Mid Shropshire Wheelers 25
The Mid Shropshire Wheelers 25 was memorable for all the right reasons with 44 riders from 91 solo finishers beating the hour on the Prees – Tern Hill – Hodnet course – with Dan Watts taking the County win in a fabulous time of 53 minutes 30 seconds. The event, which incorporated Round 3 of the Friction Hydraulics Series was held on a glorious morning, with Watts making his maiden appearance in the Series for 2019 and beating Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies into the runner-up spot in the process.
Watts concentration was however on the friendly rivalry with team mate Luke Pollard, with Pollard taking the overall win in a strong 50:47 as he prepared for a major triathlon event on Gran Canaria. Despite this Watts was pleased with his ride but had droll words to say about his team mates’ ride: “My first 25 of the year and now my body knows it, so I am pleased to come away with the County win. Super weather, and good catch up with everyone made for an enjoyable day – until Luke ruined it for everyone by riding too fast“!
Davies narrowed the gap at the top of the Overall standings thanks to his 55:17 ride, pushing Friction Series leader Victor Chetta out by just three seconds. But Davies wasn’t finished there as he took the Veteran’s runner-up spot too with a fine +11:48, and with Chetta having to content himself with 6th in this Championship the gap at the top is narrowing. Davies stated: “I was pleased with the result, my first couple of races I’ve been struggling for form, not quite where I would like to be yet but pleased enough. Fantastic conditions and a great turnout with some super fast times from the top guys. A great time by Dan with a good margin over myself in second spot. Thanks to everyone involved in organising and running the event, a great effort by all“.
Chetta, riding his own club’s promotion was, by his own admission, not quite at the peak of form usually expected and was philosophical about ‘only’ finishing in third spot: “Despite the lovely Spring weather it turned out to be one of those funny mornings when my legs wouldn’t respond to the efforts I asked of them, and I came to the conclusion that they must have been left asleep in bed! I did enjoy the cakes at HQ afterwards though“!
With Davies taking Veteran’s runner-up the rider pushing him out for victory took that win by a big margin of 1:16, with Nova Raiders’ Deb Hutson-Lumb registering an excellent +13:04. Hutson-Lumb’s actual time of 1:01:40 was good enough to take the Women’s runner-up spot, 38 seconds behind a tremendous ride from her team mate Charlotte Chapman, who extended her lead at the top of the Friction Women’s Chapionship in the process. Hutson-Lumb commented: “The first 25 in the bag, and a great day for it. I had hoped for a better time but didn’t get my pacing right and paid the price on the return leg for going out too hard (again!). However, I am very pleased to win the Veterans. Fabulous results from all the Nova Raiders with Charlotte bagging the Women’s win. It should be a good season for us all. Many thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for an excellent event“.
Chapman was clearly in her element on one of her favourite courses and was both pleased with her efforts and with the overall performance from her team mates, who extended their advantage in the Top Club Award they have made their own for the past two years to 110 points in the defence of that title. She enthused: “I love this course and was very glad to get close to the hour on it. It was a fast morning and it was great to see some very strong Nova times! An awesome effort from Deb winning the Veterans! Good things to come from the Raiders this year I think“.
With four club mates beating the hour Hutson-Lumb and Chapman had good reason to be full of praise as highest-placed of those Raiders Dean Dovey stopped the watch on 57:18 and took third Veteran with +11:33, 21 seconds ahead of Tony Harvey. Things however almost didn’t go quite as smoothly as they appeared, with the adrenalin evidently kicking in as Dovey revealed: “I nearly missed my start so I was a bit frantic! I paced it quite well on a perfect morning with a very strong field. Congratulations to the winners in all competitions, I was very surprised to pick up 3rd in the Veterans. A big thanks to all the volunteers for another well run event“.
Junior rider Kieran Morris was on the comeback trail after injury and showed clearly that he had no lingering after effects with a superb ride of 58:08 to take 8th spot overall. He commented: “I was looking forward to my comeback race. It was never going to be pleasant but just glad to be back riding – five weeks off seems like forever“.
Result
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 3
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Dan Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 0:53:30 | 60 |
| 2 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 0:55:17 | 55 |
| 3 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 0:55:20 | 50 |
| 4 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | 0:56:12 | 45 |
| 5 | Dean Dovey | Nova Raiders | V | 0:57:18 | 40 |
| 6 | Matt Davies | Holohan Coaching Race Team | S | 0:57:55 | 35 |
| 7 | Ed Middleton | Nova Raiders | S | 0:58:04 | 30 |
| 8 | Kieran Morris | SCCA Private Member | J | 0:58:08 | 25 |
| 9 | Dean Callister | Nova Raiders | S | 0:58:29 | 20 |
| 10 | Tony Harvey | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 0:58:32 | 15 |
| 11 | Gareth Brookes | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 0:59:43 | 10 |
| 12 | Andy Rose | Nova Raiders | V | 0:59:56 | 5 |
| 13 | William Baugh | Ludlow CC | V | 1:00:03 | 5 |
| 14 | Ian Pollard | SCCA Private Member | V | 1:00:09 | 5 |
| 15 | James Neale | North Shropshire Wheelers | S | 1:00:39 | 5 |
| 16 | Charlotte Chapman | Nova Raiders | W | 1:01:02 | 5 |
| 17 | Tomos Hales | Wrekinsport CC | S | 1:01:08 | 5 |
| 18 | Mark Griffiths | Wrekinsport CC | V | 1:01:22 | 5 |
| 19 | Allan Henderson | Wrekinsport CC | S | 1:01:35 | 5 |
| 20 | Tim Rex | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:01:37 | 5 |
| 21 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | WV | 1:01:40 | 5 |
| 22 | Andy Collins | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:02:02 | 5 |
| 23 | Ian Connolly | Ludlow CC | V | 1:02:15 | 5 |
| 24 | Gino Trasatti | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:04:31 | 5 |
| 25 | David Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:06:52 | 5 |
| 26 | Natalie Brooks | Paramount CRT | W | 1:07:14 | 5 |
| 27 | Richard Howes | Wrekinsport CC | V | 1:08:23 | 5 |
| 28 | Les Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 1:08:39 | 5 |
| 29 | Milly Deer | North Shropshire Wheelers | W | 1:08:42 | 5 |
| 30 | Jason Davis | Paramount CRT | V | 1:09:36 | 5 |
| 31 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 1:09:47 | 5 |
| 32 | Robert Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | 1:10:20 | 5 |
| 33 | Richard Goddard | Newport (Shropshire) CC | V | 1:13:22 | 5 |
| 34 | Linda Beckett | North Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 1:24:21 | 5 |
| 35 | Damian Jay | Propel Cycling Club | V | DNF | |
| 36 | Richard Kay | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNS-A | |
| 37 | Paul Carroll | Nova Raiders | V | DNS |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 3
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Vet +/- | Vets Points |
| 1 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | WV | +13:04 | 60 |
| 2 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | +11:48 | 55 |
| 3 | Dean Dovey | Nova Raiders | V | +11:33 | 50 |
| 4 | Tony Harvey | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | +11:12 | 45 |
| 5 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | +11:04 | 40 |
| 6 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | +10:54 | 35 |
| 7 | David Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +10:50 | 30 |
| 8 | Ian Pollard | SCCA Private Member | V | +9:21 | 25 |
| 9 | Gino Trasatti | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +8:44 | 20 |
| 10 | Gareth Brookes | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +8:32 | 15 |
| 11 | Andy Rose | Nova Raiders | V | +8:19 | 10 |
| 12 | William Baugh | Ludlow CC | V | +8:12 | 5 |
| 13 | Mark Griffiths | Wrekinsport CC | V | +7:29 | 5 |
| 14 | Andy Collins | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | +6:13 | 5 |
| 15 | Ian Connolly | Ludlow CC | V | +5:48 | 5 |
| 16 | Tim Rex | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +5:39 | 5 |
| 17 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | +4:04 | 5 |
| 18 | Robert Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | +2:31 | 5 |
| 19 | Les Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +0:37 | 5 |
| 20 | Richard Howes | Wrekinsport CC | V | -0:43 | 5 |
| 21 | Jason Davis | Paramount CRT | V | -1:45 | 5 |
| 22 | Richard Goddard | Newport (Shropshire) CC | V | -4:31 | 5 |
| 23 | Linda Beckett | North Shropshire Wheelers | WV | -11:35 | 5 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 3
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Women’s Points |
| 1 | Charlotte Chapman | Nova Raiders | W | 1:01:02 | 60 |
| 2 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | WV | 1:01:40 | 55 |
| 3 | Natalie Brooks | Paramount CRT | W | 1:07:14 | 50 |
| 4 | Milly Deer | North Shropshire Wheelers | W | 1:08:42 | 45 |
| 5 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 1:09:47 | 40 |
| 6 | Linda Beckett | North Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 1:24:21 | 35 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 3
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Kieran Morris | SCCA Private Member | J | 0:58:08 | 60 |
Top Club Award – Round 3
| Pos’n | Club | Points |
| 1 | Nova Raiders | 115 |
| 2 | Hafren CC | 100 |
| 3 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 75 |
| 4 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 50 |
| 5 | Holohan Coaching Race Team | 35 |
| 6 | Wrekinsport CC | 25 |
| =7 | Ludlow CC | 10 |
| =7 | Paramount CRT | 10 |
| =9 | Newport (Shropshire) CC | 5 |
| =9 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 5 |
Cumulative Standings after three rounds
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 155 |
| 2 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 140 |
| 3 | Dean Dovey | Nova Raiders | V | 110 |
| 4 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | 95 |
| 5 | Dan Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 60 |
| 5 | Kirk Vickers | Holohan Coaching RT | S | 60 |
| 5 | Matt Garthwaite | Holohan Coaching RT | S | 60 |
| 8 | Dean Callister | Nova Raiders | S | 55 |
| 8 | Tim Beardmore | Nova Raiders | V | 55 |
| 10 | Jack Wilson | Ludlow Brewery RT | S | 45 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
| Position | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 150 |
| 2 | Dean Dovey | Nova Raiders | 145 |
| 3 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 130 |
| 4 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | 110 |
| 5 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | 95 |
| =6 | Gino Trasatti | North Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
| =6 | Tim Beardmore | Nova Raiders | 60 |
| 8 | Ian Pollard | SCCA Private Member | 55 |
| 9 | David Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | 50 |
| =10 | Stephen Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | 45 |
| =10 | Tony Harvey | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 45 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Charlotte Chapman | Nova Raiders | 180 |
| 2 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | 110 |
| 3 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 105 |
| =4 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 80 |
| =4 | Jane Chapman | Nova Raiders | 80 |
| =6 | Jenny Newton | Nova Raiders | 50 |
| =6 | Natalie Brooks | Paramount CRT | 50 |
| =8 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 45 |
| =8 | Milly Deer | North Shropshire Wheelers | 45 |
| 10 | Linda Beckett | North Shropshire Wheelers | 35 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Kieran Morris | SCCA Private Member | 120 |
Top Club Award
| Position | Club | Total Points |
| 1 | Nova Raiders | 345 |
| 2 | Hafren CC | 245 |
| 3 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 205 |
| 4 | Holohan Coaching RT | 160 |
| 5 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 115 |
| 6 | Ludlow Brewery RT | 90 |
| 7 | Wrekinsport CC | 80 |
| 8 | Clee Cycles | 40 |
| 9 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 35 |
| 10 | Paramount CRT | 30 |
| 11 | Ludlow CC | 20 |
| 11 | Newport Shropshire CC | 20 |
| 13 | Revolutions Racing | 5 |