What a difference a year makes as an event blighted by a block headwind in 2022 enjoyed almost perfect conditions in 2023 as Round 5 of the Friction Hydraulics Series, the WCTTCA and SCCA 30 took place between Shawbirch and Market Drayton. That change of conditions didn’t alter the outcome of the Overall win however as Bridgnorth CC’s Tim Beardmore led his club home to a 1-2 and extended their Top Club Award lead to 105 points. Beardmore stopped the watch on 1 hour 6 minutes and 33 seconds, 38 seconds ahead of team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling, but Beardmore clearly showed the quandary riders face racing this Standard, but rarely seen distance in his post-race comments: “The weather conditions were near perfect, but 30’s can be so difficult to pace. I tried to ride at my 25 mile pace, and I found a good rhythm at times, but really struggled in places and was really happy when the finish line came. I’m still hoping to find a bit more form going forward – thanks to everyone who helped out with the event”.

Beardmore stretched his defence of the Overall Friction Hydraulics Championship to 70 points, as well extending his lead of the Friction Veteran’s Series to 80 points – although he was not the winner on the day. That honour went to Wrekinsport’s Deb Hutson-Lumb with a fabulous +16:59, with Beardmore runner-up when the age-related adjustments had been applied in +15:35 and Mills-Keeling third in +14:40. Hutson-Lumb wasn’t finished there either, taking the win in the Friction Women’s Series to narrow the gap at the top to Helen Tudor to 40 points with her 1:15:22 effort. Whilst the weather was kind that didn’t stop the cumulative effect of the 9½ mile southerly slog from Hodnet to Shawbirch, with what little wind there was proving troublesome. Hutson-Lumb commented: “A fabulous morning for it, actually warm, but with a bit of air movment making the long leg down the A442 harder than expected. My power numbers improving and I was pleased with my time – thanks to the organisers and many marshals, a great event”.

Mills-Keeling didn’t have the best preparation for this race with a previous day’s effort weighing on his legs, making his 1:07:11 ride all the more impressive as he pushed out Paramount’s Paul Duncan by 58 seconds. Mills-Keeling explained: “I rode a 50 with a massive personal best the day before so felt quite tired, but the conditions and temperature was great, I find 30 a strange distance and hard to pace, but very happy for county runner-up – thanks to all for putting on”.

Duncan just squeezed out Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies for the final podium spot by nine seconds and did the maths before his start to come up with a set of targets to try and manage his first ever attempt at the distance. His plan came good with a strong 1:08:09 and proves the value of having the carrot of keeping ahead of a goal by glancing at the bike computer occasionally: “Perfect time trialling weather, minimal breeze and not too hot or cold. This was my first 30 and I’d set a target power/speed to aim for. I managed to achieve the target and was happy with the result. The A442 doesn’t always feel like a fast road, but I managed to negotiate it without any problems and at a reasonable pace throughout. It was a fun event – big thanks to everyone that helped out on the day”.

It’s unusual to find Juniors stepping up to this distance but that didn’t stop Paramount’s Chester Romei returning having raced the same course in 2022. Romei stopped the watch on 1:14:39, good enough to find himself in the Top 10 and clearly enjoyed his morning’s racing: “It was a wonderful race with amazing conditions. Really well organised and it felt amazing to feel warm again whilst racing. Thank you to all the marshals”!

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 5

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 1:06:33 60
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 1:07:11 55
3 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:08:09 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 1:08:18 45
5 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 1:11:38 40
6 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:13:09 35
7 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 1:13:29 30
8 Chester Romei Paramount CRT J 1:14:39 25
9 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 1:15:22 20
10 Alex Hall Wrekinsport CC S 1:16:43 15
11 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 1:17:24 10
12 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:17:31 5
13 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 1:17:53 5
14 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:20:49 5
15 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:22:06 5
16 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:23:20 5
17 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V 1:26:43 5
18 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V 1:32:51 5
19 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 1:35:21 5
20 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV 1:43:33 5
. Simon Jones Hafren CC V DNF .
. Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V DNS-A .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 5

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV +16:59 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +15:35 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +14:40 50
4 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +14:03 45
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +13:18 40
6 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +12:28 35
7 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +10:11 30
8 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V +9:13 25
9 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +7:33 20
10 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V +7:01 15
11 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:55 10
12 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +2:29 5
13 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V -1:19 5
14 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V -6:12 5
15 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV -7:38 5
16 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV -14:14 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 5

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 1:15:22 60
2 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 1:17:53 55
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:23:20 50
4 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 1:35:21 45
5 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV 1:43:33 40

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 5

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Chester Romei Paramount CRT J 1:14:39 60

Top Club Award – Round 5

Pos’n Club Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 115
2 Paramount CRT 85
3 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 55
4 North Shropshire Wheelers 50
=5 Hafren CC 45
=5 Wrekinsport CC 45
7 Ludlow CC 30
8 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

Cumulative Standings after five rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 275
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 205
2 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 205
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 120
4 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 120
4 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 120
7 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 110
8 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 80
9 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 75
10 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 65

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club 290
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club 210
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 130
4 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers 125
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 120
6 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 100
7 Peter Jukes Mid Shropshire Wheelers 95
8 John Westhead Paramount CRT 90
9 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC 80
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 75

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 160
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 120
3 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 115
3 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT 115
5 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 100
6 Catherine Coley Bridgnorth CC 60
7 Helen Blake Wrekinsport CC 50
8 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers 40

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

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

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 535
2 Wrekinsport CC 430
3 Paramount CRT 285
4 Ludlow CC 235
5 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 200
6 Hafren CC 145
7 Revolutions Racing 120
8 North Shropshire Wheelers 90
9 Oswestry Paragon CC 15