Wrekinsport CC Chris Edwards Hilly 17

Paul Horton’s Course Record of 41 minutes 56 seconds was broken three times during the opening event of the Shropshire time trialling season and an inaugural female course record set as Wrekinsport CC got things underway with the tough and challenging Chris Edwards Hilly 17, Round 1 of the Friction Hydraulics Series on a gloriously un-seasonal warm afternoon. A deceptively rolling ‘out and back course starting at Atcham and climbing the fearsome Buildwas Bank saw the overall course record lowered in each case by visiting riders. First rider home James Smith of Chorlton Velo immediately shaved 10 seconds off – but it could have so easily been more if not for a wrong turn at Cressage which required a quick turn around after frantic shouts from marshals and which lost him at least 15 seconds. The next cut came 14½ minutes later as Team PB Performance rider Cian Leveridge lowered the record to 41:10 – but that lasted just five minutes as Stafford RC rider Tom Bill decimated the target to 40:07, knocking 1:58 off his 2024 effort where he was overall runner-up.

Taking County honours was Paramount CRT’s Simon Romei, who took an early lead in both the overall Friction Series and set out a solid defence of his Friction Veterans title too. Romei put his knowledge of the course to good use, knocking 1:47 off his 2024 ride to cross the line in 41:57, just a second outside the old record and 29 seconds ahead of 2024 Friction series champion Tomos Hales. Romei also finished top of the Veteran’s standings, being one of only a handful of riders to beat their standard on this testing course with +3:23, beating Aerologic RT’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling into the runner-up spot with +1:44. Romei was delighted with his efforts, commenting: “I have to say Wrekinsport put a great race, firstly a big thank you to all the marshals that make these races happen along with the event organisers. I was super happy to have taken the County winner along with the Veteran’s win. It’s a very tough course to race, especially the outward leg which had a strong easterly wind to contend with. I pushed really hard on both the outward leg and return leg knowing I had a strong field of time trial riders to contend with, so to claim both County and Veteran’s wins was a great sunny afternoon of racing”.

For Hales this was his first attempt at the course in race mode after missing the 2024 inaugural event for a clashing foreign triathlon representing GB. The Wrekinsport rider had done a test run however, and on that first attempt didn’t stay on the tribars on the speedy descent of Buildwas Bank. This time however he got the benefit of the aero tuck, touching an incredible 51.5mph. He was pleased with his effort, stating: “My first time doing the new Wrekinsport Hilly course, and it was a tough one to start the season. I managed to hold the nerve on the descent down Buildwas Bank, but the legs were lacking on the return. Well done to Tom Bill for a storming time, and Simon for the Shropshire win – thanks to Wrekinsport for hosting, such a great club”.

Mills-Keeling was a late entry, but took third County spot overall in 44:12 to add to the Veteran’s runner-up spot. He had had second thoughts about tackling the descent but changed his mind, with the turn to Much Wenlock superbly marshalled. He commented: “I entered late and wasn’t going to ride, so thanks to the organiser for getting me in. I was very nervous about the descent of Buildwas Bank and put on two front lights, but it ended up fine and was a great event with lovely weather. It was great to have support on the side of the road, thanks to Wrekinsport for putting it on and I look forward very much to the season”.

2024’s event had precisely no female entrants, but with six on the start sheet for 2025 there was going to be an inaugural female course record, which duly went to Wrekinsport’s Hayley Wells in a fabulous time of 46:16. The reigning Friction Female Champion also missed the 2024 event due to that same triathlon, but set out a dominant effort over 10 minutes clear of opposition. She stated: “I was very happy to be back racing after a long winter indoors, and what a stunning sunny day it was! I’d never ridden the course before but was familiar with the roads, so I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I do love a rolling course. Pleased to take the female win, it was great to see so many other females racing too. Well done to Tom Bill on the course record”.

If there is a growing area in time trialling it is the road bike category, which after an excellent introductory year in 2024 seems to be off to a great start in 2025 with 54% of the field eschewing dedicated time trial bikes. The nature of the course levelled things up a bit, with Joh Goh taking the win in an actual 44:51, taking a superb 4^th County position, and with the road bike handicapping system applied a 53 second category win over Paramount team mate William Preston. Goh was not ideally prepared for the race as he explained, but sheer strength and perseverance paid off: “A cracking event, I loved it. The last time I rode up Buildwas Bank was in 2002, so I’d never done the course and it was exciting to do – my coach told me just go out and enjoy it! It was hard going out straight into a headwind and a challenge to pace, and I held back a bit on the climb. Lovely weather, lots of support and great marshalling – I’m looking forward to more events”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 1

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 1

Friction and Hydraulic Services Female Championship – Round 1

Friction and Hydraulic Services Road Bike Championship – Round 1

Top Club Award – Round 1