Wrekinsport CC Chris Edwards Hilly 18

Young riders and new clubs made their mark in a tough opener to the 2016 time trialling season at Worfield in the Wrekinsport CC Chris Edwards Hilly 18 – with George Evans taking the County win. SCCA Private Member Evans, replete in new Team Bottrill colours stole the win ahead of pre-race favourite Matt Davies as he coped best with a stern wind and chilly conditions which tested the mettle of riders in Round 1 of the Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series in an 18 mile circuit that included The Hermitage.

Competitors had to endure a stiff cross-headwind on the first two legs to Rudge Heath and Sutton Maddock as well as that testing climb, with Evans stopping the watch in 41 minutes 49 seconds. The 18 year-old commented: “I always find the first race of the year a tricky one to judge, and I knew there was an expectation for me to perform from with the Team Bottrill kit on my back, but I just tried to block it out and focus on my race. It was very cold which didn’t help much. I stuck to the race plan and felt pretty good holding the new position for the whole 18 miles even on the climbs and my wattage wasn’t suffering too much either. Pretty pleased with that for the first race of the season, and I know there is plenty more to come!”

Runner-Up Matt Davies felt the cold – and as a late starter battled through a mercifully brief shower of hail – in his new Rhino Velo RT colours with an effort that would usually take the win of 42:37. Oswestry-based Davies enjoyed his day out despite the trauma of the conditions, stating: “Every pedal stroke felt hard, but it was a well organised and exceptionally marshalled event by Wrekinsport with plenty of cake at the finish which is always nice! A hard one to start with but at least it’s dealt with now.”

Davies nearly had a shock however thanks to the unknown quantity of new Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ signing Jamie Holmes. Holmes took third County spot behind Davies by just 11 seconds as well as immediately making his mark in the Junior Championship thanks to a 42:48 effort, seeing off Newport’s top roadman Matt Garthwaite by 10 seconds. He commented: “Very tough course, grim wind, cold weather. Thanks to all the organisers, marshals, and everyone involved for putting on such a great event”.

Things were equally close in the Ladies Championship with Jenny York surprising herself with a win by just eight seconds over Amanda Whitmore. York has clearly benefited from a Spring training camp in Majorca as she raced home in 53:17, with Whitmore finishing in 53:5. York commented: “A close shave with Amanda, but more than pleased with an unexpected win! It looks like it could be an interesting season for the ladies this year, looking forward to it.”

But things didn’t go as smoothly for Ludlow Brewery RT rider Steve Minton who had to fight for his Veteran’s Championship win. Trying to make up time from the first two legs the third leg to Bridgnorth should have been a flyer thanks to a tailwind – instead Minton lost a further minute thanks to a traffic hold-up. Despite this he recorded a Veteran’s plus of +3:29 to beat off a challenge from North Shropshire Wheelers’ Richard Kay back in +2:41. Minton explained: “I was happy with my effort as I lost a lot of time in heavy traffic along the river into Bridgnorth. It looks like this is going to be a tough competition this year”.
Result:

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 1

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 George Evans SCCA Private Member S 41:49 60
2 Matthew Davies Rhino Velo RT S 42:37 55
3 Jamie Holmes Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 42:48 50
4 Matt Garthwaite Newport Shropshire CC S 42:58 45
5 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 43:28 40
6 Devon Round Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 43:45 35
7 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 43:54 30
8 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 44:29 25
9 Andrew Tamplin Revolutions Racing S 44:31 20
10 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT V 44:33 15
11 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 45:59 10
12 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 46:02 5
13 Richard Nickless Nova Raiders V 46:05 5
14 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V 46:20 5
15 Jack Wilson Ludlow Brewery RT S 46:21 5
=16 Gary Duncan Paramount CRT V 46:27 5
=16 Baz Pugh Paramount CRT S 46:27 5
18 Alex Leek Wrekinsport CC S 46:41 5
19 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 47:26 5
20 Ian Laverie Nova Raiders V 48:26 5
21 Richard Smith Wrekinsport CC V 48:57 5
22 Ian Hobley Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 48:58 5
23 Ian Pollard Nova Raiders V 49:00 5
24 Jonathan Smith Nova Raiders V 49:09 5
25 Sean Byatt Revolutions Racing S 49:12 5
26 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V 49:17 5
27 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 49:38 5
28 Clancy Wilson Ludlow CC V 49:55 5
29 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V 50:07 5
30 Neal Deller Ludlow CC V 50:15 5
31 Delwyn Jones Wrekinsport CC V 50:54 5
32 Steve Elcocks Revolutions Racing V 50:56 5
33 Andy Hazell Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 51:15 5
34 William Baugh Ludlow CC V 51:16 5
35 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC V 51:29 5
36 Alistair Hatton Wrekinsport CC V 51:38 5
37 Fraser MacKinnon Wrekinsport CC V 52:07 5
38 Simon Gray Evolve V 52:12 5
39 Damian Platek Revolutions Racing S 52:29 5
40 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 53:17 5
41 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V 53:24 5
42 Amanda Whitmore Revolutions Racing LV 53:25 5
43 Andy Davies Paramount CRT V 53:30 5
44 Dover Disney Ludlow CC V 53:40 5
45 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 54:10 5
46 Ceris Eslava Paramount CRT LV 54:22 5
47 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 55:13 5
48 Susan Jeffery Wrekinsport CC LV 56:24 5
49 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 58:06 5
50 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders LV 58:22 5
51 Bob Evans Paramount CRT V 1:00:34 5
52 Tracey Billington Wrekinsport CC LV 1:05:03 5
Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV DNF
Dave Owen Nova Raiders V DNF
Dawn Burns Revolutions Racing LV DNS-A
Jason Harland Revolutions Racing V DNS-A
Tom Masters Wrekinsport CC S DNS-A
Kieran Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers J DNS-A
Dave Spencer-Brown Wrekinsport CC V DNS-A
Shaun Sutton North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A
Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A
Kevin Brocklesby Wrekinsport CC V DNS
Dave Gostelow Wrekinsport CC V DNS
Mark Harrison Nova Raiders V DNS

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 1

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat +/- Vet Std Vets Points
1 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT V +3:29 60
2 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:41 55
3 Gary Duncan Paramount CRT V +2:26 50
4 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V +1:47 45
5 Richard Nickless Nova Raiders V +1:32 40
6 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V +1:17 35
7 Andy Hazell Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:15 30
8 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV +0:34 25
9 Ian Pollard Nova Raiders V +0:11 20
10 Neal Deller Ludlow CC V -0:13 15
11 Ian Laverie Nova Raiders V -0:15 10
12 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC V -0:33 5
13 Richard Smith Wrekinsport CC V -0:38 5
14 Jonathan Smith Nova Raiders V -0:42 5
15 Clancy Wilson Ludlow CC V -0:53 5
16 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V -1:11 5
17 Amanda Whitmore Revolutions Racing LV -1:24 5
18 Ian Hobley Mid Shropshire Wheelers V -1:30 5
19 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V -1:48 5
20 Ceris Eslava Paramount CRT LV -1:54 5
21 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV -2:16 5
22 Steve Elcocks Revolutions Racing V -2:20 5
23 Alistair Hatton Wrekinsport CC V -2:27 5
24 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC V -2:36 5
25 Delwyn Jones Wrekinsport CC V -2:43 5
26 William Baugh Ludlow CC V -2:57 5
27 Simon Gray Evolve V -3:36 5
28 Dover Disney Ludlow CC V -3:38 5
29 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders V -4:04 5
30 Fraser MacKinnon Wrekinsport CC V -4:21 5
31 Susan Jeffery Wrekinsport CC LV -5:20 5
32 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders LV -6:03 5
33 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV -6:05 5
34 Andy Davies Paramount CRT V -6:11 5
35 Bob Evans Paramount CRT V -10:21 5
36 Tracey Billington Wrekinsport CC LV -13:20 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Ladies Championship – Round 1

Ladies Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Ladies Points
1 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers LV 53:17 60
2 Amanda Whitmore Revolutions Racing LV 53:25 55
3 Ceris Eslava Paramount CRT LV 54:22 50
4 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing LV 55:13 45
5 Susan Jeffery Wrekinsport CC LV 56:24 40
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC LV 58:06 35
7 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders LV 58:22 30
8 Tracey Billington Wrekinsport CC LV 1:05:03 25
Jenny Newton Nova Raiders LV DNF
Dawn Burns Revolutions Racing LV DNS-A

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 1

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Jamie Holmes Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 0:42:48 60
2 Devon Round Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 0:43:45 55
3 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 0:46:02 50
Kieran Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers J DNS-A

Top Club Award after Round 1

Pos’n Club Points
1 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 145
2 SCCA Private Members 90
3 Rhino Velo RT 55
4 Revolutions Racing 50
=5 Newport Shropshire CC 45
=5 Nova Raiders 45
=5 Wrekinsport CC 45
=8 North Shropshire Wheelers 25
=8 Paramount CRT 25
=10 Ludlow Brewery RT 20
=10 Ludlow CC 20
12 Bridgnorth CC 10
=13 Clee Cycles 5
=13 Evolve 5
=13 Oswestry Paragon CC 5