Hafren CC 10

A strong southerly wind made effort difficult to judge in Round 14 of the Friction Hydraulics Series as the strongest riders battled the elements to post some mightily impressive times in Hafren CC’s 10 and the destination of the Friction Hydraulics Series and the Friction Women’s Series were settled. Held on the fast Berriew – Welshpool course comeback rider Matt Davies took his second win in as many events and suffered for that victory as he pushed into gale on the return leg. Holohan Coaching’s Davies lifted himself into 5th spot in the Series with a fine effort of 21:18 to push out Chris Halford by 7 seconds. He stated: “I was truly elated with the County win, Hafren put on a great event on a fast course even through it was windy. Thank you to all involved, I particularly enjoyed the cheering on the middle roundabout. My ride went well, probably going out a little too hard having not accounted for the wind being quite that strong“.

Tough conditions usually suit the strongest riders as they punch through the worst of it thanks to their higher power output. Despite taking the runner-up spot however Wrekinsport’s Halford was on an ‘off’ night by his high standards as he attempted to fine tune for the Coaching Revolutions Championship 4-Up team time trial taking place four days later which requires competitors to ride on the rivet. His tongue-in-cheek comments show that his usual post-race data analysis of his power meter readings proved something to be amiss: “My race went OK, but I seem to have misplaced some 40 watts. If anybody finds them could they return as I need them for the team time trial“!

11 seconds behind Halford Nova Raiders’ Dean Callister helped his club limit the damage to their Top Club Award lead as Hafren CC narrowed the gap at the top to 105 points thanks to excellent rides from Friction Series leader Ian Nisbett and Junior Sam Holwill. Callister stopped the watch on 21:36 and enjoyed his evening out, commenting: “One of my favourite courses, I was happy with my ride and result in a strong field. Thanks Hafren CC and marshals for putting on a great evening of racing“.

Nisbett was celebrating for another reason however as the 40 points he took for finishing 5th in 21:51 was enough to get over the line and seal Series Gold, although he has more work to do in a tight Veteran’s Series. He was delighted to seal victory, stating: “Very pleased to win the Series this year. This season hasn’t quite gone to plan performance wise, especially after a good winter – but in the end I just tried to focus more on position, pacing and efficiency  and less on staring at the power meter! Had a few good rides and a few stinkers, but in the end a nice reward. Great to part of such a strong TT culture in Shropshire. Very big thanks to all the clubs and volunteers for hosting events, standing in the rain for hours on roundabout – and making excellent cakes“.

There was a familiar name at the head of the Women’s and the Veteran’s standings too as Deb Hutson-Lumb took her 8th win of the Veteran’s Series and her 7th in the Women’s Series in a glittering season. That excellent points haul put Hutson-Lumb into an unassailable position at the top of the Women’s Series as she took Shropshire Women’s Championship Shield for the first time. She stated: “It has been a good second season back racing for me. I have really enjoyed it so far and still looking forward to the remaining Friction and Hydraulics events to see what I can do in the Veterans“. The Nova Raider is narrowing the gap to Veteran’s leader Ian Nisbett and is now just 25 points off the pace whilst opening up her lead in the Women’s Series to 140 points. Hutson-Lumb put in a great ride of 23:33 on Actual and +5:54 on Standard, beating Halford by +0:43 into runner-up spot, but like Davies suffered on the return leg from Welshpool. Turning to the race she added: “I was really pleased to win the Women’s Open and the Veteran’s. I found it tough on the way back, not helped by going out too hard. The first time this season to be slowed by traffic on the roundabouts, so I was surprised to be only a few seconds off my Course PB. Another great event, and thanks to everyone involved in organising and running it“.

Whilst Hutson-Lumb didn’t beat her Course PB Women’s runner-up Alison Dockney did, with a fabulous 24:47. For a rider who not too long ago was doing 27’s Dockney has come on leaps and bounds as the season has progressed, and she was delighted with her effort, commenting: “I struggled feeling a bit unsteady in the wind on the return leg especially with passing traffic. But overall really pleased with the result, I took a decent chunk off my Course PB from earlier in the season so making good progress. Big kudos to Deb for a fantastic ride and a well deserved win on a tough night. Thanks again to Hafren for a well organised evening of racing and post-ride refreshments“.

There was a big upset in the Juniors as Henri Bedford took a shock win from local talent Sam Holwill and Junior Series leader Kieran Morris. Bedford posted an all-time personal best 21:49 to finish 4th Overall, looking to have learnt a trick or two after closely observing partner Dan Watts in the Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series a week previously. Bedford pushed Holwill into Junior runner-up spot in 22 minutes exactly and was over the moon with his effort, stating: “I felt good and am really pleased with my all time PB by 17 seconds. Extremely surprised to find myself placed 4th overall. Thanks as always to all who made the event happen, and well done to all riders“.

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 14

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Matt Davies Holohan Coaching RT S 21:18 60
2 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 21:25 55
3 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 21:36 50
4 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 21:49 45
5 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 21:51 40
6 Samuel Holwill Hafren CC J 22:00 35
7 Alex Leek SCCA Private Member S 22:22 30
8 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member J 22:24 25
9 Tom Richardson Oswestry Paragon CC S 22:31 20
10 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 22:34 15
11 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders V 22:54 10
12 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member V 23:26 5
13 Steven Ford Nova Raiders V 23:33 5
13 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 23:33 5
15 Jason Arnold Hafren CC V 23:53 5
16 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 23:54 5
17 Dilwyn Griffiths Hafren CC S 24:00 5
18 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 24:28 5
19 Conrad Taylor Hafren CC S 24:39 5
20 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member W 24:47 5
21 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC WV 25:18 5
22 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V 25:38 5
23 Mark Stocks Newport (Shropshire) CC V 25:39 5
24 John  Robertson SCCA Private Member V 26:02 5
25 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 26:25 5
26 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V 26:58 5
27 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 27:54 5
  Ed Middleton Nova Raiders V DNS-A  
  Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV DNS-A  
  Jen Morris Wrekinsport CC WV DNS-A  
  Robert Elliott Wrekinsport CC V DNS-A  

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 14

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV +5:54 60
2 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V +5:11 55
=3 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +4:54 50
=3 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +4:54 50
5 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V +4:40 40
6 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders V +4:13 35
7 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member V +3:56 30
8 Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V +3:31 25
9 Steven Ford Nova Raiders V +3:25 20
10 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC WV +2:56 15
11 Jason Arnold Hafren CC V +2:43 10
12 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +2:41 5
13 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +2:30 5
14 Geoff Edgerton North Shropshire Wheelers V +2:11 5
15 John  Robertson SCCA Private Member V +2:04 5
16 Mark Stocks Newport (Shropshire) CC V +1:24 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 14

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders WV 23:33 60
2 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member W 24:47 55
3 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC WV 25:18 50
4 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 26:25 45
  Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV DNS-A  
  Jen Morris Wrekinsport CC WV DNS-A  

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 14

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 21:49 60
2 Samuel Holwill Hafren CC J 22:00 55
3 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member J 22:24 50
4 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 27:54 45

Top Club Award – Round 14

Pos’n Club Points
1 Hafren CC 95
2 Nova Raiders 70
3 Holohan Coaching RT 60
4 Wrekinsport CC 55
5 Revolutions Racing 45
=6 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 25
=6 Oswestry Paragon CC 25
8 North Shropshire Wheelers 15
9 Newport (Shropshire) CC 5

Cumulative Standings after fourteen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 600
2 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 445
3 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders V 395
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 385
5 Matt Davies Holohan Coaching RT S 345
6 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 305
7 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member J 285
8 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC V 265
9 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 250
10 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 220

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC 610
2 Dean Dovey Nova Raiders 595
3 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 585
4 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers 410
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 360
6 Chris Halford Wrekinsport CC 275
7 Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers 230
8 Ian Pollard SCCA Private Member 175
9 William Baugh Ludlow CC 170
10 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 165

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Deb Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 595
2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 455
3 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 355
4 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 335
5 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 200
6 Alison Dockney SCCA Private Member 160
7 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 100
8 Louise Hurdley Hafren CC 95
9 Natalie Brooks Paramount CRT 95
10 Jane Chapman Nova Raiders 80

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Kieran Morris SCCA Private Member 465
2 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing 395
3 Sam Holwill Hafren CC 165
4 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers 80
5 George Mills-Keeling Cycle Club Bridgnorth RWG 60
6 George Coombes Evolve 55
7 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers 45
8 Rebecca Woodvine Mid Shropshire Wheelers 40

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders 1315
2 Hafren CC 1210
3 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 715
4 Holohan Coaching RT 710
5 Wrekinsport CC 580
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 555
=7 Ludlow Brewery RT 280
=7 Revolutions Racing 280
9 Oswestry Paragon CC 220
10 Ludlow CC 150
11 Clee Cycles 80
12 Newport Shropshire CC 75
13 Cycle Club Bridgnorth RWG 65
14 Paramount CRT 40
15 Evolve 5
  • Round 15 of the Friction Hydraulics Series takes place on 25th August when North Shropshire Wheelers promote their 25 on the Tern Hill – Shawbirch and back course.