Bason battles home in tussle

A tight battle for gold, a course record and personal bests galore - the Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship 25 was memorable for all the right reasons.

The top three riders were split by just 28 seconds in what was round six of the Hawk Plant Shropshire Championship Points Series - with Wrekinsport's Andy Bason winning the day.

He made a supreme effort to take the victory from Parker International's Barry Charley by just 10 seconds, stopping the clock on 53mins 26secs to not only slice 1:07 off Pete Dale's course record set in 2006, but also eight seconds from his own personal best.

And that edged him ever closer to the www.bentstours.com £50/50 minute prize.

Dale had to settle for Bronze, finishing in 53:54, with Bason clawing back 10 points of the Paramount rider's series lead as a result.

Greasy

Threatened thunderstorms put nearly a quarter of the field off making an appearance on Wednesday, but the rain died away to leave a still evening and fast conditions, meaning 37 per cent of county finishers gained pbs.

The greasy roundabouts did however cause one problem, with Wrekinsport junior Ryan Ordidge falling at Shawbirch - only to remount after a delay of a minute re-setting his bike to ride to gold in 1:07:16 in his first attempt at the distance.

A tremendous ride of +25:01 saw Mid Shropshire Wheelers' 79 year-old super-veteran Dennis Milsom take the win in the veterans series.

Julie Moore showed her class in the ladies championship with a fine 1:06:54 to claw back another five points from the Series lead of Oswestry's Helen Tudor.

In the Top Club Award Wrekinsport just edged out a strong charge from Paramount CRT thanks to a good turnout of riders to extend their lead by 30 points.

Paramount, however, took Team Gold, with Pete Dale backed up by Dave Griffiths and Richard Watson, both gaining personal bests to give a combined time of 2:48:18

Two further Gold medals were awarded, with Wrekinsport's Adrian Cotton gain the Handicap victory with an adjusted 48:27, whilst Vince Evans and Rita Taylor stopped the clock in a separate tandem event on 1:02:19.