R12 Friction Hydraulics Series: SCCA & WCTTCA Championship 100

There was a familiar winner in the longest race on the County calendar, the Brian Mear (Bricks) Shropshire Championship 100 as Victor Chetta took The Jack Parker 100 mile Trophy and double Gold in both Overall and Veterans Championships in Round 12 of the Friction Hydraulics Series. Chetta has been gradually returning to fitness after a horror training crash saw him sidelined for the middle part of the season with a broken jaw, but he took off where he left things in his first race since recovering, defending the title last able to be run in 2019 due to Covid-19.

Chetta stopped the watch on 3 hours 42 minutes and 57 seconds for a dominant win of over 10 minutes from Tim Beardmore, with this race key to winning the County Best All Rounder which is always a major target for this long-distance specialist. He wasn’t finished there though taking Veterans 100 Gold in +59:25, with Beardmore getting much closer in this age-related competition at around 4½ minutes. Chetta stated: “I was fairly pleased with how that went for my first race coming back after recovering from crash injuries, the quick course and great marshalling and timekeeping over a lengthy event were much appreciated”.

It wasn’t for lack of effort that Beardmore ended up as runner-up, attempting the distance for the first time for a while and taking 100 Silver in 3:53:15 and Veteran’s 100 Silver in +54:47 in a strong showing for Bridgnorth CC with team mate Jonathan Mills-Keeling taking both Overall and Veterans Bronze medals in an unusual scenario of the same three medallists heading up two competitions in the same order. Friction Series leader Beardmore took a giant step forward at the top of the standings after a valiant first go at the distance by Junior Henri Bedford, the first under-18 attempting the distance in memory, ended after 61 miles, with Beardmore now having a 115 point gap over the youngster. He piled on the pressure on Mills-Keeling in the Veterans standings however, adding an extra five points to now have a commanding 190 point lead. Beardmore commented: “This is the first time I’ve ridden a 100 for a few years, but something I had targeted for this season. Conditions were great and I was very pleased with my time which was a big personal best for me. However it would have been even better if I hadn’t dropped my chain at 96 miles! Massive thanks to the organisers, timekeepers and marshals”.

Mills-Keeling meanwhile was on a steep learning curve both in terms of distance and ability to stay on the bike, with an excellent first attempt comfortably beating 25mph average around three laps of Market Drayton – Shawbirch. Mills-Keeling crossed the line in 3:56:56 to edge Wrekinsport’s Tomos Hales, another first time out from the Bronze medal by an agonising four seconds. He had a more secure win from another Wrekinsport rider Rob Jackson, also attempting the 100 for the first time by nearly 12 minutes with +50:05. The Bridgnorth CC rider stated: “My first 100, and the first time I’ve rode the bike over two hours! I enjoyed it, a great event and top support on the road, thanks to everyone involved”.

Wrekinsport didn’t go home empty handed however as Hales and Jackson with support from Alistair Hatton took Team 100 Gold in a combined 13:30:51. Hales led the team home in 3:57 exactly, and like many he found punching through a bad patch and coming out the other side is a common phenomenon at this distance, which is as much a mental game as it is physical: “The hundred went well, I felt good until around 80 miles then started to question why I choose to do it. I’m very happy to get under four hours on my first hundred, well done to Wrekinsport for fielding three competitors, and thanks to all the marshals and times keepers as was a very early start for all”.

Jackson posted a fine 4:19:06 and clearly suffered on his first attempt, but explained why he entered: “I set completing my first 100 as a personal goal this year and was so pleased to have finished one minute under my target time. Team Gold is definitely the icing on the cake. It was far tougher than I expected, and I could hardly turn the pedals to get back to HQ”.

Hatton was third counter in 5:14:45 and like many learnt the hard way that saving something for the latter part of the race is a good policy. Nevertheless he was delighted to win a medal: “A nice surprise. I was riding the road bike for the extra comfort and was aiming for a 20mph average, but I struggled to hold it into the wind on the last 25 miles and finished on 19mph. Big thanks to Tomos and Rob for their efforts, and also all the timekeepers and marshals and volunteers for  giving up their time”.

Chetta wasn’t the only rider successfully regaining a trophy as Helen Tudor took the Women’s 100 mile Trophy she won in 2019, although disappointed that no other women chose to challenge her. Tudor ended her morning on 5:08:19 and took Women’s Gold for Oswestry Paragon. She stated: “I was pleased to keep hold of the 100 mile trophy, but a shame that I was the only SCCA woman to ride. I’ve struggled to fit training in around work for the past 18 months so I was pleased to get round even if not close to my personal best. Thanks to organiser Dave Drew and all those who helped out, a very well run event and lots of much appreciated support around the course”.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 12

100 mile Team Championship

Gold: Wrekinsport CC (Tomos Hales, Rob Jackson, Alistair Hatton) 13:30:51

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 12

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 12

Top Club Award – Round 12

Cumulative Standings after twelve rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Top Club Award