The normally fast A483 based courses are a magnet for riders looking out for a fast time but proved to run against type in Round 8 of the Friction Hydraulics Series thanks to a block headwind blighting the return leg in Hafren CC’s Berriew 10, with a close call for the win. Revolutions Racing’s Dean Callister took the honours with a strong ride of 21 minutes 4 seconds after suddenly finding the peak form which he admitted has slightly eluded him during 2022 as he led his club to a strong team victory with support from Graeme Donnell and Andy Rose, both making the Top 10. Callister commented: “Luckily a dry warm evening in the end which made a great night for racing. Strong headwind on the return made things tougher. My legs are starting to make a 2022 appearance which is nice of them…finally. Happy with County win, thanks to Hafren CC for a great night”.

Callister’s closest challenge came from SCCA Private Member Dan Watts, just five seconds back in 21:09, and that wind plus the ‘No hiding place’ nature of the 10 mile format which gives no opportunity for respite was enough to make the difference: “Surprisingly my first 10 of the year. The Hafren course is usually very quick, but conditions made it a very tough return leg. I just didn’t quite have the legs in the last few miles to keep pushing into the wind, but enjoyed the shorter distance anyway – much less suffering than a 25 or a 30”.

Another rider who suffered in the conditions was former joint leader of the Friction Series Tim Beardmore, who took over sole control thanks to Tomos Hales’ absence. The Bridgnorth CC racer usually features towards the top of the results no matter what the distance – but having the Anfield 100 still in his legs had a predictable effect of diminishing top end power: “Not my best race on a course that I seem to not go well on. It was clear early on into the effort that my legs had not fully recovered from the Anfield 100. I struggled all the way round, but especially on the return leg with a blustery head wind. I crawled over the finish line some 20 watts down on my target power, just happy to finish and pick some points up for the Series – thanks to Hafren CC for organising”.

Beardmore, with support from team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling managed to reduce Wrekinsport’s lead in the Top Club Award by 70 points, with 55 to make up in this close head-to-head contest. He also took the runner-up spot in the Friction Veterans Series with a solid +5:15, adding a further 10 points to his lead over Mills-Keeling. But there was no stopping Wrekinsport’s Deb Hutson-Lumb who took a perhaps predictable victory in the Veterans category with +6:27 as well as the Women’s victory in 23:41, with Hafren CC’s Emma Serjeant getting closest in 24:31. Hutson-Lumb is beginning to find her form just as the busiest part of the season is looming, stating: “Despite still being a good few watts short it was reassuring to get round only a couple of seconds off my course personal best. Always enjoy a trip to Berriew – thanks for a great evening Hafren CC”.

Donnell’s 22:49 converted to a +4:35 Veterans standard, just pushing out Mills-Keeling for third spot in this competition by six seconds, and he clearly enjoyed his trip across the border: “Always love this course on marvellous Welsh tarmac; return breeze however proved a little tricky but now looking to improve upon the 10 mile wattage output for the rest of the season – thanks to Hafren CC for a smoothly run event”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 8

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 21:04 60
2 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 21:09 55
3 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 21:36 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 22:14 45
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 22:17 40
6 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 22:49 35
7 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 22:56 30
8 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 22:57 25
9 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing V 23:06 20
10 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:41 15
11 Carl Spencer Hafren CC V 24:17 10
12 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 24:29 5
13 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 24:31 5
14 Mick Case Hafren CC V 25:20 5
14 Mark Devaney Oswestry Paragon CC V 25:20 5
16 Andrew Clarke North Shropshire Wheelers V 25:32 5
17 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 25:42 5
18 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 27:17 5
19 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V 28:11 5
. David Griffiths Holohan Coaching Race Team S DNF .
. Olivia Hughes Hafren CC WV DNS .
. Rob Kerr Oswestry Paragon CC V DNS .
. Conrad Taylor Hafren CC S DNS .
. Peter Villiers Hafren CC V DNS .
. Neil Vose Hafren CC V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 8

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV +6:27 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +5:15 55
3 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V +4:35 50
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +4:29 45
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +4:27 40
6 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +4:15 35
7 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV +4:11 30
8 Andrew Rose Revolutions Racing V +4:06 25
9 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V +3:18 20
10 Andrew Clarke North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:41 15
11 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +2:24 10
12 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:12 5
13 Carl Spencer Hafren CC V +2:06 5
14 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:02 5
15 Mick Case Hafren CC V +1:52 5
16 Mark Devaney Oswestry Paragon CC V +1:52 5
17 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V +1:19 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 8

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:41 60
2 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 24:31 55
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 27:17 50
. Olivia Hughes Hafren CC WV DNS .

Top Club Award – Round 8

Pos’n Club Points
1 Revolutions Racing 115
2 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 90
3 Hafren CC 65
4 North Shropshire Wheelers 40
5 Paramount CRT 25
6 Wrekinsport CC 20
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 15

Cumulative Standings after eight rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 410
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 360
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 345
4 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 240
5 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 230
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 225
7 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 160
8 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 130
9 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 125
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 105

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 435
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 370
3 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing 340
4 Chris Riley Paramount CRT 280
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 220
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 190
7 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 170
8 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC 140
9 Simon Romei Paramount CRT 105
10 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 100

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 355
2 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 270
3 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 245
4 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 120
5 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 65
6 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 Wrekinsport CC 895
2 Bridgnorth CC 840
3 Revolutions Racing 495
4 Paramount CRT 440
5 Hafren CC 310
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 170
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 115
8 Ludlow CC 30