The final individual Championship of the Shropshire time trialling season saw an excellent turnout of County riders try out a new course that’s already becoming popular in The Shropshire Championship 10 presented by Wrekinsport CC, Round 15 of the Friction Hydraulics Series. Held between Edgebolton and Hodnet, hopes were high for challenging the course records of 20 minutes 30 seconds held by Grant Bigham and the Female record of 23:33 held by the promoting club’s Deb Hutson-Lumb in the first running in 2023 in drizzly and chilly conditions – and whilst riders had to contend with a block headwind both records was shattered, with visiting HUUB WattShop rider Thomas Brazier lowering his team mate’s overall record to 20:23; and Hayley Wells slicing a terrific 30 seconds off the Female record to cut it to 23:03.
Taking The Gordon Davies Trophy and 10 Championship Gold was the promoting club’s Tomos Hales, who made up a lot of time to the turn at Hodnet but then had to dig deep to get back, and was the only County rider to beat 21 minutes on an unusually busy road not encountered in 2023 or in the truncated version used in Round 13. He commented: “I was pleased to take the Shropshire 10 Gold. It was fast with a lot of traffic on the way out and a brutal return back into the headwind until the finish. I was happy to get under the 21 minute mark; thanks to Wrekinsport CC for hosting and all the guys that helped out”.
Hales looked determined to outpace Friction Series leader Simon Romei and narrowed the gap at the top to just 10 points as the Paramount rider finished in 21:25, beating team mate Mason Durant by 13 seconds for the Silver medal. Romei made it a triple with Veteran’s 10 Silver in +5:06, leading Parmount to the team Gold too with backup from Durant and Alvydas ‘A.J.’ Janusauskas in a combined 1:05:19. Romei expressed satisfaction at his afternoon’s effort: “Super happy to have won the Overall Silver along with the Veteran’s Silver in the Championship 10. A real quick outward leg which I made good use of knowing I had to work hard on the return leg to make good time. Once again the organisation was tip top along with a big thanks to all the marshals that took the time out to ensure this race went ahead. Brilliant news that Paramount also claimed the Team Gold, some really good times by Mason and A.J. along with my time; so overall an impressive afternoon racing”.
Janusauskas was not so interested in winning the Team 10 medal however, and was more interested in managing to record a good time of 22:16 after less than ideal preparation: “Team Gold is for others, not for me, so not much excitement there, just a solid result and further improvement since last 10 miles; so my head is down and I keep working on it. The aim was a 21 minute 10, a close call considering the circumstances - I had my birthday party with friends coming from London, so I had to cycle in the morning 50 miles and then jump onto the time trial rig, so it wasn’t really an ideal scenario”.
Wells had been anticipating this event after being frustrated at a record attempt by temporary traffic lights that meant Round 13 had to be cut short, but here she got the full experience to knock a massive 30 seconds off the Female course record, take The Gordon Davis Ladies Trophy and Female 10 Gold after beating Wrekinsport team mate and the former record holder Deb Hutson-Lumb by 41 seconds. Wells was delighted by her win, stating: ”I was looking forward to this race! A nice temperature, with a tailwind out and headwind home, so I knew I’d need to save something for the return. So close to sub-23, but chuffed to have taken the win, set a course record, and even more special to have taken the Shropshire 10 Championship win as well”!
Hutson-Lumb took Female 10 Silver but didn’t go home empty handed after winning the Veteran’s 10 Championship Gold in +6:07; and her post-race comments were all about the tricky conditions: “It felt tough from the start even with a tailwind on the way out, and I didn't keep enough in the tank for the return leg. It was good to be in the County medals; many thanks to everyone involved”.
Female Bronze went to Helen Tudor in 26:39, pushing out one of several riders new to the Championship Sorrell Williams by 15 seconds. Tudor appreciated the sunny aspect and the keen competition: “At least it wasn't as wet as last year! Thanks to Wrekinsport CC for putting the event on. A good course; but a shame about the headwind back - great to see some new female riders”.
Meanwhile Chris Riley took the final Veteran’s medal with +4:54, 29 seconds ahead of Aerologic’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling: “A cracking Championship 10, brilliant to see over half the field from County top clubs! It was lovely to win Veteran’s10 Bronze, but I'm no fan of this standard results format - thanks Wrekinsport CC for a well run, friendly race”
One area heavily promoted during 2024 is the Road Bike category, and so it was extremely gratifying to see over a quarter of the field turn out for this ‘back to basics’ inaugural running of a 10 Championship, with many riders new or returning to the sport as a result. Road Bike Gold went to one of those returning riders, Billy Panter of Paramount CRT, a club that have really taken to the format. Panter recorded a handicapped 24:06 to push out Mark Fenn by five seconds – but who got the considerable fillip of winning the inaugural Friction Road Bike Series. Panter stated: “I'm not much of a time triallist, but I have really enjoyed some of the shorter events this year, so to get the win was a welcome surprise. The outbound stretch was considerably easier than the return leg with the wind in your face, so I just tried to make up the time at every possible opportunity. It was a fantastic event and as usual was exceptionally well organised”. Fenn added: “A warm afternoon with the return leg being the hardest. I was happy with my consistency and how I am comparing to the result sheet. A well organised event by Wrekinsport. The goal for the season was to be consistent, and the Series win is a nice surprise. I hope next year sees an increase in road bike entries and helps keep the sport alive”.
Another of those returning riders took Bronze on a great afternoon for Paramount as new member Andrew Dawson recorded a handicapped 24:42 to just push out team mate David Cannell by seven seconds: “I'm delighted to have picked up a Bronze in the road bike category. It was my first event for a number of years and my first for Paramount CRT. It's a very good course, but the wind made the homeward leg challenging”!
Paramount also won the final medal of the day with Chester Romei taking Junior 10 Gold and The Alan Roberts Junior Trophy – and in his first appearance of the season. Jumping straight into a Championship isn’t ideal preparation, but Romei recorded a fine 27:10. He stated: “My first proper race back this season. It was a huge shock to the system, so to come away with some silverware is more than I was expecting from this race. A windy return leg meant it was a slog all the way back to the finish line - thank you to all marshals out there creating a smooth running event and keeping all riders safe”.
