For a rider who professes to prefer long distance events and not be keen on the short ones Victor Chetta still knows how to turn a pedal at a distance where ‘eyeballs out’ effort is the standard. The Mid Shropshire Wheeler took a win by 10 seconds in Round 12 of The Friction Hydraulic Series, Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ 10 incorporating National Youth Championship Regional Qualifier on the flattest 10 in Shropshire in his first attempt at the distance since 2020 where Covid-19 restrictions meant available events, and particularly long distance ones were short on the ground. Chetta stopped the watch on a warm but windy afternoon in 21 minutes 6 seconds, pushing out Wrekinsport’s Tomos Hales.

Chetta knew he’d been in a race with some serious competition on the start line, but knows how to push through the pain to get the best out of himself. He stated: “It was three years since I last raced a 10, so I was unsure of what to expect of myself, apart from knowing it was going to hurt! I felt very strong on the outward leg and the power seemed to come easily; but on the return leg I was soon suffering and it became a battle of will to keep pushing hard. I had a bit of a hold-up in traffic towards the end; which spurred me on to push hard to the finish. I was pleased with my time and with the Country win, though it turned out to be quite close between myself and Tomos”!

Chetta moved into the Top 10 Overall on the strength of this ride, with Hales full of praise for a great effort. The Wrekinsport rider moved up to third in the table as he pushed the Series leader Tim Beardmore into third on the day by 13 seconds after crossing the line in 21:16. He was delighted by his ride, with red hot conditions often producing fast times: “The Mid Shropshire Wheelers 10 mile time trial went really well. It was a hot and humid day, so I concentrated on keeping myself cool. It was a tough last mile with a slight headwind to the finish, and by that point I was starting to overheat. Well done to Victor for taking the SCCA win; and thanks to the organisers and helpers out on the course”.

Unusually the heat got the better of Beardmore who suffered into the wind after the turn. The Bridgnorth CC rider added to his Friction Series lead and Veteran’s Series leads handsomely despite not being on his usual top form, recording a strong 21:29 Actual to push Paramount’s Simon Romei into fourth by six seconds; and taking the runner-up spot in the Veteran’s with +5:27. He stated: “I struggled a bit in the hot and humid conditions. I found the whole race very tough, but especially the return leg; thanks to all at Mid Shropshire Wheelers for organising”.

The rider beating Beardmore in the Veterans was Deb-Hutson-Lumb, setting a great Veteran’s plus of +6:32, and doing her customary doubling-up by taking the honours in the Women’s race too with a fine 23:43 to push out Paramount’s Thea Osmund-Smith who finished in 25:34 and making a solid debut in the Friction Women’s Series. Hutson-Lumb stretched her lead at the top of the Women’s Series to 25 points, but like Beardmore had to punch through the wind on the return leg, particularly for the last mile where the tree cover drops away and the road turns directly into the gale. She commented: “The 10 was going well until the turn. It felt like a battle from then to the finish. I was pleased to get round in under 24 minutes and take the Veteran’s and County Women’s wins – many thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers”

A triple tie at the head of the Friction Junior Series was finally broken as Paramount’s Chester Romei headed into the sole lead in a straight head-to-head against Wrekinsport’s Ben Southgate. Romei posted a great effort of 24:51, beating Southgate by 1:22. He stated: “Amazingly organised, great to be racing in some warmer weather again. Thanks to all the marshals“!

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 12

Position Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 21:06 60
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 21:16 55
3 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 21:29 50
4 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 21:35 45
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 21:46 40
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 22:06 35
=7 Philip Roberts Wrekinsport CC S 22:35 30
=7 Christopher Halford Wrekinsport CC V 22:35 30
9 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 22:51 20
10 Allan Henderson Wrekinsport CC V 23:24 15
11 Alvydas Janusauskas Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 23:27 10
12 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V 23:37 5
13 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:43 5
14 Chester Romei Paramount CRT J 24:51 5
15 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT W 25:34 5
16 Andrew Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 25:38 5
17 Peter Jukes Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 26:12 5
18 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 26:13 5
19 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 26:49 5
20 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT WV 27:17 5
21 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V 27:50 5
22 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V 29:25 5
23 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V 30:36 5
24 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 33:23 5
  James Powell North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS  

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 12

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV +6:32 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +5:27 55
3 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +5:21 50
4 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +5:05 45
5 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V +4:57 40
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +4:40 35
7 Christopher Halford Wrekinsport CC V +4:21 30
8 Rich Smith Wrekinsport CC V +3:47 25
9 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V +3:28 20
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +2:59 15
11 Allan Henderson Wrekinsport CC V +2:42 10
12 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT WV +2:24 5
13 Andrew Williams Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +2:20 5
14 Peter Jukes Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +1:06 5
15 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V +0:55 5
16 Robert Garbett Wrekinsport CC V +0:08 5
17 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V -0:16 5
18 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V -6:05 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 12

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 23:43 60
2 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT W 25:34 55
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 26:49 50
4 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT WV 27:17 45

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 12

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Chester Romei Paramount CRT J 24:51 60
2 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 26:13 55

Top Club Award – Round 12

Pos’n Club Points
1 Wrekinsport CC 150
2 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 90
3 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 85
4 Paramount CRT 60
5 Hafren CC 35
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 30
7 Oswestry Paragon CC 5

Cumulative Standings after twelve rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 625
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 455
3 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 310
4 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers V 295
5 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 235
6 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 215
7 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 205
8 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 190
=9 Dean Callister Revolutions Racing S 180
=9 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC WV 180

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Vets Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club 645
2 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club 465
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 425
4 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT 290
5 James Neale North Shropshire Wheelers 275
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 245
7 John Westhead Paramount CRT 215
8 Paul Duncan Mid Shropshire Wheelers 210
9 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers 175
10 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 165

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Wrekinsport CC 430
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 405
3 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT 295
4 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC 160
5 Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers 155
6 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC 115
7 Catherine Coley Bridgnorth CC 60
8 Thea Osmund-Smith Paramount CRT 55
9 Helen Blake Wrekinsport CC 50
10 Jayne Powell Paramount CRT 45

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Chester Romei Paramount CRT 120
2 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC 115
3 Tristan Harvey Ludlow CC 60

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 1155
2 Wrekinsport CC 995
3 Paramount CRT 875
4 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 565
5 North Shropshire Wheelers 410
6 Ludlow CC 300
7 Hafren CC 275
8 Oswestry Paragon CC 200
9 Revolutions Racing 180