A late course change was just the ticket for Dan Watts as he took his first ever victory in Round 5 of the Friction Hydraulics Series with a course PB. With the planned Prees – Battlefield course out of action due to roadworks Watts made the most of a switch to the flatter Prees – Tern Hill – Hodnet course to storm around the Nova Raiders 25 in 55 minutes 14 seconds. Watts has been tweaking his position over the past couple of weeks to produce more power and he was delighted with finally finding the sweet spot commenting:  “I was really pleased with the County win and a course personal best for me. I rode smooth to the turn anticipating a harder return leg”.

Watts saw off a strong challenge from Nova Raiders’ own Matt Gibbons who also set a course personal best 26 seconds behind Watts to take the runner-up spot. Gibbons has been a rider to watch as the season has progressed and elevated himself into third place in the Friction Series on the strength of his 55:40 ride. He commented: “I was pleased to be runner-up with a strong field. I couldn’t ask for much more, my pacing was better than last time on this course and that allowed me to push a bit more from Tern Hill to the finish”. Gibbons had strong backup from Tim Beardmore and Ed Middleton who both earned big points to enter the Top 10 overall in 6th and 7th spots respectively, and with strength in depth throughout the field Nova Raiders extended their lead at the head of the Top Club Award standings by 50 points to a big margin of 245 points.

With Series leader Victor Chetta not in action Bryn Davies took advantage to narrow the gap at the top of the Overall standings to 35 points after adding 50 to his tally for finishing in third spot with a fine 56:06. But Davies wasn’t finished there as the Hafren CC rider maintained his lead at the top of the Veteran’s standings with a similar third placed +10:33. Davies saw his lead narrowed by a reversal of fortune in the table with Stuart Proctor taking a fine Veterans’ win in +11:02 to move up to third in the Veterans’ standings and Pauline Hughes tightening the pressure on Davies with a runner-up effort of +10:47.

Davies commented: “I found it tough out there, over a minute down on my previous time the other week. I pushed to hard going out, not enough left for the return. I got held up again at Tern Hill roundabout and on the return by Sandford Bridge. Close at the top now making for an exciting competition“. Proctor added: “A lovely calm and gloriously sunny day. Felt pretty slow all the way round, especially the stretch from Tern Hill to Press roundabout. Amazed to get the County Veterans win under the circumstances, felt like wading through treacle“!

Hughes didn’t have things quite her own way in the Women’s despite opening up a narrow five point series lead after finishing 3rd with a great effort of 1:03:36, with Nova Raiders’ Charlotte Chapman who Hughes was tying with 40 seconds back. With two classy Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ riders setting fabulous times thanks to excellent pedigrees the winner was Becky Lewis, no stranger to winning as holder of 10 and 50 mile tandem competition records; whilst Hetty Niblett is a former Junior Champion at 10 miles. Lewis beat the hour to take 8th spot overall in 58:46 clearly demonstrating her ability whilst Niblett was just 58 seconds over the hour and taking 13th. Lewis stated: “I was one of the first riders on the road, so it was a pretty lonely race for me! I found it hard coming back from Tern Hill, but was pleased with the result“.

In the Juniors 17 year-old Sam Morris continues to build a commanding lead as well as setting a personal best 58:52. This was good enough for 9th spot overall with a delighted Morris stating: “Another PB so I was really pleased. It was great to finish 9th in such a good field”.

Result

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 5

 

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 55:14 60
2 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 55:40 55
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 56:06 50
4 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 56:14 45
5 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 57:00 40
6 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 57:02 35
7 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 58:21 30
8 Becky Lewis Mid Shropshire Wheelers L 58:46 25
9 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 58:52 20
10 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 59:18 15
11 Neil Howells SCCA Private Member V 1:00:11 10
12 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V 1:00:50 5
13 Hetty Niblett Mid Shropshire Wheelers L 1:00:58 5
14 Tim Rex North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:01:09 5
15 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders V 1:02:21 5
16 John Robertson Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:02:46 5
17 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:02:58 5
18 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:03:31 5
19 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 1:03:36 5
20 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 1:04:16 5
21 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 1:04:17 5
22 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC V 1:04:30 5
23 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:04:31 5
24 Nick Pavard Nova Raiders S 1:04:42 5
25 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:04:43 5
26 Andy Davies Paramount CRT V 1:04:49 5
27 Archie Walkerdine North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:06:25 5
28 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:07:58 5
29 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 1:08:49 5
30 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 1:09:18 5
31 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:12:28 5
  Chris Pook Rhino Velo Race Team S DNS-A  
  Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A  
  Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A  
  Richard Nickless Nova Raiders V DNS-A  
  Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V DNS  
  Lee Handley Paramount CRT V DNS  
  Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC L DNS  
  Richard Berry North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS  

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 5

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat +/- Vet Std Vets Points
1 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V +11:02 60
2 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV +10:47 55
3 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +10:33 50
4 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V +10:01 45
5 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V +9:08 40
6 John Robertson Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +8:11 35
7 Neil Howells SCCA Private Member V +7:39 30
8 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V +7:00 25
9 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V +6:26 20
10 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +6:14 15
11 Tim Rex North Shropshire Wheelers V +5:42 10
12 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V +5:39 5
13 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +5:04 5
14 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V +5:02 5
15 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders V +4:30 5
16 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +4:19 5
17 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV +4:00 5
18 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC V +3:56 5
19 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV +3:44 5
20 Andy Davies Paramount CRT V +1:37 5
21 Archie Walkerdine North Shropshire Wheelers V +1:13 5
22 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV +0:47 5

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 5

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Becky Lewis Mid Shropshire Wheelers L 58:46 60
2 Hetty Niblett Mid Shropshire Wheelers L 1:00:58 55
3 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 1:03:36 50
4 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders L 1:04:16 45
5 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV 1:08:49 40
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 1:09:18 35
7 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 1:12:28 30
  Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC L DNS  

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 5

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 58:52 60

 

Top Club Award – Round 5

 

Pos’n Club Points
1 Nova Raiders 150
2 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 100
3 SCCA Private Member 70
4 Revolutions Racing 65
5 Hafren CC 50
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 20
7 Wrekinsport CC 15
=8 Newport Shropshire CC 5
=8 Oswestry Paragon CC 5
=8 Paramount CRT 5

 

Cumulative Standings after five rounds

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 255
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 220
3 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 145
4 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 135
=5 Chris Pook Rhino Velo Race Team S 115
=5 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 115
=5 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 115
8 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 105
9 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 100
10 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 90

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 225
2 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 180
3 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing 170
4 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders 165
5 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC 150
6 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 100
7 William Baugh Ludlow CC 95
8 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT 85
9 David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers 80
10 Neil Howells SCCA Private Member 70

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 280
2 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 275
3 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 130
=4 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders 100
=4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 100
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 80
7 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers 70
8 Becky Lewis Mid Shropshire Wheelers 60
9 Hetty Niblett Mid Shropshire Wheelers 55
10 Sarah Mawhinney Mid Shropshire Wheelers 35

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing 300
2 William Hints Ludlow Brewery RT 55

 

Top Club Award

 

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders 610
2 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 365
3 Revolutions Racing 285
4 Hafren CC 220
5 Rhino Velo Race Team 175
6 Wrekinsport CC 165
=7 Ludlow Brewery RT 125
=7 SCCA Private Members 125
=9 North Shropshire Wheelers 105
=9 Paramount CRT 105
11 Ludlow CC 90
12 Clee Cycles 40
13 Newport Shropshire CC 25
14 Oswestry Paragon CC 10

 

  • Round 6 of the Friction Hydraulics Series takes place on Sunday morning – and it’s the first chance for County medals this season as Mid Shropshire Wheelers promote the SB Sports Injuries Shropshire Championship 50 over four laps of the Prees – Tilstock circuit.