A traffic-affected 8th round thankfully didn’t alter the destination of the podium riders, with clear space between the Top 3 as the Ludlow CC 10 returned to The Friction Hydraulics Series. Held on the normally relatively quiet and super-fast Brimfield to Ludlow bypass course, riders found themselves baulked on the fastest parts of the course by the sheer volume of traffic which is out of character for this stretch of the A49, and perhaps caused simply due to many out and about taking advantage of scorching hot weather. Won by Revolutions Racing’s Dean Callister in 20 minutes 50 seconds, Callister has taken maximum points in every event he has entered in this Series and moved into the Top 5 overall on the strength of his ride. However, he was frustrated by his ride on a course which normally gives a chance for superb times, stating: “Despite the result I had a very disappointing ride. I was held up by traffic twice, costing a lot of time due to the course being very busy. I was hoping for a fast time – thanks for Ludlow CC for putting on the event”.

Friction Series leader and Friction Veterans Series leader Tim Beardmore stretched his lead at the top of both tables after finishing in the runner-up spot on the day in both, with an actual time of 21:14 and a Veteran’s Standard of +5:42. The Bridgnorth CC rider saw off a challenge from Bridgnorth CC team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling to by 26 seconds but was beaten by Wrekinsport’s Deb Hutson-Lumb on standard. He commented: “Not my best race. I was hoping for a sub-21 but got held up badly with traffic, on what were very busy roads, but I wasn’t the only rider to be disrupted. Once the traffic had cleared I pushed too deep and cooked my legs. I was very happy to finish and get off the roads – thanks to all at Ludlow CC for organising”.

Beardmore and Mills-Keeling extended Bridgnorth CC’s lead in the Top Club Award by a further 20 points over Wrekinsport and now hold a 115 point lead. Like Callister and Beardmore, Mills-Keeling was held up but enjoyed the fast return on the back leg once clear to push on: “Really busy road, I got caught in the traffic, but a nice tailwind back – thanks to Ludlow CC for putting on”.

Hutson-Lumb took the Veteran’s win in +7:03 and took 60 points off Helen Tudor’s lead in the Friction Veteran’s Series with a fine 23:12 which was good enough for 5th Overall. A rare northern wind meant the climb to the Sheet island turn was particularly tough as she suffered from battling into the headwind: “It was a rough outward leg into the wind and I went off a bit too hard. The return was super-quick, but I’d left my legs on the drag up to the turn. Super pleased and surprised to get a few seconds off my personal best – many thanks to Ludlow CC for organising”.

Meanwhile in the Friction Junior Series there was a first-time entry for Ludlow CC’s Tristan Harvey, who posted a solid effort of 26:27.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 8

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 20:50 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 21:14 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 21:40 50
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 22:35 45
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:12 40
6 Alex Leek Wrekinsport CC S 23:13 35
7 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V 24:01 30
8 William Baugh Ludlow CC V 24:28 25
9 Paul Mulready Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 24:37 20
10 Tristan Harvey Ludlow CC J 26:27 15
. Roxy Woodfield Ludlow Brewery Race Team S DNS .
. Robert Garbett Wrekinsport 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 +7:03 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +5:42 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +5:11 50
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +4:37 45
5 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V +3:23 40
6 William Baugh Ludlow CC V +2:50 35
7 Paul Mulready Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +2:24 30

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 23:12 60
. Roxy Woodfield Ludlow Brewery Race Team S DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 8

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Tristan Harvey Ludlow CC J 26:27 60

Top Club Award – Round 8

Pos’n Club Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 125
2 Wrekinsport CC 105
3 Revolutions Racing 60
4 Paramount CRT 45
5 Ludlow CC 40

Cumulative Standings after eight rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 400
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 320
3 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 205
4 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 190
=5 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 180
=5 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 180
7 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 175
8 Robert McGregor Paramount CRT S 155
9 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 125
10 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 120

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club 410
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club 320
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 250
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 190
5 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers 175
6 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers 165
7 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 145
=8 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 130
=8 John Westhead Paramount CRT 130
10 Peter Jukes Mid Shropshire Wheelers 95

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 305
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 250
3 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 160
=4 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 115
=4 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT 115
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
=1 Tristan Harvey Ludlow CC 60

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 795
2 Wrekinsport CC 680
3 Paramount CRT 495
4 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 315
5 Ludlow CC 275
=6 Hafren CC 205
=6 North Shropshire Wheelers 205
8 Revolutions Racing 180
9 Oswestry Paragon CC 110