Ludlow CC 10
A tough north wind and cold conditions made life difficult for many riders in Round 4 of the Friction Hydraulics Series – but that didn’t stop 13 of the field setting personal bests and the course record being lowered in the Ludlow CC 10 at Brimfield. 17 year-old Joshua Sandman of Team Backstedt Bike Performance shaved five seconds off Matt Davies’ record set in July 2016 to stop the watch on 19 minutes 40 seconds and take the Overall win – as well as knocking 14 seconds off his personal best in the process.
Taking the honours amongst the County riders Matt Garthwaite earned the maximum 60 points available with a fine effort of 20:10 despite suffering on the climb to Sheet island. With the road rising and turning directly into the wind many riders reported losing time in the difficult final mile to the turn, with Garthwaite concurring: “It was a tough first leg so I held back slightly knowing it was generally downhill to the turn before digging to the roundabout. The return leg was a case of hanging on“!
County runner-up Dan Watts was one of the riders suffering for his craft and despite posting an excellent time of 20:57 backed up Garthwaite’s feelings about the middle section of the race: “I rode well out to the bottom of Sheet Hill and then couldn’t get going up the climb. I conceded a lot of time to Matt, and then much like him spent the return just hanging on. It was good to catch up with everyone after a long winter“.
Steve Minton made an immediate impression on his debut into the 2018 Friction Series putting local knowledge of the course to good use to win the Veteran’s competition as well as end the day as third-placed County rider in 21:25. The Ludlow Brewery RT rider posted a fine +5:11 to beat Wrekinsport’s Chris Halford into the Veteran’s runner-up spot in +4:42, and took advantage of the products of his team’s sponsor to recover post-race: “A horrible northerly wind made it hard going out to the turn, I never thought I’d be so happy to see a traffic island! I emptied the tank on way back and earned a couple of pints later“. Meanwhile Matt Gibbons extended his lead at the top of the Friction Series thanks to a solid 4th place, just 14 seconds behind Minton, with Halford a further six seconds back ending up fifth.
Sandman wasn’t the only young rider making an impression with Oswestry Paragon’s Kieran Morris tying for 6th spot with Hafren CC’s Ian Nisbett on 21:47 and taking maximum points in the Friction Junior Series. The 17 year-old was another rider who commented on the toughness of the climb to Sheet island, stating: “A bad day at the office, I couldn’t get my heart rate up at all and I’m blaming a hard week. Out to the roundabout all was going OK until I started to climb to the island. I think I freewheeled around the island then struggled to the finish. Well done everyone who rode some great times. Really welcoming, I will definitely come back“. Nisbett meanwhile had reason to celebrate with a personal best by a big 34 seconds.
Charlotte Chapman took her first win in the 2018 Friction Women’s Series with a fine effort of 24:26 – but it didn’t come easily, as she explained: “It was a bit of a nightmare! I got to the start with less than a minute to go with the wrong number pinned to my back. After all that and a resulting late start I then faced that awful headwind, but I still managed to get round in a half decent time. A fabulous event regardless of my blonde moment“! Chapman’s team mate Jenny Newton finished in runner-up spot on 25:12, moving into the lead of this Series as a result.
Result
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 4
Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
1 | Matt | Garthwaite | SCCA Private Member | S | 20:10 | 60 |
2 | Daniel | Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 20:57 | 55 |
3 | Stephen | Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 21:25 | 50 |
4 | Matt | Gibbons | Nova Raiders | S | 21:39 | 45 |
5 | Christopher | Halford | Wrekinsport CC | V | 21:45 | 40 |
=6 | Kieran | Morris | Oswestry Paragon CC | J | 21:47 | 35 |
=6 | Ian | Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | 21:47 | 35 |
8 | Bryn | Davies | Hafren CC | V | 21:58 | 25 |
9 | Gary | Walters | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 22:00 | 20 |
10 | Alex | Leek | SCCA Private Member | S | 22:08 | 15 |
11 | Ed | Middleton | Nova Raiders | S | 22:22 | 10 |
12 | James | Griffiths | Clee Cycles | V | 22:33 | 5 |
13 | Scott | Harris | Nova Raiders | V | 22:38 | 5 |
14 | Chris | Davies | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 23:07 | 5 |
15 | William | Hints | Ludlow CC | J | 23:08 | 5 |
16 | William | Baugh | Ludlow CC | V | 23:10 | 5 |
17 | Adam | Mumford | Wrekinsport CC | S | 23:11 | 5 |
18 | Andy | Maxwell | Nova Raiders | S | 23:21 | 5 |
19 | Clancy | Wilson | Ludlow CC | V | 23:57 | 5 |
20 | Richard | Smith | Wrekinsport CC | V | 24:00 | 5 |
21 | Steven | Ford | Nova Raiders | V | 24:03 | 5 |
22 | Dave | Moore | Wrekinsport CC | V | 24:10 | 5 |
23 | Adam | Roberts | Nova Raiders | V | 24:18 | 5 |
24 | David | Drew | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 24:25 | 5 |
25 | Charlotte | Chapman | Nova Raiders | W | 24:26 | 5 |
26 | Steve | Chapman | Nova Raiders | V | 24:43 | 5 |
27 | John | Robertson | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 24:49 | 5 |
28 | Richard | Goddard | Newport Shropshire CC | V | 24:55 | 5 |
29 | Jenny | Newton | Nova Raiders | WV | 25:12 | 5 |
30 | Phil | Guy | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 25:17 | 5 |
=31 | Dave | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 25:50 | 5 |
=31 | Les | Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 25:50 | 5 |
33 | Jenny | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 25:56 | 5 |
34 | David | Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 26:04 | 5 |
35 | Matthew | Hale | Newport Shropshire CC | S | 27:07 | 5 |
36 | Robert | Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | 27:52 | 5 |
37 | Juliet | Suddaby | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 27:56 | 5 |
38 | Steve | Grice | Newport Shropshire CC | V | 28:14 | 5 |
Stephen | Bent | Ludlow CC | V | DNS-A | ||
Tony | Harvey | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | DNS-A | ||
Deb | Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | WV | DNS |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 4
Vets Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Vets +/- | Vets Points |
1 | Stephen | Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | +5:11 | 60 |
2 | Christopher | Halford | Wrekinsport CC | V | +4:42 | 55 |
3 | Ian | Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | +4:36 | 50 |
4 | Gary | Walters | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | +4:27 | 45 |
5 | Bryn | Davies | Hafren CC | V | +4:20 | 40 |
6 | David | Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +4:19 | 35 |
7 | Jenny | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | +3:55 | 30 |
8 | Scott | Harris | Nova Raiders | V | +3:54 | 25 |
8 | James | Griffiths | Clee Cycles | V | +3:54 | 25 |
=10 | William | Baugh | Ludlow CC | V | +3:35 | 15 |
=10 | Phil | Guy | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +3:35 | 15 |
12 | David | Drew | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +3:34 | 5 |
13 | Jenny | Newton | Nova Raiders | WV | +3:31 | 5 |
14 | Clancy | Wilson | Ludlow CC | V | +3:17 | 5 |
15 | Chris | Davies | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | +3:11 | 5 |
16 | John | Robertson | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | +3:10 | 5 |
17 | Dave | Moore | Wrekinsport CC | V | +2:54 | 5 |
18 | Richard | Smith | Wrekinsport CC | V | +2:50 | 5 |
19 | Steven | Ford | Nova Raiders | V | +2:47 | 5 |
20 | Steve | Chapman | Nova Raiders | V | +2:37 | 5 |
21 | Dave | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | +2:09 | 5 |
22 | Adam | Roberts | Nova Raiders | V | +2:05 | 5 |
23 | Richard | Goddard | Newport Shropshire CC | V | +2:04 | 5 |
24 | Les | Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | +1:19 | 5 |
25 | Juliet | Suddaby | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | +0:57 | 5 |
26 | Robert | Elliott | Wrekinsport CC | V | +0:40 | 5 |
27 | Steve | Grice | Newport Shropshire CC | V | -1:47 | 5 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 4
Women’s Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Time | Women’s Points |
1 | Charlotte | Chapman | Nova Raiders | W | 24:26 | 60 |
2 | Jenny | Newton | Nova Raiders | WV | 25:12 | 55 |
3 | Jenny | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 25:56 | 50 |
4 | Juliet | Suddaby | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 27:56 | 45 |
Deb | Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | WV | DNS |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 4
Junior Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
1 | Kieran | Morris | Oswestry Paragon CC | J | 21:47 | 60 |
2 | William | Hints | Ludlow Brewery RT | J | 23:08 | 55 |
Top Club Award – Round 4
Pos’n | Club | Points |
1 | SCCA Private Members | 130 |
2 | Nova Raiders | 90 |
3 | Ludlow Brewery RT | 80 |
=4 | Hafren CC | 60 |
=4 | Wrekinsport CC | 60 |
6 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 35 |
=7 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 20 |
=7 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 20 |
=9 | Ludlow CC | 10 |
=9 | Newport Shropshire CC | 15 |
11 | Clee Cycles | 5 |
Cumulative Standings after four rounds
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series
Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
1 | Matt Gibbons | Nova Raiders | S | 210 |
2 | Alex Leek | SCCA Private Member | S | 130 |
3 | Matt Garthwaite | SCCA Private Member | S | 120 |
4 | William Baugh | Ludlow CC | V | 90 |
5 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | V | 85 |
=6 | Ed Middleton | Nova Raiders | S | 75 |
=6 | Nick Long | Nova Raiders | S | 75 |
8 | Gary Walters | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 70 |
9 | Adam Mumford | Wrekinsport CC | S | 60 |
=10 | Dan Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 55 |
=10 | Jack Wilson | Ludlow Brewery RT | S | 55 |
=10 | Stuart Proctor | Revolutions Racing | V | 55 |
=10 | Victor Chetta | SCCA Private Member | V | 55 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
1 | William Baugh | Ludlow CC | 160 |
2 | Dave Wilson | North Shropshire Wheelers | 135 |
=3 | Gary Walters | Ludlow Brewery RT | 105 |
=3 | Ian Nisbett | Hafren CC | 105 |
5 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 70 |
=6 | Gareth Brookes | North Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
=6 | Steve Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | 60 |
=6 | Stuart Proctor | Revolutions Racing | 60 |
=6 | Victor Chetta | SCCA Private Member | 60 |
=10 | Chris Davies | Ludlow Brewery RT | 55 |
=10 | Chris Halford | Wrekinsport CC | 55 |
=10 | Richard Kay | North Shropshire Wheelers | 55 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship
Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
1 | Jenny Newton | Nova Raiders | 160 |
2 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | 120 |
3 | Charlotte Chapman | Nova Raiders | 115 |
4 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 100 |
5 | Juliet Suddaby | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 85 |
6 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 60 |
7 | Debbie Hutson-Lumb | Nova Raiders | 55 |
8 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 50 |
=9 | Antonia Lynam | Wrekinsport CC | 45 |
=9 | Milly Deer | North Shropshire Wheelers | 45 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship
Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
=1 | Jack Young | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
=1 | Kieran Morris | Oswestry Paragon CC | 60 |
3 | William Hints | Ludlow Brewery RT | 55 |
Top Club Award
Position | Club | Total Points |
1 | Nova Raiders | 465 |
2 | SCCA Private Member | 390 |
3 | Ludlow Brewery RT | 205 |
4 | Hafren CC | 170 |
=5 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 160 |
=5 | Wrekinsport CC | 160 |
=7 | Ludlow CC | 100 |
=7 | Revolutions Racing | 100 |
9 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 70 |
10 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 50 |
11 | Newport Shropshire CC | 20 |
12 | Clee Cycles | 5 |
- Round 5 of the Friction Hydraulics Series takes place on Sunday when Nova Raiders promote their 25 mile event on the rolling Prees – Battlefield course.