offers a refreshing change to riders, starting on the Hodnet bypass and continues along the A53 turning at ‘Side saddle’ crossroads before a quick leg through Ellerdine Heath, a turn to the A442 and finishing near Woollerton.

It was a fabulous morning for Nova Raiders as Hutson-Lumb’s team mate Dean Callister took the County win by 70 seconds for his second win of the Series, stopping the watch on 31:29 – although he wasn’t confident in his form having been off the bike after catching a bug: “I wasn’t sure where my form was at as I hadn’t turned a pedal for two weeks due to illness. Got though it, but was more painful than normal. I enjoyed the course and a nice morning. I put in a huge personal best from two years ago so happy with that – thanks to Velotik RT for putting the event on”. Callister and Hutson-Lumb added big vital points to Nova Raiders’ defence of the Top Club Award, opening up their gap to Bridgnorth CC to 135 points at the head of the standings.

Callister has had a great battle with Revolutions Racing’s Henri Bedford all season in the SB Series so it was perhaps predictable that Bedford would once again be snapping at his heels as the 17 year-old took the runner-up spot in 32:39 as he took advantage of Tim Beardmore’s absence to narrow the gap at the head of the Friction Series to just 30 points. The quandary with a 15 is how to pace it because it is so rarely seen, but Bedford seemed to enjoy the experience: “I have only done one other 15 before and I enjoyed doing another one this season. Conditions didn’t seem great, but it was great fun anyways – thanks to Velotik RT for hosting”.

Bedford wasn’t the only rider trying the distance for the second time as Mills-Keeling added County third to that Veteran’s runner-up place with a fine 33:02, 23 seconds off Bedford’s effort. The Bridgnorth CC rider appeared to like the variation from the norm: “Only the second time I’ve ever ridden a 15 and it made a nice change, thanks to all involved”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 17

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 31:29 60
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 32:39 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 33:02 50
4 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC V 35:08 45
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 35:36 40
6 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 37:19 35
7 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 40:34 30
8 Mark Stocks Newport (Shropshire) CC V 40:51 25
9 Mathew Parry Oswestry Paragon CC S 40:59 20
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 41:04 15
11 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 41:10 10
12 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 41:57 5
. Ben Upton Bridgnorth Cycling Club V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 17

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV +9:37 60
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +7:16 55
3 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +7:10 50
4 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC V +6:18 45
5 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV +5:27 40
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +3:30 35
7 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:14 30
8 Mark Stocks Newport (Shropshire) CC V +0:17 25
9 Simon Jones Hafren CC V -0:44 20

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 17

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders CC WV 35:36 60
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 41:04 55
3 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 41:10 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 17

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 32:39 60

Top Club Award – Round 17

Pos’n Club Points
1 Nova Raiders 100
2 Revolutions Racing 55
3 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 50
4 Wrekinsport CC 45
=5 North Shropshire Wheelers 35
=5 Oswestry Paragon CC 35
7 Hafren CC 30
8 Newport (Shropshire) CC 25
9 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 15

Cumulative Standings after seventeen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 660
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 630
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 535
4 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 450
5 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 400
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 305
7 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 300
7 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 300
9 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 295
10 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 285

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 735
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 660
3 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC 460
4 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders 415
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 410
6 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 345
7 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member 325
8 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders 310
9 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers 220
10 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 210

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 615
2 Alison Dockney Market Drayton CC 365
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 360
4 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 335
5 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 285
6 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 255
7 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 245
=8 Alison Salthouse SCCA Private Member 130
=8 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 130
10 Lauren Turley Nova Raiders 125

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing 730
=2 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 55
=2 Harry Corney Market Drayton CC 55
=2 Max Bufton Hafren CC 55
5 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50
6 Noah White Mid Shropshire Wheelers 45

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders  1500
2 Bridgnorth CC 1365
3 Oswestry Paragon CC 975
4 Wrekinsport CC 915
5 Revolutions Racing 660
6 Hafren CC 485
7 Holohan Coaching RT 340
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 270
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 200
10 Ludlow CC 165
11 Newport Shropshire CC 135
12 Paramount CRT 100
13 Clee Cycles 70
14 Market Drayton CC 60