R15 Friction Hydraulics Series: Shropshire Championship 100

It was a tough morning at the office for competitors in the Shropshire Championship 100 as a rising wind from the worst possible direction sapped strength in an event that already takes perseverance and the capacity to break down the ride into bite-sized chunks in a game that’s as much about mental strength as it is about physical endurance. Held over four and a half laps of the Shawbury – Shawbirch – Hodnet triangle, that northerly wind meant battering right into the gale multiple times up the A442 in Round 15 of the Friction Hydraulics Series. Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Victor Chetta took a fine win Overall after a couple of years away from the sport to once again engrave his name on The Jack Parker 100 Mile Trophy in a fabulous time of 3 hours, 52 minutes and 50 seconds to beat Bridgnorth CC’s Jonathan Mills-Keeling by 4:29 – although Mills-Keeling reversed that in the 100 Mile Veterans’ Championship after the age adjustment factors were applied, seeing him take victory by 25 seconds in +51:45.

Chetta knew he had been in a race, struggling at times to control the bike in the brutal wind that caused issues for many along the top part of the circuit and involved in traffic hold-ups when looking to wind things up for the finish. He ended the day conflicted: “I have mixed feelings about the race: very pleased to be County 100 mile Champion again; but disappointed with my performance overall, so I need to up my game considerably. The strong wind was particularly challenging on the A53, blasting me sideways across the road at times. I had some very frustrating delays getting stuck in slow traffic on the final lap a few times when I wanted to push hard to the finish. I was impressed by Jonathan’s County Veterans win on the day”.

Mills-Keeling took Overall Silver and Veterans Gold in a great morning for the Bridgnorth CC rider – although he revealed the nerves that this long distance event can evoke. The only other County rider to beat the 4 hour/25mph mark in an event incorporating the West Cheshire TTCA Championship and VTTA National Championship as 100 slowly disappear from the calendar, many due to the loss of suitable stretches of road in some parts of the country. He commented: “I was quite nervous about the distance – I’d not ridden 100 miles since the 100 last year. I paced it smoothly and tried to push into the head wind section, lifted the pace on 10 miles – maybe I should have earlier. Really well run and my second VTTA National ridden this year, thanks for a excellent event, and well done to Victor for the win”.

Overall Bronze was taken by North Shropshire Wheelers’ James Neale in 4:26:23, but like Mills-Keeling he displayed pre-race nerves that nearly saw him pull out given the tough morning in the saddle that lay ahead. His comments graphically display the issues riders faced later in the race, when naturally weakening things just got tougher: “It was one of those races where I was 50/50 about starting, but afterwards thinking I could have pushed harder and wondering how I would have faired on a slightly calmer day. The headwind off the Espley roundabout was okay on the first lap, but by the end it was like a brick wall. I struggled to adjust my pacing in some sections despite having plenty of practice on the circuit this year, but gained some useful experience I think. Well done to all the riders; and massive thanks to all the organisers, volunteers and for all the support”.

In the Women’s 100 Championship a first time entrant came away with the silverware as Paramount’s Hayley Wells took The Women’s 100 mile Trophy. Like all the riders she suffered in the second half of the race, but came out through the bad patch to finish strongly in 4:33:53 for a superb 4^th place Overall. Wells beat reigning Women’s 100 Mile Champion Helen Tudor, finishing in 5:04:15 and who had a superb consolation of taking Veterans Bronze in +17:19. Wells stated: “I was unsure if I would make the start line for this event due to an injury I picked up the weekend before, but determination was not going to stop me trying! I felt great during the first 50 miles, but during the second half I started to flag, especially with the wind picking up. However, I am delighted to have taken the win at my first century – a massive thank you to the organisers and volunteers for giving up their time, especially for a long event”. Tudor added: “I had two aims: to improve on my Anfield 100 time; and to get a VTTA medal. Thanks to the weather I went slower. Probably the worst wind direction for that course made it really tough. Thanks to Dave Drew for all his hard work and all the marshals, and well done to Hayley on a really strong first 100”.

But spare a thought for Paramount’s Chris Riley, who was on for Bronze but punctured at High Ercall at around 69 miles. Walking to the next marshal point, Riley persuaded a marshal to drive him back to Ellerdine HQ and then desperately searched for anyone who could loan him a spare wheel. This took quite a time, but Riley managed to locate a wheel then ride back to rejoin the circuit at the point he punctured, continuing the story: “Back on the course I had to ride down to Shawbirch and seek some assistance from Wrekinsport’s Dave Moore as my new front wheel was very loose. I estimate I was on for about 4:04ish which would have been a personal best. Having lost the best part of 50 minutes in the excitement I was determined to finish inside five hours, which was a good consolation prize”.

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 15

Championship 100 Team Gold

No team finished

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 15

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 15

Top Club Award – Round 15

Cumulative Standings after fifteen rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Top Club Award