Bridgnorth CC got the best out of Round 9 of the Friction Hydraulics Series with a 1-2 in the West Cheshire TTCA 50 – an with bonus points on offer that allowed them to regain the lead in the Top Club Award from Wrekinsport by the narrowest margin possible, just five points. Tim Beardmore posted a strong personal best at the distance to take the win in 1 hour 52 minutes and 15 seconds from team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling also beating the 25mph benchmark in 1:54:03 on the Prees – Market Drayton – Shawbirch course. Beardmore stretched his lead at the head of the Friction Series standings and used the negative split strategy to conserve energy for the final tough push into a strong headwind, as he explained: “I went out conservatively for the first five miles to see where the legs were. They felt OK so I pushed on, and emptied the tank on the last leg from Tern Hill. I managed to bag a lifetime persona best, so was very happy – thanks to all the organisers and marshals”.

Mills-Keeling came into the race with no pre-planned strategy, but checking his power meter enabled him to also ramp his effort up at the mid-point: ”I rode the 50 with no real target power, instead I rode to feel. I looked at my power at the turn and then pushed on a little. I really enjoyed it, thanks as ever to everyone that puts the racing on”.

One other rider broke the magic two hour mark, with Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies taking the final podium spot in 1:58:53, showing returning form after an RTA kept him off the bike for much of 2021. Davies was open about the fact that his previous form was taking time to materialise, but this ride showed much promise just as the busiest part of the season arrives. He stated: “I enjoyed racing the 50 on the WCTTCA course, I felt good first half, but my legs fatigued a little and faded on the return, a strong headwind making it a real grind and I struggled to keep the power up. I was a little surprised with third spot as I’ve been off the pace of late, so quite pleased with the result – thanks to all for organising and running the event”.

Beardmore and Mills-Keeling also made a big impression in the Friction Veterans race, and stretched their 1-2 at the top of this competition with +26:25 and +24:10 respectively. However this wasn’t enough to see off Wrekinsport’s Deb Hutson-Lumb who not only took victory in the Veterans with +27:19; she was also the only woman to attempt this distance, finishing fifth overall with a fabulous 2:08:37. She commented: “My first 50 since 2019 and I did enjoy it. I thought I was on track to be near my 50 personal best, but got stuck behind traffic waiting to pass slower riders twice on the return leg. An excellent event – many thanks to everyone involved in making it happen”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 9

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 1:52:15 70
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 1:54:03 65
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 1:58:53 60
4 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 2:03:28 55
5 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 2:08:37 50
6 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 2:13:54 45
7 George Coombes Shropshire CCA S 2:14:57 40
8 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 2:19:31 35
9 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 2:28:31 30
10 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V 2:32:42 25
. Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V DNS .
. Andrew Clarke North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 9

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV +27:19 70
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +26:25 65
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +24:10 60
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +19:47 55
5 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V +18:17 50
6 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +14:00 45
7 Simon Jones Hafren CC V -2:36 40
8 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V -4:57 35
9 Ashley Kirkham Wrekinsport CC V -16:12 30

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 9

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 2:08:37 70

Top Club Award – Round 9

Posn Club Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 135
2 Hafren CC 95
3 Wrekinsport CC 75
4 Revolutions Racing 55
5 Paramount CRT 45
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 30

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 480
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 410
3 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 360
4 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing V 295
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 285
6 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 230
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 500
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 430
3 Graeme Donnell Revolutions Racing 390
4 Chris Riley Paramount CRT 280
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 275
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 190
=7 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 170
=7 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 170
9 Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC 140
10 Simon Romei Paramount CRT 105

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 190
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 Bridgnorth CC 975
2 Wrekinsport CC 970
3 Revolutions Racing 550
4 Paramount CRT 485
5 Hafren CC 405
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 200
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 115
8 Ludlow CC 30