Brian Mear (Bricks) Shropshire Championship 100

First timers featured heavily in the medals in the longest race on the County calendar – though it was an old hand who took the Overall win in The Brian Mear (Bricks) Shropshire Championship 100. Long distance specialist Victor Chetta was the only rider under the benchmark four hours on a tough morning in Round 13 of the Friction Hydraulics Series, with a motorcycle meeting meaning a change of course to one used in the classic Anfield BC event – including four gruelling laps of the Hodnet – Shawbury – Crudgington triangle.

Chetta retained The Jack Parker 100 Mile Trophy and took 100 Championship Gold for the third year in a row with a fabulous effort of 3 hours 53 minutes 31 seconds, battling through a stiff wind and rain which sprang up later in the morning. He commented: “I had to dig deep with heavy legs. I’m happy that I still did enough to retain the beautiful 100 mile Trophy for a third year“.

With a number of riders attempting this daunting distance for the first time the prospect of getting pacing and feeding wrong is a very real danger. However Stuart Proctor had obviously done his homework not only taking Overall Silver in a fine time of 4:05:03, he also took Gold in the Veteran’s Championship too with an impressive +51:33. This was a big step up for Proctor, who seemed to take to the distance like a duck to water judging by his post-race comments: “My first attempt at a 100 and I loved almost every minute of it. The big lesson I’ve learned this season is pacing, which I managed well and felt great, with even enough for a little dig at the finish! Well done to the other riders, it was a bit grim at times, as was four times over the Peplow pavé, but massive kudos to the organisers and all the marshals for the support today. Looking forward to next year, what a great event“!

It was another first-timer who took Overall Bronze too with Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies making it a brace after also capturing Veteran’s Bronze. Davies was feeling nervous with a day to go but his effort of 4:10:19 showed his underlying fitness off well, converting to a +40:10 Veteran Standard. Davies’ comments show the wearing down effect of the distance clearly as he suffered from a number of aches and pains: “I was happy enough with the result, though I found it tough going. The wheels came off on the last lap though: my legs went, and I had foot pain and was saddle sore. I was just hanging on to the end. I paced the first hour OK but pushed too hard for the next couple and suffered for it in the end“.

Beating Davies to Veteran’s Silver was North Shropshire Wheelers’ David Wilson. The 75 year-old set a fine standard of +44:38, stating: “It was going alright until the rain came down then it was not nice. I am very pleased to get Silver. I was aiming for under five hours but I just missed it. My legs cramped up at about 80 miles which slowed me down a bit“.

A feature of the Championship events in 2017 has been Team Gold going to a club with no rider in the Top 3 due to a strong overall performance, and the 100 was no exception with Nova Raiders just missing out on the 50 Team Championship to make it a complete set. The club finished in 4th, 6th and 8th in a combined time of 13 hours and 15 seconds led home by another first timer, Matt Gibbons, who stated: “There were some really big efforts from everyone on a tough day. Crudgington to Espley was brutal. I’m delighted to grab another Gold this year“.

Gibbons was backed up by Tim Beardmore and Ed Middleton, with Beardmore commenting: “I paced it well, I don’t think I could have done any more on the day. I’m happy with my time. Another great team performance from the Raiders, it’s great to get Team Gold. Hats off to Dave York for a brilliantly organised event, the drinks station worked really well. A big thanks to all the marshals and support“. Middleton added: “It was great to back boys up, also great to see so many Raiders race. A big thanks to the York’s for all their hard work“.

There was cause for double celebration for Pauline Hughes as she took a narrow win of 32 seconds from Oswestry Paragon’s Helen Tudor to capture Women’s Gold, The Women’s 100 Mile Trophy – and seal the Women’s Friction Hydraulics Series too. Hughes stopped the watch on a fine time of 5:02:37 with Tudor taking Silver in 5:03:09. Hughes commented: “It was good to ride the Anfield BC course, but I felt like my legs were going through treacle! I was glad to get to finish. Great encouragement from marshals and fellow competitors. Many thanks to all involved“. Tudor added: “I knocked four minutes off my best for the Anfield course despite having to stop and retrieve my Garmin which got shaken off over Peplow. Well done to Pauline on taking Gold. Thanks to Dave York for all the hard work he put in, and all the clubs that marshalled a great event“.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 13

100 Championship Team Award

Gold – Nova Raiders (Matt Gibbons, Tim Beardmore, Ed Middleton) 13:00:15

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 13

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 13

Top Club Award – Round 13

Cumulative Standings after thirteen 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

• Round 14 of the Friction Hydraulics Series takes place next Thursday evening when Oswestry Paragon CC promote their 10 mile event on the Arddleen – Buttington course.