The first County Championship of the 2022 time trialling season saw a new name added to the 50 mile Trophy as Wrekinsport’s Tomos Hales led the field home in an incident packed race that saw Friction Series leader Tim Beardmore crash out and loose his place at the head of the standings; and four riders missing their start times which had bearing on the Veterans competition in Round 6, the SB Sports Injuries Shropshire Championship 50 presented by Mid Shropshire Wheelers.
Wet roads after a long period with no rain made for slippery corners covered in diesel, with Beardmore’s front wheel washing out from under him resulting in cuts to his elbow and bruising; but more importantly damaging his gear changers, putting an end to his race and leaving Bridgnorth CC team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling taking over the lead in both the Overall and Veterans competitions.
Mills-Keeling took 50 Silver after finishing 2 minutes 55 seconds behind Hales, who has been on tremendous form of late, navigating four laps of the Tilstock – Prees circuit in 1 hour 56 minutes 48 seconds. Hales led Wrekinsport to Team 50 Gold too, with great support from Phil Roberts and Adam Mumford in a combined 6:15:18, moving to just 20 points behind Bridgnorth CC in the Top Club Award standings as a result. Hales stated: “Very happy to take the Shropshire 50 title, even if it was a bit of a surprise. We had a good turn out from Wrekinsport which put our team in a good position. With the longer time trials you just have to break down the ride little by little – I was counting each climb up over Prees. Thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for putting on the event, and for all the marshals that stood out in the drizzle all morning – we wouldn’t have an event without you, thanks”!
Roberts was attempting the distance for the first time and was delighted with his effort of 2:08:02 and winning a medal, adding: “Really happy with how it went, equally happy just to make the start line with the horrible weather conditions. Really happy with the first 50 I’ve ever done, and happy just to support the club”. Mumford however suffered with what can be either a positional issue or a hydration one, with the longer distances finding out any weakness, proving not just to be about speed, but also survival: “I was on track for a time I wanted but my quad muscle tightened up on the last lap, and I finished in a lot of pain. I’m going to try a different bike position for the 100”.
Mills-Keeling went home with a brace of Silver medals after taking the runner-up spot in the Veterans 50 Championship too in 1:59:43 actual and +18:30 on Veteran Standard to add to his table-topping exploits. He stated: “First time I have rode the course, very happy with the result. However my pacing was a little off – thanks to all involved”. Mills-Keeling pushed Paramount CRT’s Chris Riley into the Overall Bronze position in 2:00:31, but couldn’t stop him taking The Jim Heath Trophy and Veterans 50 Gold with a fabulous +19:37 on his first attempt at the distance – and a first competitive try at the course which is also the 12 hour finishing circuit in 19 years. Riley has hit a self-described purple patch and revealed that he had not followed advice, enabling him to win: “I was advised not to go as hard as I had done in the SCCA 30. I ignored that and went for broke in an effort to beat two hours. I think the wet roads and being a bit cautious through the Tilstock chicane cost me the cigar and I was 31 seconds adrift at the finish. But I can’t complain for a first 50 and first time on that course since the 2003 West Cheshire 12 hour – many Thanks to all the organisers and the SCCA”.
The Veterans Bronze could have seen a dead heat or a displacement – if only two Hafren CC riders had made their starts on time. Emma Serjeant suffered a 15 second penalty, whilst Bryn Davies was penalised 2:27 thanks to turning up late, something affecting four riders in total and which could have produced a very different result. Not detracting from his efforts, Revolutions Racing’s Graeme Donnell was the beneficiary of this confusion, recording a fine Veterans Standard of +15:23. He stated: “Wow, I was not expecting that! Only my second attempt at this distance and this four lap D50/4 course was certainly exciting: twists, turns and speedy straights all aided by the marvellous marshals of Mid Shropshire Wheelers – I can’t wait to have another bash at it”!
Serjeant did not go home empty handed however, taking The Women’s 50 mile Trophy and Women’s 50 Gold by over 10 minutes in 2:12:56. Like many, she described the experience as one as much about mental state as physical: “I find 50s hard mentally. I had to break it down to four laps rather than the mileage to get my head into it. It was also very slippery after the rain so I was really pleased to have got the time I did and take the win. Well done to everyone who raced, and also to the marshals for standing out in the rain”.
Women’s 50 Silver went to a first-timer, with Wrekinsport CC’s Bethan Till putting in a better performance than her target, stopping the watch on 2:23:02. She revealed just why she stepped up the distance – as great training for an attempt at an Ironman distance triathlon, moving up from Sprint distance: “My first time upping to that distance, and it was hard but very enjoyable! Training is going well since December; hopefully I’ll have time to do a few more over summer in preparation for Ironman Wales in September. I thought I would be over 2 hours 30, so happy with my time”.
Women’s 50 Bronze went to Oswestry Paragon’s Helen Tudor in 2:30:02, with multiple laps not hr favourite: “It’s not a course that suits me so pleased to reverse the trend on it and go quicker than last year. Great ride from Emma to take Gold, she is flying at the moment. Thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for putting the event on; and especially the marshals who stood out in the rain”.
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 6
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Tomos Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 1:56:48 | 70 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | V | 1:59:43 | 65 |
| 3 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 2:00:31 | 60 |
| 4 | Bryn Davies [1] | Hafren CC | V | 2:03:40 | 55 |
| 5 | Graeme Donnell | Revolutions Racing | V | 2:06:22 | 50 |
| 6 | Phil Roberts | Wrekinsport CC | S | 2:08:02 | 45 |
| 7 | Adam Mumford | Wrekinsport CC | S | 2:10:28 | 40 |
| 8 | Emma Serjeant [2] | Hafren CC | WV | 2:12:56 | 35 |
| 9 | Bethan Till [3] | Wrekinsport CC | W | 2:23:02 | 30 |
| 10 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 2:30:02 | 25 |
| 11 | Robert Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | 2:40:12 | 20 |
| 12 | Victoria Doran [4] | Wrekinsport CC | WV | 2:55:57 | 15 |
| . | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | WV | DNF | . |
| . | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | V | DNF | . |
| . | Allan Henderson | Wrekinsport CC | S | DNS-A | . |
| . | John Westhead | Paramount CRT | V | DNS-A | . |
| . | Les Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNS-A | . |
| . | Mason Durant | Paramount CRT | S | DNS-A | . |
| . | Steve Cornish | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNS-A | . |
| . | Lauren Turley | Nova Raiders | W | DNS | . |
| . | Rob Kerr | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | DNS | . |
| . | Victor Chetta | SCCA Private Member | V | DNS | . |
[1] includes late start 2:27
[2] includes late start 0:15
[3] includes late start 0:12
[4] includes late start 3:29
Shropshire Championship Team 50
Gold – Wrekinsport CC (Tomos Hales, Phil Roberts, Adam Mumford) 6:15:18
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 6
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Vet Std +/- | Vets Points |
| 1 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | + 19:37 | 70 |
| 2 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | V | + 18:30 | 65 |
| 3 | Graeme Donnell | Revolutions Racing | V | + 15:23 | 60 |
| 4 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | WV | + 15:08 | 55 |
| 5 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | + 14:06 | 50 |
| 6 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | + 03:26 | 45 |
| 7 | Robert Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | – 06:39 | 40 |
| 8 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | WV | – 27:53 | 35 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 6
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Women’s Points |
| 1 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | WV | 2:12:56 | 70 |
| 2 | Bethan Till | Wrekinsport CC | W | 2:23:02 | 65 |
| 3 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 2:30:02 | 60 |
| 4 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | WV | 2:55:57 | 55 |
| . | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | WV | DNF | . |
| . | Lauren Turley | Nova Raiders | W | DNS | . |
Top Club Award – Round 6
| Cat | Club | Points |
| 1 | Wrekinsport CC | 220 |
| 2 | Hafren CC | 90 |
| 3 | Bridgnorth Cycling Club | 65 |
| 4 | Paramount CRT | 60 |
| 5 | Revolutions Racing | 50 |
| 6 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 25 |
Cumulative Standings after six rounds
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth CC | V | 305 |
| 2 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | V | 285 |
| 3 | Tomos Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 280 |
| 4 | Graeme Donnell | Revolutions Racing | V | 205 |
| 5 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 180 |
| 6 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | V | 135 |
| 7 | Daniel Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 105 |
| 8 | Chester Romei | North Shropshire Wheelers | J | 75 |
| =9 | Adam Mumford | Wrekinsport CC | S | 70 |
| =9 | Dean Callister | Revolutions Racing | S | 70 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
| Position | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Jonathan Mills-Keeling | Bridgnorth CC | 325 |
| 2 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | 300 |
| 3 | Graeme Donnell | Revolutions Racing | 290 |
| 4 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 180 |
| 5 | Chris Riley | Paramount CRT | 170 |
| 6 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 140 |
| 7 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 115 |
| 8 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | 90 |
| 9 | Robert Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | 75 |
| =10 | Andrew Rose | Revolutions Racing | 50 |
| =10 | Dave Moore | Wrekinsport CC | 50 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Victoria Doran | Wrekinsport CC | 270 |
| 2 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 225 |
| 3 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 190 |
| 4 | Bethan Till | Wrekinsport CC | 65 |
| 5 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Wrekinsport CC | 60 |
| 5 | Robin Jones | Bridgnorth CC | 60 |
| 7 | 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 | 180 |
| 2 | Ben Southgate | Wrekinsport CC | 55 |
Top Club Award
| Position | Club | Total Points |
| 1 | Bridgnorth CC | 675 |
| 2 | Wrekinsport CC | 655 |
| 3 | Revolutions Racing | 380 |
| 4 | Hafren CC | 245 |
| 5 | Paramount CRT | 220 |
| 6 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 130 |
| 7 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 50 |
| 8 | Ludlow CC | 30 |