The 19th and penultimate round of the Friction Hydraulics Series saw just one more championship medal decided and Wrekinsport set an almost insurmountable lead in their quest to seal the Top Club Award in their 100th anniversary year. Held on the Tern Hill – Shawbirch course, the North Shropshire Wheelers 25 was won overall by WattShop rider Grant Bigham in a fine time of 50 minutes 32 seconds, hailing from Stone, Bigham is often seen at local events and his comments reveal why: “A mega event which was really well run. It’s actually fairly local to me but that was my first time racing the 25 course. A good, fast and challenging out and back, it was nice to pick up the tailwind off the turn. Conditions were good on the day so I’m really happy with my ride, I squeezed out all the watts I had. Really appreciate the organisers and volunteers for their time and effort, there’s a great local community of clubs and riders – I love racing the Shropshire events”!

County honours were taken by Holohan Coaching’s David Griffiths in 52:41, elevating him into the Top 10 Overall. Riding his highly unusual TriRig Omni monocoque which presents minimal resistance to the air Griffiths revealed that racing came as a relief after a busy fortnight, indicating he could potentially have gone even faster if not tired: “I’m just thankful to get out on the bike after two weeks solid house moving and gardening! Well done to Grant for a cracking ride”.

Making his first appearance in the 2022 Friction Series Wrekinsport’s Chris Halford led his team home to a huge 235 point addition to their goal of creating something special in their 100th year. With 15 riders the club made up over half of the County field to increase their lead to 425 points, with Halford scoring 55 thanks to his County runner-up spot in 55:10 and Tomos Hales adding 50 points with 56:16. Halford commented: “A great turn out by Wrekinsport, and great conditions to race. I managed to pace it reasonably well”. Hales added: “An early start and I found it hard to get going. Happy to get Wrekinsport some points, thanks for North Shropshire Wheelers for hosting”.

Another Wrekinsport rider took her by now customary double win in the Friction Veterans and Women’s Series as Deb Hutson-Lumb had a good ride, stopping the watch on 1:00:28 despite Women’s Champion Helen Tudor posting her fastest ever 25 in the County of 1:06:38; and taking Veterans in +15:48 ahead of Halford on +12:46. She revealed she had more left in the tank however and was feeling good: “The first 25 this year where my legs have felt like they could push on. I was pleased with the ride and am looking forward to the next and final 25, a great event and thanks to all involved”.

Friction Junior Series Champion Chester Romei rode unopposed to a fine 1:01:52, but with only a maximum 60 points available in the final event Ben Southgate took Junior Silver without a further turn of a pedal. The youngster as usual made a concise comment when told of the win: “I am happy with the effort I put in”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 19

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 David Griffiths Holohan Coaching Race Team S 52:41 60
2 Christopher Halford Wrekinsport CC V 55:10 55
3 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 56:16 50
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 57:15 45
5 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 57:31 40
6 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 58:44 35
7 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 59:08 30
8 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 59:43 25
9 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 1:00:28 20
10 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 1:00:44 15
11 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers J 1:01:52 10
12 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:03:57 5
13 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:04:10 5
14 Andrew Hellowell Wrekinsport CC V 1:05:04 5
15 Daniel Lamsdell Wrekinsport CC S 1:05:16 5
16 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 1:05:32 5
17 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:06:38 5
18 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:10:09 5
19 Matthew Price Wrekinsport CC V 1:12:30 5
20 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 1:13:28 5
21 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V 1:14:47 5
22 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC WV 1:15:44 5
23 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V 1:16:56 5
24 Terry Price North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:19:51 5
25 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV 1:20:27 5
26 James Percival Wrekinsport CC V 1:20:56 5
27 Stuart Wortley Wrekinsport CC V 1:21:39 5
28 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 1:29:39 5
. Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V DNF .
. Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V DNS .
. Bryn Davies Hafren CC V DNS .
. Gwyneth Parry Paramount CRT W DNS .
. Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V DNS .
. James Powell North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Simon Romei Paramount CRT V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 19

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV +15:48 60
2 Christopher Halford Wrekinsport CC V +12:46 55
3 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +11:37 50
4 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +11:13 45
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +9:31 40
6 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V +8:51 35
7 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +7:53 30
8 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V +7:38 25
9 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V +6:55 20
10 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V +4:26 15
11 Andrew Hellowell Wrekinsport CC V +2:39 10
12 Simon Jones Hafren CC V +1:35 5
13 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV -0:39 5
14 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V -2:04 5
15 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC WV -2:30 5
16 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V -4:15 5
17 Matthew Price Wrekinsport CC V -4:34 5
18 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV -6:19 5
19 James Percival Wrekinsport CC V -6:33 5
20 Stuart Wortley Wrekinsport CC V -11:25 5
21 Terry Price North Shropshire Wheelers V -12:08 5
22 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV -14:30 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 19

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 1:00:28 60
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:06:38 55
3 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 1:13:28 50
4 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC WV 1:15:44 45
5 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV 1:20:27 40
6 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC WV 1:29:39 35
. Gwyneth Parry Paramount CRT W DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 19

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers J 1:01:52 60

Top Club Award – Round 19

Pos’n Club Points
1 Wrekinsport CC 235
2 North Shropshire Wheelers 75
3 Holohan Coaching Race Team 60
=4 Ludlow CC 45
=4 Paramount CRT 45
=6 Hafren CC 5
=6 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

Cumulative Standings after nineteen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 725
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 690
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 640
4 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 480
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 475
6 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 410
7 Mason Durant Paramount CRT S 305
8 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 275
9 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers S 235
10 David Griffiths Holohan Coaching Race Team S 225

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 745
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 685
3 Chris Riley Paramount CRT 605
4 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 590
5 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing 555
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 485
7 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 405
8 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 360
9 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing 265
10 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers 210

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 715
2 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 645
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 610
4 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 490
5 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 165
6 Helen Blake Wrekinsport CC 90
7 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers 85
8 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 65
=9 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT 60
=9 Robin Jones Bridgnorth CC 60

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers 405
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 2210
2 Bridgnorth CC 1785
3 Paramount CRT 1185
4 Revolutions Racing 985
5 Hafren CC 680
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 520
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 340
8 Ludlow CC 280
9 Holohan Coaching Race Team 225
10 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 15
=11 Newport (Shropshire) CC 5
=11 Nova Raiders  5