Riders endured a soaking to bring the curtain down on the Friction Hydraulics Series for 2024 as a third straight race on the Prees – Battlefield course saw the final medals decided in Round 18, the West Cheshire TTCA 25. Won overall by Josh Williams in a superb time of 51 minutes 21 seconds, County honours were taken by Paramount’s Simon Romei in 55:48, leading his team to their first Top Club Award victory after a hugely competitive season. It seemed more a case of endurance and making the most of the limited opportunities left to race in 2024 for Romei as he battled through the rain and headwind south along an already tough rolling course which can soon sap the ambitions of racers. However he was pleased to consolidate his Overall Silver and Veteran’s Bronze medals with the County win and Veteran’s win in +11:13 ahead of Deb Hutson-Lumb in +9:36 who is no fan of cold, wet weather racing. Romei commented: “Super happy to have claimed the WCTTCA 25 County winner on yet another tough morning racing. We haven’t had much luck with the weather this season so it was a case of getting the job done and working hard on both the outward and return legs. I have to say a massive thank you to all the marshals along with the organisers for making these events happen, you all do a brilliant job and I know we all appreciate your time and effort on an early wet Sunday morning”.

Romei coped better in conditions that the Friction Series Gold medallist Tomos Hales, and this head-to-head battle will definitely be one to watch out for when the 2025 season commences. Hales stopped the watch 36 seconds off Romei’s pace in 56:24, stating: “Nice to do the last one of the Series. It was a tough head wind out and a wet last five miles. Well done to Josh for the storming win, and Simon for the County win; and thanks to the organisers and marshals”.

A week after recording a big Course personal best of 58:22 Alvydas Janusauskas was at it again in a season where he has gone from strength to strength. Janusauskas has been a key contributor to that Top Club Award victory, and here ended his Open season in some style with another course best of 57:27 for third spot. His feelings were certainly mixed – ending the season on a high, but stating what many feel about a course pressed into action by necessity in 2024 becoming all too familiar: “The WCTTCA 25 is my biggest highlight of the year on the Battlefield course for sure! I went out strong, felt the pace coming along nicely and felt super strong before starting the return leg. I believe I had under a 57 minute mark and was heading towards to it, until the marvellous British forecast decided to pour rain on the road which forced me to take it a few notches back in the last three miles to finish off strong due to high tyre pressures and a steamed helmet visor. Sketchy and a bit dangerous, so I lost chunk of time on the finale! Needless to say, I hate that Battlefield course – lumpy and draggy like hell, but if I play my cards well, definitely going to get into 56 minutes next season”.

A solid 4th spot in 59:06 was enough to secure Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies the overall Series Bronze in a tight battle for that medal, with Chris riley and Jonathan Mills-Keeling also in the hunt. This added to Davies’ already sealed Veterans Bronze to give double cause for celebration given the challenges faced earlier in the season: “Very happy and surprised with the medal positions, I wasn’t expecting a medal placement. I’m not as quick as I hoped this season – started off well but then got ill. I had some close run races with Chris and Jonathan early on in the season, coming second best later in the season, again loosing a bit of form after a couple of weeks break. No touching Tomos and Simon though, both on stunning form – well done to them! And one to watch next season, Alvydas who just got quicker as the season went on, really impressing in the last couple of races with a big jump in form, well done to him. Thanks to everyone involved in organising and volunteering for another great season, despite some challenges along the way, with course closures, last minute changes and terrible weather. However, on the plus side; some great new courses that I really enjoyed – looking forward to next year already”.

Female Series leader Hayley Wells took another fine win in 1:02:02, Beating Wrekinsport team mate Deb Hutson-Lumb who finished in 1:05:54 – two riders Davies both had praise for in his final season-spanning comments: “Not to forget the female title, with Hayley absolutely smashing it, superb riding; and Deb having another great season, very consistent”. Wells has indeed had a superb season, only her second time trialling, and she explained the attraction of racing for her: “I couldn’t resist one last blast on the Battlefield course this season. It felt like a tough out leg, I probably pushed too hard so flagged on the way home; then I hit the rain with around three miles to go. The Friction Hydraulics Series has been a brilliant Series to follow this year; and thanks to the organisers as always”!

Two of the final three remaining medals came in the newly inaugurated Road Bike Series with all three medallists in competition usurped by a first timer as Paramount rider William Preston entered the fray – and expressed surprise when contact for a comment: “I didn’t even realise I’d won! I had a good ride, it was actually my first time doing that course and I felt that it suited me quite well. It was my last competitive outing for the year so I wanted to end it on a good note. I was happy with the way I paced it and I thought I might have just missed the rain, but coming into the last stretch it got me”! Preston ended up on top with a handicapped 57:18, taking the win from Gold medallist Mark Fenn in 1:02:35.

But interest was on the close battle for Silver, with just 10 points separating Paramount’s Ian Townsend and Wrekinsport’s Ashley Kirkham prior to the race. Townsend took that Silver in 1:07:42 in a remarkable achievement for Paramount who took eight of the Top 10 positions, showing how much the club has taken this new competition to their hearts. He stated: “A big thank you to everyone involved in racing and organising each of the events, collating all the results. A special thanks to Chris Riley for his encouragement, enthusiasm and explaining that nothing comes close to racing up and down the A49 in the pouring rain at an ungodly hour on a Sunday morning – who knew”!

Kirkham took Road Bike Bronze in a season where circumstances meant he had to rapidly alter his goals, coming away in some style as he explained: “I only planned on using the roadie for the early season lumpier courses but then my time trial bike availability and injury meant I had to swap back mid-season. Series Bronze is some compensation for slower than usual times this year though. Congratulations to Mark and Ian for Gold and Silver; and thanks to all the organisers and volunteers”.

That left the final medal, Junior Silver which went to another Paramount rider, Chester Romei, book ending a nice haul of family silverware along with father Simon. He stated: “Really happy to take Silver in the Friction Hydraulics Series. It has not been a good season at all for me, so to see this was a big shock. I would like to say thank you to everyone involved in running these events and to marshals that are out on course keeping riders safe”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 18

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 55:48 60
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 56:24 55
3 Alvydas Janusauskas Paramount CRT S 57:27 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 59:06 45
5 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 59:42 40
6 Richard Nickless Shropshire CCA V 1:00:10 35
7 William Preston Paramount CRT V 1:01:34 30
8 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 1:02:02 25
9 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 1:03:36 20
10 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 1:05:54 15
11 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 1:10:22 10
12 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 1:11:30 5
13 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 1:12:48 5
14 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 1:17:26 5
. Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 18

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V +11:13 60
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV +9:36 55
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +8:47 50
4 William Preston Paramount CRT V +8:42 45
5 Richard Nickless Shropshire CCA V +7:58 40
6 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V +3:25 35
7 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV +1:22 30
8 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V -1:42 25
9 Simon Jones Hafren CC V -4:18 20
10 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V -10:25 15

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship – Round 18

Female Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Female Points
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 1:02:02 60
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 1:05:54 55
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC FV 1:12:48 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship – Round 18

RB Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat RB Adj Time RB Points
1 William Preston Paramount CRT V 57:18 60
2 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 1:02:35 55
3 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 1:07:42 50
4 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 1:16:25 45

Final Cumulative Standings after eighteen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 695
2 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 680
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 555
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 525
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT V 440
=6 Alvydas Janusauskas Paramount CRT S 380
=6 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 380
8 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC F 360
9 Dean Callister Aerologic RT S 295
10 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 220
11 Paul Horton Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 200
12 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 165
13 Devon Round Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 160
14 Matthew Garthwaite Newport (Shropshire) CC S 155
15 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC FV 145
16 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 130
=17 Mark Pritchard Aerologic RT S 115
=17 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V 115
19 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 110
=20 Mason Durant Paramount CRT S 105
=20 Oli Freeman Wrekinsport CC S 105

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Simon Romei Paramount CRT 710
2 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 670
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 625
4 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 520
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Aerologic RT 510
6 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA 410
7 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 340
8 Colin Wells Paramount CRT 325
9 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC 305
10 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC 190
11 Mark Hill Hafren CC 155
12 Simon Jones Hafren CC 150
=13 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers 125
=13 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT 125
=13 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC 125
=13 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT 125
17 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT 95
=18 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers 90
=18 Richard Nickless Shropshire CCA 90
=20 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers 80
=20 Jonathan Goh Paramount CRT 80

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship

Female Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Hayley Wells Wrekinsport CC 740
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 655
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 445
4 Emma Brown Paramount CRT 190
5 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT 150
6 Jan Davies Hafren CC 135
7 Sorrel Williams SCCA Private Member 90
8 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT 75
=9 Caitlin Burke Paramount CRT 35
=9 Kathryn Rossiter North Shropshire Wheelers 35

Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship

Road Bike Pos’n Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Mark Fenn Shropshire CCA V 690
2 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 390
3 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 375
4 Paul Duncan Paramount CRT V 175
5 David Cannell Paramount CRT V 155
6 Emma Brown Paramount CRT F 140
7 Benjamin Nickolls Paramount CRT V 130
8 Jonathan Goh Paramount CRT V 120
9 William Preston Paramount CRT S 105
10 Douglas Brown Paramount CRT V 85
11 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V 80
=12 Billy Panter Paramount CRT S 60
=12 Hugh Ashworth Paramount CRT V 60
=12 Matthew Garthwaite Newport (Shropshire) CC S 60
=12 Sam Holwill Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 60
=12 Thomas Herbert Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 60
=12 William Preston Paramount CRT V 60
=18 Chris Childs Bridgnorth Cycling Club S 55
=18 Paul Bailey Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 55
=18 Peter Rickard Paramount CRT V 55
=18 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V 55

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 180
2 Chester Romei Paramount CRT 60

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Paramount CRT 2790
2 Wrekinsport CC 1720
3 Aerologic RT 985
4 Hafren CC 875
5 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 315
6 Oswestry Paragon CC 310
7 Newport (Shropshire) CC 250
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 165
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 145
10 Ludlow CC 130