Shropshire’s 25 mile record was smashed to smithereens in Round 3 of the Friction Hydraulics Series – as Josh Williams became the first ever rider to dip below 50 minutes on the County’s sapping roads. The Team Bottrill rider flew around the Prees – Tern Hill – Hodnet course in the Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ 25 in an incredible 49 minutes 37 seconds – at over 30mph – to beat Dave Crawley’s 2014 mark of 50:18.

A delighted Williams commented: “I was happy to take the win and get a Team Bottrill 1-2. I knew a 49 was possible with the form I’m in and I’m happy to be first rider under the 50 minute barrier on a Shropshire road“. Williams was backed up by 19 year-old team mate George Evans who took the overall runners-up spot in 52:01, showing the strength of Williams’ ride He added: “Second to Josh yet again -we’re making a habit of these 1,2’s“!

Amongst the riders competing in the County Championship Bryn Davies took his first ever Friction Series win with a fine effort of 54:51. The Hafren CC rider has suddenly found his stride after a number of fine rides in the SB Series and lifted himself to the top of the Veteran’s Championship too with a fabulous +11:48, 2:01 ahead of reigning Veteran’s Champion Jenny York. Davies stated: “My first time on the course and I was chuffed with the result. First time County winner so especially happy with that. A fantastic result by Josh Williams, super quick time“!

However the rider occupying the top place in the Overall standings was not as happy with his ride despite Victor Chetta posting an excellent effort of 55:26. He explained: “A disappointing performance, I felt wrong from the start and discovered that my seat post had slipped down, costing me 10% of my power output“. Chetta still has a 45 point lead over Davies and is sure to come back fighting.

Many riders never get to break the hour over 25 miles but Matt Gibbons did just that at the first attempt with a fabulous effort of 56:39 for third County spot, leading a strong Nova Raiders squad to the head of the Top Club award standings in the process. Gibbons commented: “I was happy with the result as it was my first time over this distance, although I’ve got to work on pacing as had more left in tank at the end. Really well put on event from the marshals and organisers, and good support out on the course“.

Gibbons wasn’t the only Nova Raider having a good morning as 19 year-old Charlotte Chapman staged a huge surprise by usurping Women’s Series leader Pauline Hughes by a narrow two seconds. Chapman, taking her first ever victory has shown strongly over the first two hilly events of the Friction Series but was shocked to take the win in an excellent 1:04:59. She stated: “I was over the moon with my time. I felt great whilst doing it but I still didn’t expect to win! It was great to see such a strong field a female competitors“!

In the Junior Series Revolutions Racing’s Sam Morris is steadily amassing big points and holds the maximum 180 available from these first three rounds. 17 year-old Morris finished 12th overall with a fine effort of 1:01:17.

Result

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 3

 

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 54:51 60
2 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 55:26 55
3 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 56:39 50
4 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 58:23 45
5 Tim O’Donnell Paramount CRT S 59:29 40
6 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 59:56 35
7 Lee Handley Paramount CRT V 1:00:20 30
8 William Baugh Ludlow CC V 1:00:37 25
9 Richard Nickless Nova Raiders V 1:00:43 20
10 Nicholas Long Nova Raiders S 1:00:56 15
11 Wayne Pryce Wrekinsport CC S 1:01:01 10
12 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 1:01:17 5
13 Jonathan Goh Paramount CRT S 1:01:29 5
14 Neil Howells SCCA Private Member V 1:01:41 5
15 Ewan Caird Paramount CRT S 1:01:55 5
16 Ian Hobley Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:02:19 5
17 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 1:02:34 5
18 Tim Rex North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:02:59 5
19 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:04:10 5
20 David Gostelow Wrekinsport CC V 1:04:12 5
21 Andy Davies Paramount CRT V 1:04:24 5
22 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders V 1:04:32 5
23 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 1:04:59 5
24 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 1:05:01 5
25 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:05:29 5
26 Vince Evans Wrekinsport CC V 1:05:50 5
=27 Richard Goddard Newport (Shropshire) CC V 1:05:56 5
=27 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:05:56 5
29 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 1:06:14 5
30 Nick Pavard Nova Raiders S 1:06:34 5
31 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:08:15 5
32 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 1:09:53 5
33 Richard Berry North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:11:12 5
34 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:12:56 5
35 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:13:16 5
36 Sarah Mawhinney Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:17:12 5
  Simon Ward Ludlow Brewery RT V DNS  
  Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V DNS  
  Jade  Chapman Nova Raiders LV DNS  
  Ged Kennedy Paramount CRT V DNS  

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 3

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat +/- Vet Std Vets Points
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +11:48 60
2 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV +9:47 55
3 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV +9:22 50
4 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V +8:44 45
5 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V +8:30 40
6 William Baugh Ludlow CC V +7:13 35
7 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V +6:47 30
8 Neil Howells SCCA Private Member V +6:09 25
9 Richard Nickless Nova Raiders V +6:08 20
10 Lee Handley Paramount CRT V +5:53 15
11 David Gostelow Wrekinsport CC V +5:52 10
12 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +5:28 5
13 Ian Hobley Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +4:20 5
14 Tim Rex North Shropshire Wheelers V +3:52 5
15 Vince Evans Wrekinsport CC V +3:44 5
16 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV +3:09 5
17 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V +3:05 5
18 Richard Goddard Newport (Shropshire) CC V +2:30 5
19 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders V +2:19 5
20 Andy Davies Paramount CRT V +2:02 5
21 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV +0:19 5
22 Richard Berry North Shropshire Wheelers V -1:23 5
23 Sarah Mawhinney Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV -3:03 5
24 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V -4:24 5

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 3

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 1:04:59 60
2 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 1:05:01 55
3 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:05:56 50
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 1:09:53 45
5 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:12:56 40
6 Sarah Mawhinney Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:17:12 35
  Jade  Chapman Nova Raiders LV DNS  

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 3

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 1:01:17 60

 

Top Club Award – Round 3

 

Pos’n Club Points
1 Nova Raiders 155
2 Paramount CRT 85
3 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 80
4 Hafren CC 60
5 Wrekinsport CC 55
=6 Ludlow CC 25
=6 North Shropshire Wheelers 25
8 Revolutions Racing 10
=9 Newport (Shropshire) CC 5
=9 Oswestry Paragon CC 5
=9 SCCA Private Member 5

 

Cumulative Standings after three rounds

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 160
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 115
3 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 95
4 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 90
5 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 65
=6 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 60
=6 Matthew Garthwaite Rhino Velo Race Team S 60
=6 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 60
8 Chris Pook Rhino Velo Race Team S 55
=9 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT V 50
=9 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 50

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 115
2 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing 110
=3 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC 95
=3 William Baugh Ludlow CC 95
5 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders 85
6 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 75
7 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT 60
=8 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 55
=8 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers 55
=10 David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers 45
=10 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT 45
=10 Lee Handley Paramount CRT 45

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 175
2 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 170
3 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders 100
4 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 90
5 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 45
7 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers 40
8 Sarah Mawhinney Mid Shropshire Wheelers 35

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing 180

 

Top Club Award

 

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders 335
2 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 200
3 Revolutions Racing 195
4 Wrekinsport CC 125
=5 Hafren CC 115
=5 Rhino Velo Race Team 115
7 Paramount CRT 100
8 Ludlow Brewery RT 85
9 Ludlow CC 75
10 North Shropshire Wheelers 70
11 Clee Cycles 25
12 Newport Shropshire CC 15
13 SCCA Private Members 10
14 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

 

  • Round 4 of the Friction Hydraulics Series takes place on 29th April when Ludlow CC promote their first 10 mile event on the fast Brimfield course