The top three were split by just four seconds in a terrifically close battle for supremacy in Round four of the Friction Hydraulics Series, with significant personal bests recorded in the Ludlow CC 10 at Brimfield. The gap at the top of the table was narrowed thanks to that tussle, with Chris Pook elevating himself to third spot overall with his first visit to the course. The Rhino Velo rider made the most of the fast, downhill start and came out on top with a fine effort of 21 minutes 8 seconds. Pook stated: “My race went well as aimed to do 21 dead and got close. This was only my second 10 mile time trial so I’m still learning pacing and best position; feels like there was more in the tank which is good. Thanks to Ludlow CC for putting it on“.

Bryn Davies has more experience of the course and put it to good use to capture the runner-up spot just three seconds behind Pook with a personal best – although he was left rueing bad luck. Davies lies in second spot in the Friction Hydraulics Championship and this ride moved him five points closer to the top. But that wasn’t all as the Hafren CC rider won the Veteran’s event too with a fine +5:02, 14 seconds ahead of Nova Raiders’ Scott Harris. Davies stretched his lead at the top of this Series to 50 points and will be a tough act to beat. He commented: “It was great to get County runner-up and a solo personal best as well, although a little frustrating to have lost 10-15 seconds getting held up in traffic, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Some great times, and very close at the top“.

Friction Series leader Victor Chetta was getting his first taste of the course and was agonisingly pushed out by Davies by a solitary second with 21:12, showing the skirmish going on for the top positions clearly. Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Chetta enjoyed his trip to the south of the County, stating: “My first time on an exciting course. Such a close contest for County honours certainly made it interesting“.

In the Women’s Series there’s a new name to conjure with as Charlotte Chapman set a giant personal best effort of 23:42 on her first visit to Brimfield. On the strength of this ride the Nova Raider elevated herself into joint first place in the Women’s Series, tying with Revolutions Racing’s Pauline Hughes who was second on the day in 24:31 as well as taking third place in the Veterans in +4:43, 3 seconds ahead of reigning Champion Jenny York. In her first full year time trialling Chapman has suddenly clicked and found her form, and this should definitely be a good contest as a result. She stated: “I’m absolutely chuffed, a personal best for me – and a few others as well! Lovely course and a great event thanks to Ludlow CC“!

Chapman was one of a big contingent of Nova Raiders looking to defend their Top Club Award Series lead – and they didn’t do just that, they extended it by 60 points to 195 points thanks to three riders appearing in the Top 10 led by Harris with support from Tim Beardmore and Ed Middleton as well as strength in depth throughout the field.

In the Junior Series Sam Morris again put in a dominant ride, with another of the day’s personal bests – 22:16. This was good enough for 9th overall despite an excellent effort from Ludlow Brewery RT’s William Hints on 23:41. Morris commented: “I had a great ride, a personal best by 15 seconds. As always a great event on one of my favourite courses“.

Result

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 4

 

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Chris Pook Rhino Velo Race Team S 21:08 60
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 21:11 55
3 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 21:12 50
4 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 21:18 45
5 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 21:39 40
6 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT V 21:45 35
7 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 21:51 30
8 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 22:01 25
9 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 22:16 20
10 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V 22:17 15
11 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 22:21 10
12 Nicholas Long Nova Raiders S 22:26 5
13 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 22:44 5
14 Wayne Pryce Wrekinsport CC S 22:49 5
15 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 22:53 5
16 Stephen Bent Ludlow CC V 23:06 5
17 Fraser MacKinnon Wrekinsport CC V 23:18 5
18 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V 23:24 5
19 David Owen Nova Raiders V 23:25 5
20 Clancy Wilson Ludlow CC V 23:27 5
21 William Hints Ludlow Brewery RT J 23:41 5
22 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 23:42 5
23 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders V 24:19 5
24 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC V 24:25 5
25 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 24:28 5
26 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 24:31 5
27 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 24:41 5
28 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 25:04 5
29 Jon Airey Ludlow CC V 25:14 5
30 Robin Shedden Wrekinsport CC V 26:28 5
31 Richard Berry North Shropshire Wheelers V 27:20 5
32 Patrick Haywood North Shropshire Wheelers V 30:33 5
Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V
Jane Chapman Nova Raiders LV

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 4

 

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +5:02 60
2 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V +4:48 55
3 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV +4:43 50
4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV +4:40 45
5 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT V +4:38 40
6 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V +4:32 35
7 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +4:30 30
8 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V +4:27 25
9 Stephen Bent Ludlow CC V +4:08 20
10 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V +4:03 15
11 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V +4:01 10
12 Clancy Wilson Ludlow CC V +3:42 5
13 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +3:23 5
14 Fraser MacKinnon Wrekinsport CC V +3:05 5
15 David Owen Nova Raiders V +2:58 5
16 Jon Airey Ludlow CC V +2:52 5
17 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V +2:33 5
18 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC V +2:29 5
19 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders V +1:59 5
20 Robin Shedden Wrekinsport CC V +0:46 5
21 Patrick Haywood North Shropshire Wheelers V +0:44 5
22 Richard Berry North Shropshire Wheelers V +0:06 5

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 4

 

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 23:42 60
2 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 24:31 55
3 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 25:04 50
Jane Chapman Nova Raiders LV

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 4

 

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 22:16 60
2 William Hints Ludlow Brewery RT J 23:41 55

 

Top Club Award – Round 4

 

Pos’n Club Points
1 Nova Raiders 125
2 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 65
3 Rhino Velo Race Team 60
4 Hafren CC 55
5 SCCA Private Member 45
6 Ludlow Brewery RT 40
=7 Revolutions Racing 25
=7 Wrekinsport CC 25
=9 Clee Cycles 15
=9 Ludlow CC 15
=9 North Shropshire Wheelers 15
12 Newport Shropshire CC 5

 

Cumulative Standings after four rounds

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 210
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 170
3 Chris Pook Rhino Velo Race Team S 115
4 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 95
5 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 90
6 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 85
=7 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 80
=7 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 80
9 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 75
10 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT V 70

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 175
2 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 125
3 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders 120
=4 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC 110
=4 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing 110
6 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 100
7 William Baugh Ludlow CC 95
8 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT 85
=9 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers 60
=9 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT 60

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
=1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 230
=1 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 230
=3 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders 100
=3 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 100
5 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 90
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 45
7 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers 40
8 Sarah Mawhinney Mid Shropshire Wheelers 35

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing 240
2 William Hints Ludlow Brewery RT 55

 

Top Club Award

 

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders 460
2 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 265
3 Revolutions Racing 220
4 Rhino Velo Race Team 175
5 Hafren CC 170
6 Wrekinsport CC 150
7 Ludlow Brewery RT 125
8 Paramount CRT 100
9 Ludlow CC 90
10 North Shropshire Wheelers 85
11 SCCA Private Members 55
12 Clee Cycles 40
13 Newport Shropshire CC 20
14 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

 

  • Round 5 of the Friction Hydraulics Series takes place on Sunday morning when Nova Raiders promote their 25 mile event on the Prees – Battlefield course.