SB Sports Injuries Shropshire Championship 50 presented by
Mid Shropshire Wheelers
The first County Championship medals of the season were decided in the SB Sports Injuries Shropshire Championship 50 presented by Mid Shropshire Wheelers as first-time riders of the four lap Prees – Whitchurch – Quina Brook circuit took home more than their fair share of the available silverware. With four riders beating the magic two hour/25mph mark Holohan Coaching’s Kirk Vickers set a superb winning margin of over five minutes in Round 6 of the Friction Hydraulics Series.
Vickers took Gold and the County 50 Mile Trophy by setting a sizzling time of 1 hour 51 minutes 43 seconds on his first experience of the circuit – and put experience of maintaining focus gained in multi-lap road races to good use. He commented: “I loved the course, and got my pacing strategy spot on with a negative split. Well done to all riders competing, and to the organisers and marshals for putting on a top event“.
2018’s Silver medallist Bryn Davies found himself taking the same medal again in 2019 as the Hafren CC rider led his club to Team 50 Gold with support from Ian Nisbett and Emma Serjeant. Davies stopped the watch on 1:56:53, 1:04 ahead of Nisbett who captured Bronze in a strong showing for the club – although Davies’ race wasn’t without incident as he revealed: “Not my fastest time on the course, but I think I paced it quite well. I had a water bottle issue, having to hold it on at times to stop it falling off. I always knew Kirk was going to put in a fast time so I’m happy with the result in the end. I’m really pleased to pick up the Team Gold and to see fellow Hafren CC rides doing so well“. Davies wasn’t finished there either as he took a third medal – Veteran’s Silver with a fine show of +20:31 against Standard.
Nisbett meanwhile had finished fourth in 2018 but took Bronze in 2019 by beating Vickers’ team mate Matt Davies by 1:15 with a fine effort of 1:57:57. Like his team mate he also took three medals home, also winning Veteran’s Bronze in +19:52. He rode a cautious race, keeping within himself as he nursed unpredictable form, but this time got the balance as he explained: “I’ve been struggling with up and down form this season, so I played it safe and dialled down my target power for the 50. My ride itself was very smooth and evenly paced, I finished with quite a bit left in the tank, but probably better that way than blowing up half way round and grovelling home. I was pleased to take Bronze in both Overall and Veterans. A good race for Hafren! – individual awards for all three of us and the Team Gold too. Top rides by Emma and Bryn“.
As Nisbett eluded to Serjeant had more than just Team 50 Gold to celebrate as she executed a well thought-out plan to capture Women’s Silver with an excellent ride of 2:16:02 to make it a bumper haul for Hafren CC as the team also made up ground on Nova Raiders in the Top Club Award. Serjeant helped her team to a 6:10:52 cumulative finishing time to push out 2018’s winners Nova Raiders by a superb margin of 12:10. She stated: “My aim for the event was good pacing so I didn’t die on the last lap! It went perfectly to plan so I was very pleased. Thank you all the helpers for another great event“. When told she’d won Team Gold a shocked Serjeant added: “This is a great achievement against some strong clubs. Well done to Ian and Bryn – always proud to be wearing my Hafren jersey“.
Serjeant wasn’t finished there as she had some final words for another rider who took home a brace of medals – Deb Hutson-Lumb: “Well done to Deb on a strong ride”! Strong indeed as the Nova Raider stunned the Women’s field to take Gold and the Women’s 50 mile Trophy by a margin of 4:04 with a fabulous time of 2:11:58 as well as Veteran’s Gold and The Jim Heath Trophy by 42 seconds in +21:13 on her first experience of the circuit.
Hutson-Lumb moved to within five points of the Friction Women’s Series lead on the strength of this ride but clearly felt she could have done even better if she had trained on the course first: “I’ve not ridden that course before and would definitely have benefited from some practice on the time trial bike beforehand – very sketchy cornering down the B5476! I was pleased with the ride though and looking forward to racing that course again. Huge thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for another great event“.
Meanwhile SCCA Chair Helen Tudor helped herself to Women’s Bronze in 2:31:53 and was also full of praise for the strength of the Women’s field stating: “Great rides from Deb and Emma and another well run event from Mid Shropshire Wheelers“.
The rare sight of a Junior racing this extended distance saw Revolutions Racing’s Henri Bedford put up a great show in not only his first sight of this course, but his first ever 50. Bedford set himself a tough benchmark to beat as he took Junior 50 Gold in 2:05:04 – good enough for 6th spot Overall. He stated: “It was a tough ride for my first competitive 50 as I didn’t quite know what to expect, and I was pleased with my overall position. Thank you to the organisers and marshals in light of the early start, and well done to all riders“.
Result
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 6
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Kirk Vickers | Holohan Coaching Race Team | S | 01:51:43 | 70 |
| 2 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 01:56:53 | 65 |
| 3 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | 01:57:57 | 60 |
| 4 | Matthew Davies | Holohan Coaching Race Team | S | 01:59:12 | 55 |
| 5 | Dean Dovey | Nova Raiders | V | 02:02:49 | 50 |
| 6 | Henri Bedford | Revolutions Racing | J | 02:05:04 | 45 |
| 7 | Ed Middleton | Nova Raiders | S | 02:08:15 | 40 |
| 8 | James Neale | North Shropshire Wheelers | S | 02:08:30 | 35 |
| 9 | Tim Rex | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 02:10:17 | 30 |
| 10 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | WV | 02:11:58 | 25 |
| 11 | Steve Cornish | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 02:14:04 | 20 |
| 12 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | W | 02:16:02 | 15 |
| 13 | Dave Mawhinney | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 02:16:07 | 10 |
| 14 | Alistair Hatton | Wrekinsport CC | V | 02:20:28 | 10 |
| 15 | David Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 02:22:31 | 10 |
| 16 | Mark Stocks | Newport Shropshire CC | V | 02:25:52 | 10 |
| 17 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 02:31:53 | 10 |
| 18 | Les Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 02:34:42 | 10 |
| Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNF | ||
| Jason Davis | Paramount CRT | V | DNF | ||
| Robert Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | DNF | ||
| Phil Guy | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNS-A | ||
| Natalie Brooks | Paramount CRT | W | DNS-A | ||
| David Gostelow | Wrekinsport CC | V | DNS |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 6
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Vets +/- | Vets Points |
| 1 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | WV | + 21:13 | 70 |
| 2 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | + 20:31 | 65 |
| 3 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | + 19:52 | 60 |
| 4 | Dean Dovey | Nova Raiders | V | + 18:17 | 55 |
| 5 | David Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | + 16:34 | 50 |
| 6 | Steve Cornish | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | + 11:36 | 45 |
| 7 | Tim Rex | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | + 07:32 | 40 |
| 8 | Dave Mawhinney | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | + 07:18 | 35 |
| 9 | Alistair Hatton | Wrekinsport CC | V | + 01:59 | 30 |
| 10 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | – 00:32 | 25 |
| 11 | Mark Stocks | Newport Shropshire CC | V | – 05:12 | 20 |
| 12 | Les Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | – 12:43 | 15 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 6
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Women’s Points |
| 1 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | WV | 02:11:58 | 70 |
| 2 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | W | 02:16:02 | 65 |
| 3 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | WV | 02:31:53 | 60 |
| Natalie Brooks | Paramount CRT | W | DNS-A |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 6
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Henri Bedford | Revolutions Racing | J | 02:05:04 | 70 |
Team 50 Gold
Hafren CC (Bryn Davies, Ian Nisbett, Emma Serjeant) 6:10:52
Top Club Award – Round 6
| Pos’n | Club | Points |
| 1 | Hafren CC | 140 |
| 2 | Holohan Coaching RT | 125 |
| 3 | Nova Raiders | 115 |
| 4 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 85 |
| 5 | Revolutions Racing | 45 |
| 6 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 30 |
| =7 | Newport Shropshire CC | 10 |
| =7 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 10 |
| =7 | Wrekinsport CC | 10 |
Cumulative Standings after six rounds
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 325 |
| 2 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | 260 |
| 3 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 210 |
| 4 | Dean Dovey | Nova Raiders | V | 205 |
| 5 | Kirk Vickers | Holohan Coaching RT | S | 130 |
| 6 | Ed Middleton | Nova Raiders | S | 115 |
| 7 | Matt Davies | Holohan Coaching RT | S | 95 |
| 8 | Dean Callister | Nova Raiders | S | 90 |
| =9 | James Griffiths | Clee Cycles | V | 80 |
| =9 | Stephen Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 80 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
| Position | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 310 |
| =2 | Dean Dovey | Nova Raiders | 255 |
| =2 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | 255 |
| 4 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | 225 |
| 5 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 200 |
| 6 | David Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | 100 |
| 7 | Stephen Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | 90 |
| 8 | Ian Pollard | SCCA Private Member | 85 |
| 9 | James Griffiths | Clee Cycles | 80 |
| =10 | Gino Trasatti | North Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
| =10 | Tim Beardmore | Nova Raiders | 60 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Charlotte Chapman | Nova Raiders | 240 |
| 2 | Deb Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | 235 |
| 3 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 190 |
| 4 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 170 |
| 5 | 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 | 180 |
| 2 | Henri Bedford | Revolutions Racing | 70 |
| 3 | George Coombes | Evolve | 55 |
Top Club Award
| Position | Club | Total Points |
| 1 | Nova Raiders | 650 |
| 2 | Hafren CC | 610 |
| 3 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 305 |
| 4 | Holohan Coaching RT | 285 |
| 5 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 245 |
| 6 | Wrekinsport CC | 205 |
| 7 | Ludlow Brewery RT | 175 |
| =8 | Clee Cycles | 80 |
| =8 | Ludlow CC | 80 |
| =10 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 50 |
| =10 | Revolutions Racing | 50 |
| 12 | Newport Shropshire CC | 35 |
| 13 | Paramount CRT | 30 |
| 14 | Evolve | 5 |