A late start penalty robbed Victor Chetta of the win in both the Overall and Veterans event in Round 3 of The Friction Hydraulics Series, The West Cheshire Time Trial Cycling Association and Shropshire Cycling Clubs Association joint promotion over 30 miles. Whilst this old standard distance is an uncommonly seen one, the start point and distance from HQ is used for many races, so all the more baffling how Chetta managed to miss his start slot by 40 seconds and have to wait frustrated for a vacant slot to get going. That standing around seems to have proved vital as muscles cool, with Chetta missing the win in an adjusted 1 hour 4 minutes and 47 seconds – just 7 seconds behind winner Henri Bedford.

Starting at Waters Upton the riders trace north to the Market Drayton/Gingerbread Man roundabout; before turning south for a long slog south to Shawbirch roundabout and a final turn to finish just before Crudgington crossroads. Chetta was not pleased with his mistake, which also cost him the Veteran’s win to Tim Beardmore by 19 seconds with an adjusted +15:23: “In my first late start since 2016 I managed to give away the County win by incurring a substantial 40 second time penalty, it’s not a mistake I’m planning on repeating and am focusing on the next race”. It wasn’t all bad news though as Cheeta took over the lead of the Overall Friction Series and managed to hang onto the lead in the Friction Veterans Series despite Beardmore narrowing the gap to just five points, the minimum possible.

After several miserable days the morning sunshine was a welcome respite to the riders with Bedford taking full advantage to gain an unexpected win and haul himself up to fourth spot in the Overall championship as well as adding an uncontested 60 points to his Junior Series points tally. The 17 year-old seems to be getting ever faster and stopped the watch on 1:04:40, commenting on the rarely seen distance: “I really enjoyed doing the 30, not a normal distance to race over but it was a nice course and the weather stayed good. Perfectly organised and well marshalled, thanks to all involved”.

That distance is one that many riders try to ride the same as a 25 and then hope to hang on, and it can catch out the unwary, with the drag up to Shawbirch roundabout at 27 miles capable of making legs not used to racing that extra five miles turn to jelly – and with a headwind added to the mix that made for an uncomfortable experience for some. Beardmore is coming back after a winter injury but despite that he managed to take third spot Overall in 1:05:54 and took the Veterans win with +15:42, 19 seconds ahead of Chetta after that penalty application. Beardmore’s comments prove how tricky this distance can be to pace: “I’m not exactly sure on my current form, and as it turned out I went out too hard. With a headwind on the Epsley to Shawbirch leg, a strong negative split was needed and it’s fair to say I had nothing left after 20 miles. 30 miles can be a real tricky distance to pace, but I’m still pleased with my time – thanks to race organisers, marshals, and timekeepers”.

In the Women’s race Emma Serjeant was getting her first experience at the distance and took a clear win of over 5½ minutes from Marie Llewellyn on 1:23:13 with Jenny York a further five seconds back. The Hafren CC rider crossed the line in a fantastic 1:17:36 and was another unsure how to pace that extra five miles: “My first time on the 30 course. I planned on pacing it like a 25 but went off like it was a 10! I was so pleased to see the Shawbirch island and found a burst of energy to the finish. Thank you to all the marshals on the roundabouts making the navigation nice and clear”.

SCCA:

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 1:04:40 60
2 Victor Chetta * SCCA Private Member V 1:04:47 55
3 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 1:05:54 50
4 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 1:09:50 45
5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 1:10:18 40
6 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V 1:11:04 35
7 Richard Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:12:15 30
8 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC V 1:13:10 25
9 Allan Henderson Wrekinsport CC S 1:15:52 20
10 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:16:13 15
11 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV 1:17:36 10
12 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 1:17:44 5
13 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:18:53 5
14 Simon Jones Hafren CC V 1:20:34 5
15 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:22:28 5
16 Mark Stocks Newport Shropshire CC V 1:23:06 5
17 Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders W 1:23:12 5
18 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 1:23:18 5
19 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:24:18 5
20 Lauren Turley Nova Raiders W 1:28:26 5
21 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 1:29:45 5
22 Dave Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:32:38 5

* Including 40 seconds late start penalty

Veterans:

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V +15:42 60
2 Victor Chetta * SCCA Private Member V +15:23 55
3 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders V +12:14 50
4 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +11:24 45
5 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV +11:13 40
6 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +10:48 35
7 Rob Jackson Wrekinsport CC V +10:27 30
8 Richard Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +10:09 25
9 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV +9:37 20
10 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +6:28 15
11 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +5:07 10
12 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +4:40 5
13 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +0:29 5
14 Mark Stocks Newport Shropshire CC V +0:12 5
15 Simon Jones Hafren CC V +0:03 5
16 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V -0:01 5
17 Dave Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers V -7:37 5

* Including 40 seconds late start penalty

Women’s:

1EmmaSerjeantHafren CCWV1:17:3660
2MarieLlewellynNova RaidersW 1:23:1255
3JennyYorkMid Shropshire WheelersWV1:23:1850
4LaurenTurleyNova RaidersW1:28:2645
5HelenTudorOswestry Paragon CCWV1:29:4540

Juniors:

Junior Pos’nForenameSurnameClubCatTimeJunior Points
1HenriBedfordRevolutions RacingJ1:04:4060

Top Club Award:

Pos’nClubPoints
1Nova Raiders 140
2Mid Shropshire Wheelers 60
3Hafren CC 55
3Revolutions Racing 55
5Wrekinsport CC 45
6North Shropshire Wheelers 10
7Ludlow CC 5
7Newport Shropshire CC 5
7Oswestry Paragon CC 5

Cumulative standing after three rounds:

Overall:

PositionNameClubCatBest 12
1Victor ChettaSCCA Private MemberV160
2Tim BeardmoreNova Raiders V130
3Kirk VickersHolohan Coaching RTS120
4Henri BedfordRevolutions RacingJ115
5Bryn DaviesHafren CCV70
6Andrew LaconNova Raiders S65
7Adam Baker SCCA Private MemberS60
7George Mills-KeelingBridgnorth CCS60
9Kieran MorrisOswestry Paragon CCS55
10Dean Callister Nova Raiders S45
10Graeme DonnellNova Raiders V45
10Tomos HalesWrekinsport CCS45

Veterans:

PositionNameClubBest 12
1Victor ChettaSCCA Private Member185
2Tim BeardmoreNova Raiders 180
3Bryn DaviesHafren CC90
3Graeme DonnellNova Raiders 90
5Emma SerjeantHafren CC70
6Leonie KeelingOswestry Paragon CC65
7Chris HalfordWrekinsport CC60
7Rob JacksonWrekinsport CC60
9Jonathan Mills-KeelingBridgnorth CC50
10Gino TrasattiNorth Shropshire Wheelers45
10Jason WalkleySCCA Private Member45
10Oliver RodwellWrekinsport CC45

Women’s:

Women’s Pos’nNameClubBest 12
1Alison DockneyMarket Drayton CC130
2Emma SerjeantHafren CC125
2Helen TudorOswestry Paragon CC125
4Leonie KeelingOswestry Paragon CC115
5Marie LlewellynNova Raiders110
6Lauren TurleyNova Raiders 90
7Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC50
7Jenny NewtonNova Raiders 50
7Jenny YorkMid Shropshire Wheelers50

Juniors:

Junior Pos’nNameClubBest 12
1Henri BedfordRevolutions Racing130

Top Club Award:

PositionClubTotal Points
1Nova Raiders  335
2Wrekinsport CC 225
3Hafren CC 125
4Holohan Coaching RT 120
5Revolutions Racing 115
6Oswestry Paragon CC 95
7Bridgnorth CC 85
8Mid Shropshire Wheelers 75
9North Shropshire Wheelers 30
10Market Drayton CC 20
11Ludlow CC 10
12Newport Shropshire CC 5