A testing course was made even harder by a sub-zero start as riders faced challenging conditions in Round 4 of The Friction Hydraulics Series, the Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ 25. Held on the rolling Press – Battlefield course having to cope with significant climbing soon warmed riders up, with reigning Friction Series Champion Tim Beardmore stretching his lead at the top of the 2022 standings. Beardmore had an advantage of almost 1½ minutes over Bridgnorth CC team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling as just three riders beat the magic hour mark, with Bridgnorth extending their lead in the Top Club Award thanks to this 1-2.

Beardmore crossed the line in 56 minutes 34 seconds, averaging over 26.5mph on a course that saps the strength, with barely a flat piece of road to be had. He stated: “Another very cold morning made it difficult to warm up properly before the start. I paced the race well and my legs felt good all the way round on a course which I enjoy. Very pleased with the result – a big thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for organising”. Beardmore also took victory in the Friction Veterans Series with a fine +11:22 to stretch his lead to 20 points at the top of this Series, with Mills-Keeling being the rider in runner-up spot in both competitions. He ended his morning on 58:13 Actual, pushing out Wrekinsport’s Tomos Hales by 35 seconds; and in +9:30 on Veteran’s Standard, pushing out Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies by +2:01. Mills-Kelling commented: “A very cold morning but dry and sunny and I warmed up once going. I was happy with the time and I like this rolling challenging course, thanks to all involved”.

Davies is on the comeback trail after a motoring accident kept him away from competition for much of 2021; and just missed out on beating the hour with 1:00:02 for fourth Overall. He was pleased with his ride but was aware that he still has a way to go to achieve full fitness: “A cold start, but good to be racing on the course again after what seems like a very long time. Not my quickest time by a long shot, form is a bit late coming after injury and illness last year, the power was there but I found it drifting off at times and I’m still struggling to hold the position for the duration, costing me speed and time. Well done to everyone who raced in the icy conditions and to those marshalling in the cold, thanks to all involved in organising the event”.

Davies’ team mate Emma Serjeant took the win in the Friction Women’s Series in her first appearance of the year, recording a fine 1:05:48 to see off the attentions of Oswestry Paragon’s Helen Tudor. She stated: “First race of the season and nice to be back, although I doubted my sanity when it was -2ºC as I was setting off. Very happy to take the win and a power PB for me – thank you to all the marshals and organisers for standing out in the cold for us”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 4

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 0:56:34 60
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 0:58:13 55
3 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 0:58:48 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 01:00:02 45
5 Mark Pritchard Revolutions Racing S 01:01:49 40
6 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 01:02:29 35
7 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 01:04:11 30
8 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 01:05:48 25
9 Dean Callister* Revolutions Racing S 01:06:28 20
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:13:53 15
11 Matthew Price** Wrekinsport CC V 01:18:47 10
12 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V 01:25:55 5
. Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing V DNS-A .
. Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV DNS-A .
. Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .

*includes late start penalty 5:10

**includes late start penalty 0:38

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 4

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet Std +/- Vets Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V +11:22 60
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V +9:30 55
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +7:29 50
4 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V +6:54 45
5 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV +6:48 40
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +1:16 35
7 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V -11:03 30
8 Matthew Price [2] Wrekinsport CC V -11:04 25

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 4

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 01:05:48 60
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:13:53 55
. Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV DNS-A .

Top Club Award – Round 4

Pos’n Club Points
1 Bridgnorth CC 115
2 Revolutions Racing 95
3 Hafren CC 70
4 Wrekinsport CC 65
5 Ludlow CC 30
6 Oswestry Paragon CC 15

Cumulative Standings after four rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 225
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 205
3 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 165
4 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 130
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 85
6 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers J 65
7 Mason Durant Paramount CRT S 60
8 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 50
=9 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing V 45
=9 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 45
=9 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 45

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 240
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 220
3 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing 175
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 95
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 65
=6 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing 50
=6 Chris Riley Paramount CRT 50
=6 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 50
9 Karl Moseley Bridgnorth CC 45
=10 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC 40
=10 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 40
=10 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 40
=10 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC 40
=10 Rob Childs Bridgnorth CC 40

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 165
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 110
=3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 60
=3 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 60
=3 Robin Jones Bridgnorth CC 60
6 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 45

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Chester Romei North Shropshire Wheelers 120
2 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 55

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Bridgnorth CC 515
2 Wrekinsport CC 370
3 Revolutions Racing 235
4 Paramount CRT 120
5 Hafren CC 110
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 95
7 Ludlow CC 30
8 Oswestry Paragon CC 20