Brian Mear (Bricks) Ltd Shropshire Championship 100.

Victor Chetta Shropshire County 100 Champion

The relentless heat and pounding of the Peplow pavé made the Brian Mear (Bricks) Ltd Shropshire Championship 100 a war of attrition as riders suffered in the longest event on the County time trialling calendar on a scorching hot morning. Riders in Round 11 of the Friction Hydraulics Series took on a new course over three laps of Market Drayton – Shawbirch, with reigning County 100 mile Champion Victor Chetta successfully defending his title, retaining the Jack Parker Trophy and adding Veteran’s Gold to his tally.

Photos Courtesy of Rob Jones

Long-distance specialist Chetta set the benchmark for the new circuit of 3 hours, 53 minutes and 59 seconds and was the only rider to beat the magical 4 hour/25mph standard, taking the Overall win from Kirk Vickers by nine minutes. But Chetta wasn’t finished there as his +52:08 Veteran’s standard pushed out Bryn Davies by nearly four minutes to make it a brace of Gold medals. Chetta commented: “I was delighted to take the win, but had to work for it in unexpectedly tougher and draggier conditions than the forecast suggested. I liked the flat course and am very grateful to the organisers and marshals“.

Pacing a 100 mile time trial is an acquired skill and getting it wrong can backfire spectacularly if you deplete your energy reserves. This was definitely a theme raised by other medal winners, with Vickers having to battle later on to take Silver by just 14 seconds from Bryn Davies in 4:03:03. He commented: “It was a nice morning for it. I went out too hard and paid for it in the second half. Happy to cling on for third Overall and second Shropshire rider, well done all riders“.

Davies finished in 4:03:17, taking Overall Bronze which is the same medal he won in 2017. In the Veterans he went one better however earning himself Silver thanks to a fine +48:14 effort. He comments show that the final 30 minutes were vital to the colour of medal he took: “I felt I was pacing it OK to start but started to crack in the last half hour. I managed to hang on to improve on my time from last year, but still a couple of minutes short of the four hour mark so I may have to have another crack at it. I enjoyed the new course which had a good rhythm, except for Peplow which I dealt with OK until the fatigue set in. It bounced me around a bit on the last pass. A very well organised event and fantastic work by the marshals, a big thanks to Dave York for organising“.

Davies’ Hafren CC team mate Ian Nisbett was stepping up to have a crack at 100 miles for the first time and was instantly rewarded after taking Veterans Bronze in +40:33. His comments show how the event wears riders down: “My first attempt at 100. I had a plan for power and hydration, all well until the final hour when it became a case of survival! I’ve never spent more than two hours in the time trial position and my body gave up at three and a half hours. I spent the last few miles on the hoods. Respect to Victor for the win and a cracking time, he is in another league“.

Team Gold went to the Wrekinsport CC trio of Dave Gostelow, Adam Mumford and Bob Elliott in a combined 14:51:14, a great result with two of the team also first time 100 riders. They were led home by a rider experienced at piling in the miles, Dave Gostelow, though he had to fight against the loneliness of a late start and the sapping heat, finishing in 4:42:36: “It was a very lonely race, I was last but one to start and finish. I’ve only been slower once. Being late off I got the worst of the heat. I wish we could avoid the Peplow pavé as it’s now affecting both sides of the road. I was lucky to have no hold ups at Tern Hill but had to stop at Espley for seven cars”.

Adam Mumford meanwhile was surprised by the win after finishing in 4:52:35, stating: “Excellent news! A first 100 mile time Trial for me. It felt like I time trialled for 60 miles and then spent 40 miles just trying get to the finish“! Bob Elliott, who was also testing himself at the distance for the first time added: “My first ever 100, 5:16:03 beat Veteran’s Standard by +5:41. The course was excellent apart from the Peplow pavé – six times must be a concern for brain damage! I really enjoyed it, the organisation by Dave York was superb, the marshalling and the feed station were very well organised. I will ride next year“.

In the Women’s 100 Championship 2017’s Silver medallist Helen Tudor also went one better, beating the 5 hour/20mph mark by 20 seconds to take the Women’s 100 mile Trophy in spite of a computer malfunction that saw her having to guess her effort from the 50 mile mark. Oswestry Paragon’s Tudor is at her best at the longer events and saw off a challenge from  Jenny York by nearly six minutes. She was delighted with her ride, commenting: “I was really pleased to get under five hours for the first time since 2011. However it was a bit touch and go as my Garmin froze at the 50 mile mark so I had no idea of my pace. A great job by Dave York, a really well run event, really well marshalled by all the  SCCA and WCTTCA clubs with plenty of much needed support“.

Silver medallist York was another rider who suffered in the heat, stopping the watch in 5:05:28. She stated “I struggled a bit in the conditions but was pleased with my time. The course was good and it was great to have a new challenge. Well done Helen, Gold was well deserved on a fabulous ride! Thanks to the marshals who were excellent and a great support“!

Result

 Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 11

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 3:53:59 80
2 Kirk Vickers SCCA Private Member S 4:03:03 75
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 4:03:17 70
4 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 4:10:58 65
5 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing S 4:20:24 60
6 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 4:32:38 55
7 Nicholas Long Nova Raiders S 4:34:26 50
8 Dave Gostelow Wrekinsport CC V 4:42:36 45
9 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V 4:52:11 40
10 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 4:52:35 35
11 Colin Lythe Oswestry Paragon CC V 4:53:29 30
12 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 4:59:40 25
13 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 5:05:28 20
14 Bob Elliott Wrekinsport CC V 5:16:03 15
Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders CC S DNF
Jonathan Goh Paramount CRT V DNF
Matt Garthwaite SCCA Private Member S DNF
Alistair Hatton Wrekinsport CC V DNF
Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A

 Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 11

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat +/- Vet Std Vets Points
1 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V +52:08 80
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +48:14 75
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V +40:33 70
4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV +28:17 65
5 Dave Gostelow Wrekinsport CC V +26:13 60
6 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V +21:32 55
7 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +19:32 50
8 Bob Elliott Wrekinsport CC V +5:41 45
9 Colin Lythe Oswestry Paragon CC V +2:05 40

 Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 11

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 4:59:40 80
2 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 5:05:28 75

Team Gold

Wrekinsport CC (Dave Gostelow, Adam Mumford, Bob Elliott) 14:51:14

Top Club Award – Round 11

Pos’n Club Points
1 Hafren CC 135
2 Nova Raiders 105
3 Wrekinsport CC 95
4 Revolutions Racing 60
5 Oswestry Paragon CC 55
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 40
7 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 20

Cumulative Standings after eleven rounds

 Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 450
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 435
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 380
4 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 315
5 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 295
=6 Alex Leek SCCA Private Member S 180
=6 Matt Garthwaite SCCA Private Member S 180
=6 William Baugh Ludlow CC V 180
9 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 145
10 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC S 140

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 480
2 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC 410
3 William Baugh Ludlow CC 285
4 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member 280
5 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 275
6 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers 205
7 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 180
8 Dave Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers 170
9 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers 145
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 140

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 440
=2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 330
=2 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 330
4 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 290
5 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers 215
6 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 210
7 Sarah Mawhinney Mid Shropshire Wheelers 125
=8 Hetty Niblett Mid Shropshire Wheelers 120
=8 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC 120
10 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 110

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC 180
2 William Hints Ludlow Brewery RT 115
3 Sam Holwill Hafren CC 110
4 Henri Bedford Mid Shropshire Wheelers 90
5 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers 85
6 Ronnie Tse Mid Shropshire Wheelers 55
7 Ben Pierce Mid Shropshire Wheelers 45
8 Daniel Morris Wrekinsport CC 40
9 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers 30
10 Lucy Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers 20

 Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders 1280
2 Hafren CC 955
3 Wrekinsport CC 435
4 North Shropshire Wheelers 385
5 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 365
6 Ludlow Brewery RT 285
7 Revolutions Racing 260
8 Oswestry Paragon CC 235
9 Ludlow CC 195
10 Paramount CRT 95

Photo gallery on Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/142762212@N02/albums/72157698688774744