The blue riband event of Shropshire time trialling saw a clear winner who had targeted this race all season – and didn’t disappoint. Oswestry Paragon CC’s Kieran Morris took a commanding win in 50 minutes 49 seconds to win County Championship Gold, The Freeston Trophy as well as The Jack Pitchford Trophy for fastest Under-21 rider as he lead his club to Team Gold too in Round 9 of the Friction Hydraulics Series, the Shropshire Championship 25. Held on the super-fast Berriew – Four Crosses course, the 20 year-old was backed up by David Griffiths and Peter Fletcher to make it a brace of medals in a combined 2:42:14. He stated “I had been looking forward to this for a while, and knew it was going to be tough competition from lots of quality riders. I have never ridden well on this course before, and a couple of things hampered my ride but hey it’s not time trialling if there isn’t something to complain about at the end! Well done to everyone who rode, and thanks to all of the organisers!  An even bigger well done to Oswestry Paragon – not too bad for such a small team”!

Morris’ nearest challenger showed that youth is certainly to the fore this season with Revolutions Racing’s Henri Bedford taking Overall Silver in 52:18, just five seconds ahead of Morris’ team mate David Griffiths in the Bronze position. Bedford narrowed the gap at the top of the standings with Friction Series leader Tim Beardmore back in 6th on Actual on the evening, added Junior 25 Gold to his medal haul and opened up his lead of the Friction Junior Series to a huge 375 points. He was delighted with his efforts, stating: “I had such fun on a fast course with good legs, this was one of my best days on the bike after feeling not quite right. Well done to Kieran for winning with such a great time, and thanks to all marshals and the organisers”.

With Griffiths taking Bronze in 52:23, Team 25 Gold was sealed with a comeback ride from Peter Fletcher who was relying on muscle memory to get him around having not entered a 25 for many years. He proved himself to be no slouch with a very respectable 59:02 – just seven seconds ahead of team mate Adam Riley. He was delighted to learn he had taken a medal as payoff for plenty of training: “I was quite nervous at the start as it’s probably over 20 years since I’ve done a 25 mile time trial – a distant memory. I settled into it relatively early but the finish line still seemed a long way off! On receipt of the news that I was part of the Team award, I felt that all my training and rushing round after work was worthwhile and I was immensely proud to represent Oswestry Paragon with such a positive result. To be mentioned in the same sentence as David and Kieran is great, and obviously I couldn’t have succeeded without the high quality times being posted by them. I’d also like to thank every marshal and timekeeper for keeping us safe and giving up their free time to enable this event to go ahead”.

Whilst Beardmore wasn’t among the Overall medals he was at the head of the Veterans, taking Gold in +14:13 by a margin of 41 seconds from Clee Cycles’ Dave Griffiths. Bridgnorth CC’s Beardmore extended his Veterans Series lead to 175 points on the strength of this ride but revealed that he had to work for the medal: “I went out hard expecting some help from a tailwind on the return leg that simply wasn’t there. The last six miles or so were very tough, and I had to dig deep to pull out a decent time. I’m absolutely delighted to take Veterans Gold which has been an ambition of mine in this event for a few years now. Well done to everyone who raced, great times from Kieran and Henri. Big thanks to Helen Tudor and everyone else who made it happen”.

Griffiths took Veteran’s Silver with +13:22, in an actual time of 53:22 to take 5th spot Overall, and like Beardmore also found the battle to the tricky: “All in all a good ride. I died a bit in the last five miles, but this was my fastest 25 in eight years so I was pleased with the result”! Griffiths pushed another Bridgnorth CC rider into the Bronze medal position with Jonathan Mills-Keeling recording +12:40 to push Jenny York out by 34 seconds. Mills-Keeling had the Wrekinsport 25 in his legs from the previous evening but was pleased he’d done enough to take Bronze: “I’m very happy with third Veteran on another new course for me, although I struggled after the 25 the night before – thanks for everyone involved with the event and to the SCCA”.

In the Women’s Championship it was personal bests all round in the medal positions as Market Drayton CC’s Alison Dockney took Gold and The Brian and Gill Morrison Trophy with a fabulous time of 1:00:38. Dockney stretched her lead at the top of the Friction Women’s Series following this race, and was delighted with her performance, stating: “Finally perfect conditions for racing! I love the Berriew course and was super happy with a course and 25 mile personal best. Edging closer to beating the hour! Well done to all racers with some brilliant results; and a big thank you to organisers, timekeepers and excellent marshals on the night”.

On an excellent evening for Oswestry Paragon Leonie Keeling helped herself to Women’s Silver with a fine 1:01:13, although she found conditions difficult: “A hard evening out on the course – very humid made it a tough one. A course and 25 mile personal best for me, so very happy with that – thank you to the marshals and volunteers who made the race possible”.

Women’s Bronze was taken by Nova Raiders’ Jenny Newton in 1:03:40, and who had the final word: “I definitely think I paced it well, I knew what average speed I needed at the end to get a personal best and had enough left to really go for it for the last few miles. I’ve been trying to beat my 25 personal best for a while so I was super chuffed I’ve done that now – thanks all as always for making these events happen”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 9

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 00:50:49 60
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 00:52:18 55
3 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 00:52:23 50
4 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 00:52:44 45
5 Dave Griffiths Clee Cycles V 00:53:22 40
6 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 00:53:30 35
7 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 00:54:31 30
8 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 00:54:51 25
9 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 00:54:54 20
10 Matthew Davies Holohan Coaching Race Team S 00:55:23 15
11 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 00:56:02 10
12 Mark Pritchard Nova Raiders S 00:57:05 5
13 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V 00:57:49 5
14 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V 00:58:23 5
15 Peter Fletcher Oswestry Paragon CC V 00:59:02 5
16 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 00:59:09 5
17 Rob Kerr Oswestry Paragon CC V 00:59:11 5
18 Alison Dockney Market Drayton Cycling Club W 01:00:38 5
19 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:01:13 5
20 Andrew Clarke North Shropshire Wheelers V 01:02:37 5
21 Jason Arnold Hafren CC S 01:03:13 5
22 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 01:03:40 5
23 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V 01:04:00 5
24 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 01:04:58 5
25 Andrew Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 01:05:46 5
26 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 01:06:18 5
27 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 01:07:20 5
28 Mark Stocks Newport (Shropshire) CC V 01:09:31 5
29 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:09:40 5
30 Lauren Turley Nova Raiders W 01:09:44 5
31 Richard Goddard Newport (Shropshire) CC V 01:11:22 5
32 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V 01:12:42 5
33 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V 01:14:08 5
. Bryn Davies Hafren CC V DNS .
. Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .
. Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders W DNS .
. Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV DNS .
. Jason Walkley SCCA Private Member S DNS .

Team 25 mile Championship

Gold: Oswestry Paragon CC (Kieran Morris, David Griffiths, Peter Fletcher) 2:42:14

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 8

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet Std +/- Vets Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +14:13 60
2 Dave Griffiths Clee Cycles V +13:22 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +12:40 50
4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV +12:06 45
5 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V +11:18 40
6 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV +10:59 35
7 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V +10:14 30
8 Andrew Clarke North Shropshire Wheelers V +8:34 25
9 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V +8:10 20
10 Rob Kerr Oswestry Paragon CC V +7:11 15
11 Peter Fletcher Oswestry Paragon CC V +6:41 10
12 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V +6:32 5
13 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V +5:37 5
14 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +5:18 5
15 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +5:13 5
16 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +4:58 5
17 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV +4:30 5
18 Andrew Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +4:28 5
19 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V +1:41 5
20 Mark Stocks Newport (Shropshire) CC V -0:24 5
21 Richard Goddard Newport (Shropshire) CC V -1:59 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 9

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Alison Dockney Market Drayton CC W 01:00:38 60
2 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:01:13 55
3 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 01:03:40 50
4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 01:06:18 45
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:09:40 40
6 Lauren Turley Nova Raiders W 01:09:44 35
. Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders W DNS .
. Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 9

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 00:52:18 60

Top Club Award – Round 9

Pos’n Club Points
1 Oswestry Paragon CC 140
2 Nova Raiders 80
3 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 60
4 Revolutions Racing 55
5 Clee Cycles 40
6 Wrekinsport CC 35
=7 Holohan Coaching Race Team 15
=7 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 15
=7 North Shropshire Wheelers 15
10 Newport (Shropshire) CC 10
=11 Hafren CC 5
=11 Market Drayton Cycling Club 5

Cumulative Standings after nine rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 405
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 375
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 245
4 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 225
5 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 220
6 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 200
7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 190
8 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 175
=9 David Griffiths Oswestry Paragon CC S 165
=9 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 165

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 535
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 360
3 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders 280
4 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member 245
=5 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders 235
=5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 235
7 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC 175
8 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 140
9 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers 130
=10 Dave Griffiths Clee Cycles 115
=10 Jason Walkley SCCA Private Member 115

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Alison Dockney Market Drayton CC 310
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 265
3 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 225
4 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 210
=5 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 125
=5 Lauren Turley Nova Raiders 125
7 Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders 110
8 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 95
=9 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC 50
=9 Clare O’Donnell Wrekinsport CC 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing 430
=2 Max Bufton Hafren CC 55
=2 Harry Corney Market Drayton CC 55
4 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50
5 Noah White Mid Shropshire Wheelers 45

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders  890
2 Bridgnorth CC 610
3 Oswestry Paragon CC 495
4 Wrekinsport CC 345
5 Revolutions Racing 320
6 Hafren CC 275
7 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 205
8 Holohan Coaching RT 180
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 130
10 Clee Cycles 70
11 Ludlow CC 65
12 Market Drayton CC 55
13 Paramount CRT 50
14 Newport Shropshire CC 35