An unexpectedly sopping wet morning put over a third of the field off starting in Round 5 of the Friction Hydraulics Series – giving the leading lights chance to open up the gaps at the top of the standings. The Chester Roads Club 25 was held on the popular Tern Hill – Shawbirch course. A determined Victor Chetta looked to make up lost ground after a late start penalty cost him dearly in Round 3 – and he pulled a rabbit out of the hat with his fastest 25 miles effort in five years, stopping the watch on 53 minutes 5 seconds for a clear win.

For riders willing to brave it heavy rain usually produces fast conditions, and Chetta took full advantage to haul himself up to the joint lead of the Overall Friction Series thanks to this fine ride. He stated: “I was really pleased to do my first 53 since 2016. There was a bit of surface water due to the unexpected rainfall but that didn’t seem to affect times, perhaps helped by only very light winds – thanks to Chester Roads Club for a well run event”.

Chetta doubled up with the Veteran’s win too in +13:27 to narrow the gap to Tim Beardmore, with the Bridgnorth CC rider taking the runner-up spot Overall with 54:24 as well as Veteran’s runner-up spot with +13:19, just eight seconds off Chetta’s winning time, setting up the prospect of a great battle between the pair. Beardmore was well pleased with his ride, as he revealed post-race: “Probably my best race of the year to date, despite the rain. I actually managed to ride a negative split and felt good on the return, although the tank was empty with a couple of miles to go. I’m getting closer to the Veteran’s win, but still not quite enough. Thanks to everyone for organising – I think the weather was worse for the marshals and timekeepers than it was for the riders”!

It certainly isn’t a two horse race in 2021 with 17 year-old Henri Bedford posting some superb rides and seemingly getting ever faster as the season progresses. The Revolutions Racing rider took third spot on the day with 54:48 and gave up sole lead of the Friction Series as a result, but that will only make him train all the harder. 25 miles can be a stretch for youngsters as Bedford revealed: “The longer distances are always tougher as I don’t have much stamina, but I enjoyed doing the 25 on such a familiar course. The weather could’ve done with being a bit drier! I was really pleased with my time despite all of the rain – many thanks to organisers and marshals”. Bedford now has a giant lead of 195 points in the Friction Junior Series after another set of maximum points and looks a shoo-in for this title.

In the Friction Women’s Series just one of four entrants braved the conditions – but was very happy she did as Series leader Alison Dockney took the opportunity to stretch her lead to 80 points and rode to a fantastic personal best in the wet in the process,  her second in as many rounds showing just how much of a benefit wet conditions can be. The Market Drayton CC rider ended her morning on 1:02:32 for a fabulous ninth spot Overall and that made the drenching worthwhile: “Another soggy one! I scraped a 25 mile personal best despite my power lacking after a recent holiday and time off the bike. Thanks to Chester RC for hosting – fingers crossed for dry roads for the next one”!

Result

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 5

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Points
1 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 53:05 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 54:24 55
3 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 54:48 50
4 Jason Walkley SCCA Private Member V 55:05 45
5 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V 56:24 40
6 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders CC S 57:07 35
7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 58:03 30
8 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders CC V 58:58 25
9 Alison Dockney Market Drayton Cycling Club W 1:02:32 20
10 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V 1:03:28 15
11 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:03:47 10
12 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 1:04:04 5
13 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:04:28 5
14 Mike Bigwood Wrekinsport CC S 1:04:31 5
15 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 1:05:21 5
16 Mark Stocks Newport (Shropshire) CC V 1:06:55 5
17 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V 1:08:32 5
. Andrew Clarke North Shropshire Wheelers V DNF .
. Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV DNS-A .
. Simon Jones Hafren CC V DNS-A .
. David Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. Phil Guy North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS-A .
. Dean Callister Nova Raiders CC V DNS-A .
. Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC WV DNS-A .
. Christopher Halford Wrekinsport CC V DNS-A .
. Milly Deer North Shropshire Wheelers W DNS .
. Mark Pritchard Nova Raiders CC S DNS .
. Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV DNS .
. Richard Howes Wrekinsport CC V DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 5

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V +13:27 60
2 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +13:19 55
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth Cycling Club V +11:07 50
4 Jason Walkley SCCA Private Member V +10:55 45
5 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers V +10:24 40
6 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders CC V +09:39 35
7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +09:16 30
8 John Westhead Paramount CRT V +06:32 25
9 Ian Connolly Ludlow CC V +04:55 20
10 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V +04:50 15
11 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +04:33 10
12 Mark Stocks Newport (Shropshire) CC V +02:12 5
13 Les Boughey North Shropshire Wheelers V +01:24 5

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 5

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Alison Dockney Market Drayton Cycling Club W 1:02:32 60
. Emma Serjeant Hafren CC WV DNS-A .
. Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC WV DNS-A .
. Milly Deer North Shropshire Wheelers W DNS .
. Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC WV DNS .

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 5

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 54:48 60

Top Club Award – Round 5

Pos’n Club Points
1 Bridgnorth Cycling Club 95
2 Nova Raiders CC 60
3 Revolutions Racing 50
4 Hafren CC 30
=5 Market Drayton Cycling Club 20
=5 North Shropshire Wheelers 20
7 Ludlow CC 15
=8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 5
=8 Newport (Shropshire) CC 5
=8 Paramount CRT 5
=8 Wrekinsport CC 5

Cumulative Standings after five rounds

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
=1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 220
=1 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 220
3 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC V 200
4 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 165
=5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 105
=5 Kieran Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 105
7 Andrew Lacon Nova Raiders S 100
=8 Adam Baker SCCA Private Member S 85
=8 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC V 85
=10 Dean Callister Nova Raiders S 80
=10 Jason Walkley SCCA Private Member V 80

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

Position Name Club Best 12
1 Tim Beardmore Bridgnorth CC 285
2 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member 245
3 Jonathan Mills-Keeling Bridgnorth CC 155
4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 150
5 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders 120
6 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 105
=7 Graeme Donnell Nova Raiders 90
=7 Jason Walkley SCCA Private Member 90
9 Gino Trasatti North Shropshire Wheelers 85
10 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 70

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Alison Dockney Market Drayton CC 250
=2 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 170
=2 Leonie Keeling Oswestry Paragon CC 170
4 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 125
5 Marie Llewellyn Nova Raiders 110
6 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 100
7 Lauren Turley Nova Raiders 90
=8 Clare Cotterill Wrekinsport CC 50
=8 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing 250
2 Max Bufton Hafren CC 55

Top Club Award

Position Club Total Points
1 Nova Raiders  450
2 Oswestry Paragon CC 235
3 Wrekinsport CC 230
4 Bridgnorth CC 215
5 Hafren CC 180
=6 Holohan Coaching RT 165
=6 Revolutions Racing 165
8 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 90
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 60
10 Market Drayton CC 45
11 Clee Cycles 30
12 Ludlow CC 25
13 Newport Shropshire CC 15
14 Paramount CRT 5