Wrekinsport CC 10

It was a race of two halves as Storm Ellen took its toll on Round 3 of The Friction and Hydraulic Services Series, Wrekinsport CC’s 10 based on the normally fast Hodnet by-pass. Seeing its first use since 2016, the D10/23 course can catch the unwary rider out as it turns directly into the prevailing wind just at the toughest part of the course – the half mile either side of Hodnet island where the gradient rises. Gains made on the longer ‘out’ leg to the turn at Tern Hill island saw riders being bowled along – but then having to fight their way back with some reporting struggling to control their bikes and watching the mph dip, with best efforts limited to 18mph amongst the pack.

The event was won overall by Bridgnorth-based semi-professional George Mills-Keeling, riding for Ribble-Weldtite Pro Cycling, the only rider to dip below the 20 minute mark on the toughest of afternoons with 19 minutes 52 seconds, just 12 seconds off equalling Ryan Perry’s 2015 Course Record. To beat 30mph average in such hostile conditions says everything about the quality of this ride, in what Mills-Keeling described as “Some crazy, windy conditions” He elaborated: “It was a tough one, the wind was a killer on the way home. I felt good, but I went a little bit easier on the way out to compensate for the massive head wind on the way home”!

SCCA Private Member Kieran Morris took the honours amongst the affiliated riders with a strong effort of 20:42, with teenagers occupying the Top 3 spots; showing that coping with the conditions was a youngster’s game. There was a hint of sadness in Morris’ post-race comments at the end of a truncated season – even more so for the 19 year-old, who revealed: “I struggled from the off. I still had the previous week’s triathlon in my legs. A great course and a fabulous ride by George – on a windy day I even managed to find the rain! Thank you to everyone involved, it means the world to be able to race again; and well done riders – my last SCCA event this year as I am off to university”.

Making a first appearance in the Friction Series for 2020 Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ 17 year-old Ben Pierce, who shocked Junior Series leader Henri Bedford to steal the maximum 60 points on offer in the Junior Series as well as snaffle the County runners-up spot with a fine ride of 21:03, 9 seconds ahead of Bedford despite the Revolutions Racing rider posting a personal best 21:12. Pierce stated: “A great event. It was hard going on the way back but I’m still pleased with my result”.

Bedford wasn’t overly concerned however thanks to that PB, stretching his lead at the top of the Friction Junior Series, and moving up into joint lead of the Overall Friction Series, tying with Nova Raiders’ Tim Beardmore. The 16 year-old stated: “I enjoyed the lovely tailwind as I think everyone did on the way out to Tern Hill. On the way back was just a matter of hanging on and trying to get a good time. Well done to Ben for winning the Juniors, and a big thanks to Wrekinsport for hosting the event”.

Beardmore lost sole lead of the Series after finishing 5th County rider in 21:33, ironically pushed out by team mate Dean Callister by 8 seconds. Another team mate Deb Hutson-Lumb did similar to Beardmore in the Friction Veterans Series with the two entering the race tied at the top of that Series, but with Hutson-Lumb registering a fine +5:28 she earned five points more that Beardmore who was runner-up with +5:07, beating Wrekinsport’s Chris Halford into 3rd by 6 seconds. Beardmore was still pleased with his efforts however having had to fight his bike most of the way around: “The wind made it a very tough race on what is usually a fast course. Controlling the bike was difficult in the wind, especially on the return leg. I think my pacing was good given the conditions. I was happy to get runners-up in the Veterans. Well done to everyone who raced for staying upright, and a big thanks to Wrekinsport for organising another event”.

Hutson-Lumb had no such handling issues thanks to a new bike, although she did have an unscheduled stop at the turn. Her 24:04 effort was just 7 seconds off equalling Hetty Niblett’s Women’s Course Record of 23:57 set in that 2016 event as she beat off the dual challenge from Hafren CC’s Louise Hurdley and Wrekinsport’s Bethan Till who tied for the runner-up spot amongst the females in 27:24, showing how good Hutson-Lumb’s ride was. She revealed: “I was very pleased with my ride despite the wind and having to stop and unclip behind a car at the turn. My new bike felt very stable in the breeze, and with a few races in my legs now I was better able to keep the power on. That said the last mile after the Hodnet roundabout was tough – my legs were screaming to ease off and I was glad to finish. Another fabulous Wrekinsport event, and thanks to everyone involved”.

Full result:

Pos’nForenameSurnameClubCatTimeVet +/-
1George Mills-KeelingRibble Weldtite Pro CyclingS19:52
2GeorgeEvansTeam BottrillS20:08
3LukePollardRoyal Air Force CAS20:13
4KieranMorrisTeam BottrillS20:42
5BenPierceMid Shropshire WheelersJ21:03
6GrantBighamVeloRunner RTS21:04
7HenriBedfordRevolutions RacingJ21:12
8Danny Glyn RobertsClwb Beicio Egni/Energy CCS21:13
9MathewRobertsClwb Beicio Egni/Energy CCS21:22
10JoshWhiteheadCycle Club Bridgnorth RWGS21:23
11DeanCallister Nova Raiders CCS21:25
12MatIvingsBuxton CC/Sett Valley CyclesV21:33+5:03
12TimBeardmoreNova Raiders CCV21:33+5:07
14Daniel WattsRoyal Air Force CAS21:35
15Matthew CooperStourbridge VeloS21:37
16ChristopherHalfordWrekinsport CCV21:39+5:01
17StephenFeeneyTeam ChronomasterV21:46+4:50
18BenBrightMarsh Tracks Race TeamJ21:47
19JonathanMills-KeelingCycle Club Bridgnorth RWGV22:05+4:31
20TomosHalesWrekinsport CCS22:29
21CiaranPickeringTeam SportslabV22:34+3:38
22SteveAstonWrexham RCV22:37+3:40
23AndrewRoseNova Raiders CCV23:11+3:47
24DeanDoveyNova Raiders CCV23:29+3:43
25AdamMumford Wrekinsport CCS23:48
26MarkPritchardNova Raiders CCS24:03
27DebHutson-LumbNova Raiders CCWV24:04+5:28
28RichSmithWrekinsport CCV24:10+2:53
29GraemeDonnellNova Raiders CCV24:24+2:48
29MonicaGreenwoodMacclesfield WheelersW24:24
31IanConnollyLudlow CCV24:33+2:21
32RobJacksonWrekinsport CCV24:33+2:44
33RichardHowesWrekinsport CCV24:36+2:09
34AllanHenderson Wrekinsport CCS24:37
35OliverRodwellWrekinsport CCV24:44+1:18
36DaveMooreWrekinsport CCV24:44+2:33
37MikeBigwoodWrekinsport CCS25:06
38John Robertson Wrekinsport CCV25:14+2:59
39PhilGuyNorth Shropshire WheelersV25:23+3:57
40terry IckeVelo Club St RaphaelV25:25
41PeterMulloyWrekinsport CCV25:33+2:19
42CarysBlowersMid Shropshire WheelersWJ25:43
43AndrewClarkeNorth Shropshire WheelersV26:06+1:39
44PhilipGardnerMid Shropshire WheelersV26:26+0:32
45RichardGoddardNewport (Shropshire) CCV26:40+0:37
46CerysGreavesTeam HUUBWJ26:46
47GailLoweNiteridersWV27:05+2:06
48EleanorTurtonSeamons CCW27:14
49GeoffEdgertonNorth Shropshire WheelersV27:23+1:57
50Louise Hurdley Hafren CCWV27:24+0:56
50BethanTillWrekinsport CCW27:24
52HelenTudorOswestry Paragon CCWV28:28+0:43
53AlisonSalthouseWrekinsport CCWV31:36-1:34
54ClareO’DonnellWrekinsport CCWV34:13-5:02
.TonyHarveyMid Shropshire WheelersV
.LesBougheyNorth Shropshire WheelersV
.JoeCosgroveLiverpool Century CAJ
.KeriPartonPro Vision Cycle ClothingW
.RobinSheddenWrekinsport CCV
.AlexLeekPDQ Cycle CoachingS

SCCA Friction Hydraulics Series:

Pos’nForenameSurnameClubCatTimePoints
1KieranMorrisSCCA Private MemberS20:4260
2BenPierceMid Shropshire WheelersJ21:0355
3HenriBedfordRevolutions RacingJ21:1250
4DeanCallister Nova RaidersS21:2545
5TimBeardmoreNova RaidersV21:3340
6Daniel WattsSCCA Private MemberS21:3535
7ChristopherHalfordWrekinsport CCV21:3930
8JonathanMills-KeelingCycle Club Bridgnorth RWGV22:0525
9TomosHalesWrekinsport CCS22:2920
10AndrewRoseNova RaidersV23:1115
11DeanDoveyNova RaidersV23:2910
12AdamMumford Wrekinsport CCS23:485
13MarkPritchardNova RaidersS24:035
14DebHutson-LumbNova RaidersWV24:045
15RichSmithWrekinsport CCV24:105
16GraemeDonnellNova RaidersV24:245
17IanConnollyLudlow CCV24:335
18RobJacksonWrekinsport CCV24:335
19RichardHowesWrekinsport CCV24:365
20AllanHenderson Wrekinsport CCS24:375
21OliverRodwellWrekinsport CCV24:445
22DaveMooreWrekinsport CCV24:445
23MikeBigwoodWrekinsport CCS25:065
24John Robertson Wrekinsport CCV25:145
25PhilGuyNorth Shropshire WheelersV25:235
26PeterMulloyWrekinsport CCV25:335
27CarysBlowersMid Shropshire WheelersWJ25:435
28AndrewClarkeNorth Shropshire WheelersV26:065
29PhilipGardnerMid Shropshire WheelersV26:265
30RichardGoddardNewport (Shropshire) CCV26:405
31GeoffEdgertonNorth Shropshire WheelersV27:235
32Louise Hurdley Hafren CCWV27:245
33BethanTillWrekinsport CCW27:245
34HelenTudorOswestry Paragon CCWV28:285
35AlisonSalthouseWrekinsport CCWV31:365
36ClareO’DonnellWrekinsport CCWV34:135
.TonyHarveyMid Shropshire WheelersV
.LesBougheyNorth Shropshire WheelersV
.RobinSheddenWrekinsport CCV

Friction Hydraulics Women’s Series:

Women’s Pos’nForenameSurnameClubCatTimeWomen’s Points
1DebHutson-LumbNova RaidersWV24:0460
2Louise Hurdley Hafren CCWV27:2455
3BethanTillWrekinsport CCW27:2450
4HelenTudorOswestry Paragon CCWV28:2845
5AlisonSalthouseWrekinsport CCWV31:3640
6ClareO’DonnellWrekinsport CCWV34:1335

Friction Hydraulics Veterans Series

Vets Pos’nForenameSurnameClubCatVet +/-Vets Points
1DebHutson-LumbNova RaidersWV+5:2860
2TimBeardmoreNova RaidersV+5:0755
3ChristopherHalfordWrekinsport CCV+5:0150
4JonathanMills-KeelingCycle Club Bridgnorth RWGV+4:3145
5PhilGuyNorth Shropshire WheelersV+3:5740
6AndrewRoseNova RaidersV+3:4735
7DeanDoveyNova RaidersV+3:4330
8John Robertson Wrekinsport CCV+2:5925
9RichSmithWrekinsport CCV+2:5320
10GraemeDonnellNova RaidersV+2:4815
11RobJacksonWrekinsport CCV+2:4410
12DaveMooreWrekinsport CCV+2:335
13IanConnollyLudlow CCV+2:215
14PeterMulloyWrekinsport CCV+2:195
15RichardHowesWrekinsport CCV+2:095
16GeoffEdgertonNorth Shropshire WheelersV+1:575
17AndrewClarkeNorth Shropshire WheelersV+1:395
18OliverRodwellWrekinsport CCV+1:185
19Louise Hurdley Hafren CCWV+0:565
20HelenTudorOswestry Paragon CCWV+0:435
21RichardGoddardNewport (Shropshire) CCV+0:375
22PhilipGardnerMid Shropshire WheelersV+0:325
23AlisonSalthouseWrekinsport CCWV-1:345
24ClareO’DonnellWrekinsport CCWV-5:025

Friction Hydraulics Junior Series:

Junior Pos’nForenameSurnameClubCatTimeJunior Points
1BenPierceMid Shropshire WheelersJ21:0360
2HenriBedfordRevolutions RacingJ21:1255
3CarysBlowersMid Shropshire WheelersWJ25:4350

Top Club Award:

Pos’nClubPoints
1Nova Raiders 125
2Wrekinsport CC 115
3Mid Shropshire Wheelers 65
4Revolutions Racing 50
5Cycle Club Bridgnorth RWG 25
6North Shropshire Wheelers 15
7Hafren CC 5
7Ludlow CC 5
7Newport (Shropshire) CC 5
7Oswestry Paragon CC 5

Cumulative Standings after three rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
=1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 135
=1 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 135
3 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member S 120
4 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 95
5 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 90
6 Christopher Halford Wrekinsport CC V 75
7 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 70
8 Liam Holohan Holohan Coaching RT S 60
9 Ben Pierce Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 55
=10 Chris Pook Holohan Coaching RT S 50
=10 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Cycle Club Bridgnorth RWG V 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 5
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 170
2 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders 165
3 Christopher Halford Wrekinsport CC 105
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Cycle Club Bridgnorth RWG 90
5 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers 65
6 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders 60
=7 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders 55
=7 Richard Smith Wrekinsport CC 55
9 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member 55
10 Dan Dovey Nova Raiders 45

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 5
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 180
2 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 145
3 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC 135
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 70
=5 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 55
=5 Rebecca Woodvine Mid Shropshire Wheelers 55
7 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50
8 Carys Blowers Mid Shropshire Wheelers 45
9 Alison Salthouse Wrekinsport CC 40
10 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 35

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing 175
2 Carys Blowers Mid Shropshire Wheelers 95
3 Ben Pierce Mid Shropshire Wheelers 60
4 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers 55
5 Rebecca Woodvine Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders 355
2 Wrekinsport CC 280
3 Revolutions Racing 135
4 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 130
5 Holohan Coaching RT 110
6 CC Bridgnorth RWG 80
=7 Hafren CC 40
=7 SCCA Private Member 40
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 25
10 Ludlow Brewery RT 20
11 Ludlow CC 15
=12 Newport (Shropshire) CC 10
=12 Oswestry Paragon CC 10
=14 Hafren CC 5
=14 Paramount CRT 5
=14 Propel CC 5