VTTA Merseyside 15

The course and event record were smashed by 47 seconds in Round 2 of The Friction Hydraulics Series as Kirk Vickers charged around the Hodnet bypass/Tiddly triangle course in a blistering 31 minutes 45 seconds. Vickers took the win by 1:17 from Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Victor Chetta and enjoyed both the unusual distance and the course despite having to battle a rare, roaring easterly wind that hampered progress on the normally fast Tiddly and finishing straights. He stated: “It was nice to get back on the time trial bike. I paced it spot on, though the wind was brutal at times. A great course once Peplow is redone! Well done to all riders and thanks to organiser and marshals“.

Chetta had his own reasons to celebrate as he moved into the lead of both the Friction Series overall and the Friction Veteran’s Series, with his 33:02 effort outpacing 2018 Bronze medallist by 59 seconds whilst his Veteran’s +6:20 saw off the same rider by 22 seconds. Chetta is more known for being a long-distance specialist so he was more than pleased with his performance at a distance outside his usual comfort zone: “I was very pleased to come second overall against quality opposition in a short distance race, which isn’t really my forte. I enjoyed the course, especially the Tiddly stretch, I felt it was a good introduction to the 15 mile time trial distance“.

Nisbett was making his debut in the 2019 Series and like his first experience of the course after recording a fine 34:01, ominously pushing out 2018 Friction Champion and Hafren CC team mate Bryn Davies by 41 seconds, showing he is in good early season form. He commented: “First time on that course for me and it seemed to suit my riding style quite well. The wind was a challenge on the Tiddly section and the pavé was, as usual – ‘pleasant’! I’m sure we’ll all miss it when the road gets re-surfaced”!

If none of the Top 3 Overall had experience of the course, first introduced in 2018 the Women’s winner certainly did as Charlotte Chapman set a huge personal best of 38:10 to just push out Nova Raiders team mate Deb Hutson-Lumb by  a tight nine seconds. This was a huge improvement of 2:26 on her 2018 effort and makes it two wins in two Friction Series rounds for Chapman as she stretched her lead at the top of the Women’s standings. A delighted Chapman commented: “A big improvement for me on last year’s time on this course so I’m happy with that. Don’t think my legs were expecting more than 10 miles though, they were screaming at me three miles from the end! Thanks to all involved in running the event and to those out on the course shouting support. Fab event“!

Hutson-Lumb put up a strong challenge with her 38:19 pushing out Hafren CC’s Emma Serjeant by 21 seconds for Women’s runner-up whilst just missing out on taking Veteran’s runner-up by two seconds with an excellent +5:56. She stated: “An interesting course with a tough section into the headwind. I lost my focus on the pavé but I was pleased with my time. A great event, and I’ll certainly be back for another go“.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 2

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 31:45 60
2 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 33:02 55
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 34:01 50
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 34:42 45
5 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders V 35:13 40
6 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 35:25 35
7 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 35:58 30
8 Tom Richardson Oswestry Paragon CC S 36:02 25
9 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member V 36:26 20
10 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V 36:36 15
11 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V 36:51 10
12 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 37:08 5
13 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers S 37:32 5
14 Tim Rex North Shropshire Wheelers V 37:43 5
15 Allan Henderson Wrekinsport CC S 37:58 5
16 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 38:02 5
17 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 38:10 5
18 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 38:19 5
19 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 38:36 5
20 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC W 38:40 5
21 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 38:59 5
22 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 39:34 5
23 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 40:03 5
24 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 40:11 5
25 Andrew Clarke North Shropshire Wheelers V 40:26 5
26 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 41:08 5
27 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 41:18 5
28 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V 41:46 5
29 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 42:02 5
30 Richard Howes Wrekinsport CC V 42:16 5
31 Mark Stocks Newport Shropshire CC V 42:23 5
32 Jason Davies Paramount CRT V 42:24 5
33 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 42:41 5
34 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders WV 42:42 5
35 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 45:13 5
36 Dave Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 46:37 5
37 Matthew Davies Holohan Coaching RT S 52:38 5
  Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS  
  Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S DNS  
  Neil Wilson Paramount CRT V DNS  

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 2

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +6:20 60
2 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V +5:58 55
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV +5:56 50
4 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders V +5:40 45
5 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +5:25 40
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +5:10 35
7 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member V +4:50 30
8 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V +4:20 25
9 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V +4:15 20
10 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV +4:10 15
11 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V +3:41 10
12 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V +3:24 5
13 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V +3:23 5
14 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +2:17 5
15 Tim Rex North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:16 5
16 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:56 5
17 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V +1:21 5
18 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +1:20 5
19 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:14 5
20 Andrew Clarke North Shropshire Wheelers V +1:07 5
21 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders WV +0:26 5
22 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V +0:15 5
23 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +0:11 5
24 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V -0:54 5
25 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV -1:13 5
26 Mark Stocks Newport Shropshire CC V -1:37 5
27 Richard Howes Wrekinsport CC V -2:04 5
28 Jason Davies Paramount CRT V -2:05 5
29 Dave Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers V -5:13 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 2

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders W 38:10 60
2 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 38:19 55
3 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC W 38:40 50
4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 41:18 45
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 42:41 40
6 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders WV 42:42 35
7 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 45:13 30
  Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS  

Top Club Award – Round 2

Pos’n Club Points
=1 Hafren CC 100
=1 Nova Raiders 100
3 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 80
4 North Shropshire Wheelers 70
5 Holohan Coaching RT 65
6 Oswestry Paragon CC 30
=7 Clee Cycles 15
=7 Paramount CRT 15
9 Wrekinsport CC 10
=10 Ludlow CC 5
=10 Newport Shropshire CC 5

Cumulative Standings after two rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 105
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 85
3 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders V 70
=4 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 60
=4 Matt Garthwaite Holohan Coaching RT S 60
6 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 55
7 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 50
8 Jack Wilson Ludlow Brewery RT S 45
9 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V 40
=10 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 35
=10 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 35
=10 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT V 35

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers 115
2 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders 95
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 75
4 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders 60
5 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC 55
6 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 50
7 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT 45
=8 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers 40
=8 James Griffiths Clee Cycles 40
=10 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT 30
=10 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member 30

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 120
2 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 105
3 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders 80
4 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 55
5 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 50
6 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 45
7 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 40
8 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers 30

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member 60

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders 240
2 Hafren CC 145
3 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 135
4 Holohan Coaching RT 125
5 Ludlow Brewery RT 90
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 70
7 Wrekinsport CC 55
8 Clee Cycles 40
9 Oswestry Paragon CC 30
10 Paramount CRT 20
11 Newport Shropshire CC 15
12 Ludlow CC 10
13 Revolutions Racing 5
  • Round 3 of the Friction Hydraulics Series takes place on 21st April when Mid Shropshire Wheelers run their 25 mile event on the Prees – Hodnet course.