Josh Williams sensationally lowered the County 25 mile record for his third event at the distance in a row as he made the Cyclotherapy Shropshire Championship 25, Round 11 of the Friction Hydraulics Series a memorable race. Williams sliced a huge 1:24 off his own benchmark fittingly in the Blue Riband event of County cycling to lower that record to an incredible 47 minutes 57 seconds at Welshpool in a race notable for many personal bests.

All eyes were on The Team Bottrill as he averaged 31.2mph with much better conditions than in the Hafren CC 25 which took place three weeks earlier on the same course, and he didn’t disappoint. A delighted Williams commented: “I’m really pleased with my time. Going into the race I was going for a 48 if I’m being honest, which would have broke my previous 49:21 record but at the half way point I knew I was on for a fast time so it was a case of keeping focused and getting the job done. I’m happy to have broke my record three times in a row. Thanks to all the organisers and marshals a very well run event and the cake went down a treat at the end“!

It was a close call for County 25 Gold with the top two in the County Championship split by just 16 seconds – with both setting personal best times. Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies came out on top, winning Gold and The Freestone Trophy for the first time and on his home course ahead of SCCA Private Member Dan Watts. Davies stopped the watch on 53:20, consigning Watts to the Silver medal position with 53:36 and was delighted with his efforts, stating: “I was really happy with the result. I felt fast going out and was afraid I may have over done it, but felt good coming back. I could see I was on for a Personal Best so I pushed on hard to the finish, achieving a 25m and course PB. Thanks to all involved on the night“. Watts meanwhile was also satisfied with his ride, a County personal best. He added: “I was pleased with my time, a Shropshire 25 PB for me. Well done to Bryn on Gold, and a super ride from Josh showed his calibre“.

Meanwhile it was a close call for Bronze as Stuart Proctor set another of the evening’s personal bests to take that medal by just two seconds with a fine effort of 54:48. However despite that record and medal Proctor suffered from a recurring issue which has blighted his last few races – cramp. He explained: “I have mixed feelings. I was absolutely chuffed to knock over a minute from my previous best on the course, a new county 25 PB but was suffering from cramp for the whole of the race, kicking in from the start! Something I need to deal with sooner rather than later“.

But Team Gold unusually went to none of these riders as Nova Raiders made it a double have won the 10 mile Team Championship four days earlier with the same members qualifying. Leading the group was Matt Gibbons, 4th on the day in 54:50; with superb back up from Scott Harris, 6th in 56:19 and Tim Beardmore, 8th in 57:26 for a combined 2:48:35. This was the prize this trio had set out to win and they did by a good margin of 6:05 from Mid Shropshire Wheelers, with good back up throughout the field ensuring they stretched their Top Club Award lead to a huge 450 points. All three were delighted with their success, with Gibbons commenting: “Great results for a lot of riders, and I was delighted to win Gold with Scotty and Tim again. I really pushed myself on a good course with excellent marshalling. Thanks to all who helped out“. Harris added: “A great course, I felt strong and aimed for Team Gold – pleased to get it“. Beardmore meanwhile just missed out on one of his goals for the evening, explaining: “I was hoping for a PB but it didn’t quite work out. I felt I paced it well and gave my all. Another strong team performance from all the Nova Raiders. Super pleased to bag another Team Gold“.

Davies and Proctor weren’t finished there as they also took the major medals in the Veteran’s Championship too, with Davies gaining Gold thanks to a converted +13:19 with Proctor just five seconds back in +13:14 taking Silver. But they weren’t the only riders helping themselves to a brace of medals with Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Jenny York capturing Veterans’ Bronze in +12:35. York wasn’t finished there however, going two better to take Gold in the Women’s’ Championship in a close-fought battle with Revolutions Racing’s Pauline Hughes. The pair were split by just five seconds, with York stopping the watch on 1:03:08. It was a shock win for York as she explained she was feeling under the weather: “An unexpected win after recent flu virus! I was pleased to get Gold on my favourite course. It was close between all the women’s who all had excellent rides“. Hughes added: “Good, fast conditions, and a great course. Congratulations to Jenny on Gold and a fabulous time. Brilliant women’s times, well done to all“.

 

Those two comments show the level of competition in the Women’s field with theBronze won by just nine seconds after a great battle between Jenny Newton and Ceris Eslava. Newton’s 1:04:24 was a huge personal best by over three minutes, with the Nova Raider ecstatic with her performance: “I’m delighted with my time. I knew I had it in me to climb the ladder, but didn’t expect such a jump. Well done to everyone else some great times. Thanks to great marshals and fabulous cake“!

 

In the Junior Championship Sam Morris was another rider setting a personal best by a big margin to take Gold. Morris took ninth place overall with an excellent 57:32 and was another rider with a big smile on their face at headquarters post-race. He stated: “It was nice to see some competition for the Junior prize. I was really happy with my ride, a massive PB, I couldn’t have asked for better. I loved the course. A great event, thanks to everyone who helped“. Meanwhile namesake Kieran Morris took Junior Silver with a good time of 1:03:52 – though he was one of the few riders not happy with his efforts. He explained: “My race didn’t go to plan, I was trying something different. I’m glad my exams are now finished! Well done to Sam on the Junior win, and also Josh for an incredible time. Thank you SCCA for putting on a great event“.

 

Result

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 11

 

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 53:20 60
2 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 53:36 55
3 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 54:48 50
4 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 54:50 45
5 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 55:22 40
6 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 56:19 35
7 Gary Duncan Paramount CRT V 57:15 30
8 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 57:26 25
9 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 57:32 20
10 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member V 58:12 15
11 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 58:27 10
12 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V 58:55 5
13 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 59:00 5
14 Ian Hobley Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 59:04 5
15 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 1:00:14 5
16 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:00:14 5
17 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 1:00:15 5
18 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:00:37 5
19 Rob Kerr Oswestry Paragon CC S 1:01:42 5
20 John Robertson Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:01:56 5
21 Vince Evans Wrekinsport CC V 1:02:06 5
22 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 1:02:32 5
23 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 1:02:38 5
24 David Gostelow Wrekinsport CC V 1:03:07 5
25 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:03:08 5
26 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 1:03:13 5
27 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC V 1:03:29 5
28 Kieran Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 1:03:52 5
29 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 1:04:24 5
30 Ceris Eslava Paramount CRT LV 1:04:33 5
31 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:04:53 5
32 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:06:20 5
33 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 1:06:45 5
34 Ian Carson Oswestry Paragon CC V 1:08:10 5
Dave Poulter Wrekinsport CC V DNS-A
James Griffiths Clee Cycles V DNS

 

25 Championship Team Award

 

Gold – Nova Raiders (Matt Gibbons, Scott Harris, Tim Beardmore) 2:48:35

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 11

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +13:19 60
2 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V +13:14 55
3 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV +12:35 50
4 Gary Duncan Paramount CRT V +11:37 45
5 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV +11:10 40
6 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V +10:56 35
7 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member V +10:53 30
8 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V +9:37 25
9 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V +9:26 20
10 Ceris Eslava Paramount CRT LV +9:08 15
11 John Robertson Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +9:01 10
12 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V +8:55 5
13 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV +8:25 5
14 Ian Hobley Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +7:47 5
15 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +7:36 5
16 Vince Evans Wrekinsport CC V +7:28 5
17 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +7:25 5
18 David Gostelow Wrekinsport CC V +6:57 5
19 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V +6:20 5
20 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV +6:17 5
21 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +6:04 5
22 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC V +4:57 5
23 Ian Carson Oswestry Paragon CC V +4:10 5
24 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V +3:35 5
25 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:32 5

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 11

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:03:08 60
2 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 1:03:13 55
3 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 1:04:24 50
4 Ceris Eslava Paramount CRT LV 1:04:33 45
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 1:06:45 40

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 11

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 57:32 60
2 Kieran Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 1:03:52 55

 

Top Club Award – Round 11

 

Pos’n Club Points
1 Nova Raiders 130
=2 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 75
=2 Revolutions Racing 75
4 SCCA Private Member 70
5 Hafren CC 60
6 Paramount CRT 35
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 25
8 Wrekinsport CC 20
=9 Newport Shropshire CC 5
=9 North Shropshire Wheelers 5

 

Cumulative Standings after eleven rounds

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 590
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 555
3 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 395
4 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 335
5 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 310
=6 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 200
=6 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 200
8 Scott Harris Nova Raiders V 195
9 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 160
10 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 140

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 535
2 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 500
3 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing 470
4 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders 370
5 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 255
6 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC 230
7 Scott Harris Nova Raiders 190
8 Gary Duncan Paramount CRT 175
9 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers 150
10 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers 135

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 630
2 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 440
3 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 275
4 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 270
5 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 255
6 Ceris Eslava Paramount CRT 195
7 Becky Lewis Mid Shropshire Wheelers 190
8 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders 145
9 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers 120
10 Sarah Mawhinney Mid Shropshire Wheelers 80

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing 550
=2 Kieran Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers 55
=2 Matty Redworth Mid Shropshire Wheelers 55
=2 William Hints Ludlow Brewery RT 55
5 Sam Holwill Hafren CC 50
6 Ben Pierce Mid Shropshire Wheelers 45
7 Ryan Greaves Mid Shropshire Wheelers 40
8 Henri Bedford Mid Shropshire Wheelers 35
9 Hollie Owens SCCA Private Member 30
10 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers 25

 

Top Club Award

 

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders 1440
2 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 990
3 Revolutions Racing 700
4 Hafren CC 630
5 Paramount CRT 285
6 Wrekinsport CC 280
7 North Shropshire Wheelers 265
8 SCCA Private Members 250
9 Rhino Velo Race Team 175
10 Ludlow Brewery RT 125
11 Ludlow CC 95
12 Oswestry Paragon CC 70
13 Clee Cycles 45
14 Newport Shropshire CC 40
15 Market Drayton CC 10

 

  • Round 12 of the Friction Hydraulics Series takes place on Saturday, 8th July when Ludlow CC promote their second 10 mile event on the Brimfield – Ludlow course.