Riders wilted in the oppressive heat of Round 17 of The Friction Hydraulics Series as Wrekinsport CC presented their 10 mile Open on the Hopton Chapel – Tern Hill course in baking conditions that affected some more than others. Post-race comments showed just how much some riders struggled, as despite scorching conditions which usually produce the fastest times the sheer power of the sun caused some to suffer badly. One rider however seemed to be unaffected as Tomos Hales took his first ever Open win in a great time of 21 minutes 8 seconds. Hales was also happy to win his own club’s event and lead the club to stretching their advantage in the Top Club Award to 215 points as the club home in on their 100th anniversary target of a first victory in this competition since 2014, but with three rounds to go it is all to play for.

Hales had spent the week racing in the heat and had most likely got used to the change of core operating temperature, and was self-deprecating in his comments: “Very happy with my first ever open win, and made even better that it was hosted by my own club Wrekinsport. It was the hottest conditions I have ever raced in and I think I just suffered less than everyone else. I had raced earlier that week in the heat and maybe I adapted to it. Just who would have thought a ginger would have won in that heat! Thanks for Wrekinsport for it organising, and all the marshals that had to put up with the heat”.

Revolutions Racing’s Dean Callister took the runner-up spot 10 seconds behind Hales in 21:18 and showed graphically how he knew things were not going to be easy just getting the four miles from HQ at Shawbury to the start line: “I’ve never raced in temperatures like that so was unsure how the body would react. I knew I was in trouble when warming up. I faded a lot on the return leg with nothing to give. Well done to Tomos for his first open win”.

Series leader Tim Beardmore also suffered, with what hot air was available in the relatively still conditions affecting his normal power output significantly as he crossed the line in 21:35: “Hottest race I think I’ve ever done, not a particularly pleasant experience. I really struggled with my breathing and it felt like there was no oxygen, consequently my power was well down. I was very happy to finish the race. Well done to Tomos who seemed to be the only rider to cope with the conditions; and thanks to all at Wrekinsport for organising”. Reigning Series Champion Beardmore now holds a 45 point lead over Hales, who finally overtook Beardmore’s Bridgnorth CC team mate into the Silver medal position.

Beardmore now has a lead of 65 points in the Friction Veterans Series from Mills-Keeling after taking the runner-up spot on the day in +5:16. But there was no stopping Deb Hutson-Lumb as she took victory in +6:28 as well as the win in the Friction Women’s Series with a fine ride of 23:40. However she showed the effect the temperature had on racing at speed in her post-race comments: “I’ve never raced in those temperatures before or sat up for a drink on a 10. My heart rate was through the roof before the turn. I was glad to finish and drip my way back to HQ – kudos to everyone who raced, and massive thanks to marshals standing out in the baking heat”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 17

Posn Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 21:08 60
2 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 21:18 55
3 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 21:35 50
4 David Griffiths Holohan Coaching Race Team S 21:48 45
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 22:37 40
6 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 22:54 35
7 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing V 22:56 30
8 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 23:14 25
9 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 23:31 20
10 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:40 15
11 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 24:17 10
12 Andrew Lacon Revolutions Racing S 24:19 5
13 Daniel Ramsbottom SCCA Private Member S 24:22 5
14 Richard Howes Wrekinsport CC V 24:27 5
15 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V 24:35 5
16 Allan Henderson Wrekinsport CC S 24:42 5
17 Ben Wood Wrekinsport CC S 24:44 5
18 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 25:38 5
19 Paul Mulready Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 25:51 5
20 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 26:47 5
21 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 26:48 5
22 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 27:01 5
23 Dave Poulter Wrekinsport CC V 28:07 5
24 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC V 28:18 5
25 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 28:59 5
26 Helen Blake Wrekinsport CC W 30:03 5
27 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V 31:20 5
28 Stuart Wortley Wrekinsport CC V 31:36 5
29 James Percival Wrekinsport CC V 31:55 5
30 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 39:15 5
. Ronald Perks Wrekinsport CC V DNF .
. Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Peter Escritt Nova Raiders CC V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 17

Vets Posn Name Club Cat Vets +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV +6:28 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +5:16 55
=3 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing V +4:16 50
=3 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V +4:16 50
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +4:09 40
6 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V +3:20 35
7 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +2:50 30
8 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V +2:43 25
9 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +2:40 20
10 Richard Howes Wrekinsport CC V +2:29 15
11 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V +1:52 10
12 Paul Mulready Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +1:05 5
13 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +0:56 5
14 Dave Poulter Wrekinsport CC V +0:06 5
15 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV -0:12 5
16 Simon Jones Hafren CC V -0:15 5
17 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC V -0:41 5
18 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V -1:50 5
19 James Percival Wrekinsport CC V -2:36 5
20 Stuart Wortley Wrekinsport CC V -3:52 5
21 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV -9:34 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 17

Women’s Posn Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:40 60
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 27:01 55
3 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 28:59 50
4 Helen Blake Wrekinsport CC W 30:03 45
5 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 39:15 40

Top Club Award – Round 17

No Club Points
1 Wrekinsport CC 195
2 Revolutions Racing 115
3 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 95
4 Holohan Coaching Race Team 45
5 Ludlow CC 10
=6 Hafren CC 5
=6 North Shropshire Wheelers 5
=6 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

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 715
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 670
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 625
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 475
5 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 410
6 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 390
7 Mason Durant Paramount CRT S 305
8 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 275
9 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 220
10 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 180

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 740
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 675
3 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing 555
4 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 530
5 Chris Riley Paramount CRT 505
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 485
7 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 360
8 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 345
9 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing 265
10 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC 180

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 705
2 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 635
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 550
4 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 490
5 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 130
6 Helen Blake Wrekinsport CC 90
7 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 65
8 Robin Jones Bridgnorth CC 60
9 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers 45

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers 345
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 Wrekinsport CC 1885
2 Bridgnorth CC 1670
3 Paramount CRT 1045
4 Revolutions Racing 985
5 Hafren CC 670
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 420
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 330
=8 Holohan Coaching Race Team 165
=8 Ludlow CC 165
10 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 15
=11 Newport (Shropshire) CC 5
=11 Nova Raiders  5