Nova Raiders 25

 

It was a close run thing in Round 5 of the Friction Hydraulics Series with the top two split by just eight seconds – and the Women’s course record was smashed to smithereens in the rolling Prees – Battlefield 25 promoted by Nova Raiders. Riders took advantage of favourable red hot conditions to post some fabulous times on this testing circuit with 2017’s Silver medallist Victor Chetta getting the better of reigning Friction Series Champion Bryn Davies in their first head-to-head of the season – this time.

 

Chetta stopped the clock on 55 minutes 46 seconds, with Davies runner-up in 55:54, both taking advantage to narrow the gap to 2018 Series leader Matt Gibbons who was absent on the day. Chetta put his success down to a position tweak: “I’ve been spending a lot of time adjusting my position and finally seem to have got it dialled in. Everything felt right from the start, the bike felt comfortable and powerful, and the weather was perfect. It looks like the close racing saga between myself, Bryn and Matt is set to continue – I was pipped by Matt by eight seconds in Round 3 and just pipped Bryn by seconds for today’s win“.

 

 

Davies concurred that the battle had been a close one, reversing the positions in the Veteran’s Series when the age-related standards had been applied with his +10:57 beating Chetta by 43 seconds. The Hafren CC rider commented: “It was a close one. After my poor performance at Ludlow in Round 4 I was pleased to get back to some form. I was pleased with the time, a personal best for the course I think.  I was very happy to come only eight seconds behind Victor, especially as I sprained my ankle mid week. Conditions were perfect and a very well run event again by the Nova Raiders“.

 

Occupying third spot in both the Overall and Veteran’s Series was Davies’ team mate Ian Nisbett, registering 58:12 and +8:51 respectively. Nisbett moved up to third in the Overall standings and second in the Veterans standings on the strength of his ride – but admitted the course caught him out: “I kind of forgot how lumpy it is! I felt good to the turn and foolishly ignored my PM telling me I was in the red. I tried to ignore it showing me how slow the return leg was too. My final time was not too bad though,  and I can’t really complain about riding in that nice sunshine“.

 

Visiting professional rider Kelly Murphy had a nervous start, almost falling off at the start line but blasting her way to a fabulous Women’s course record of 57:25, knocking a giant 5:42 off Jill Wilkinson’s old mark. Murphy’s ride was good enough for 4th overall, and she impressed County Women’s winner Jenny York as she overtook her at the turn: “A great ride from Kelly, she flew past me as though I was standing still! I love this course, and was pleased with a win. I felt good having struggled with a cold. Top marks Ed Middleton and The Nova Raiders  – and for booking the weather”! York’s nevertheless fine time of 1:07:13 shows the gulf to the professionals, but pushed out Women’s Series leader Jenny Newton by 2:29.

 

Nova Raiders continue an excellent defence of The Top Club Award, adding 115 points to their tally.

 

 

Result

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 5

 

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time
1 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 00:55:46
2 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 00:55:54
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 00:58:12
4 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 00:59:12
5 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 00:59:28
6 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 00:59:36
7 Alex Leek SCCA Private Member S 01:00:01
8 William Baugh Ludlow CC V 01:01:37
9 Stuart Jackson Nova Raiders V 01:02:18
10 Tim O’Donnell Revolutions Racing S 01:02:28
11 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders S 01:02:54
12 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V 01:03:21
13 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 01:03:31
14 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V 01:06:13
15 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 01:07:03
16 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 01:07:13
17 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 01:09:27
18 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 01:09:42
19 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:10:33
20 John Westhead Paramount CRT V 01:11:30
21 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC V 01:11:44
22 Bob Elliott Wrekinsport CC V 01:14:19
23 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 01:17:23
  Tony Harvey Mid Shropshire Wheelers V DNS
  Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS
  David Drew North Shropshire Wheelers V DNS

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 5

 

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V +10:57 60
2 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V +10:14 55
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V +08:51 50
4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV +08:48 45
5 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V +07:27 40
6 William Baugh Ludlow CC V +06:25 35
7 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +04:43 30
8 Andrew Rose Nova Raiders V +04:41 25
9 Stuart Jackson Nova Raiders V +03:42 20
10 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV +03:20 15
11 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV +02:42 10
12 Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +01:49 5
12 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers V +01:49 5
14 Philip Gardner Mid Shropshire Wheelers V +00:59 5
15 John Westhead Paramount CRT V -00:52 5
16 Bob Elliott Wrekinsport CC V -01:35 5
17 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC V -03:05 5
18 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV -03:55 5

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship – Round 5

 

Women’s Pos’n Forename Surname Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 01:07:13 60
2 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders WV 01:09:42 55
3 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC WV 01:10:33 50
4 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers WV 01:17:23 45
  Linda Beckett North Shropshire Wheelers WV DNS  

 

Top Club Award – Round 5

 

Pos’n Club Points
1 Nova Raiders 115
2 Hafren CC 105
3 SCCA Private Members 90
4 North Shropshire Wheelers 50
=5 Ludlow CC 25
=5 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 25
7 Revolutions Racing 15
=8 Newport Shropshire CC 5
=8 Oswestry Paragon 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 Matt Gibbons Nova Raiders S 245
2 Alex Leek SCCA Private Member S 160
3 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC V 135
4 Matt Garthwaite SCCA Private Member S 120
=5 Ed Middleton Nova Raiders S 115
=5 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member V 115
=5 William Baugh Ludlow CC V 115
8 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 95
9 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 80
10 Nick Long Nova Raiders S 75

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 William Baugh Ludlow CC 195
2 Ian Nisbett Hafren CC 155
3 Dave Wilson North Shropshire Wheelers 135
=4 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 115
=4 Victor Chetta SCCA Private Member 115
6 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT 105
7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 100
8 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers 95
=9 Gareth Brookes North Shropshire Wheelers 65
=9 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 65

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women’s Championship

 

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 215
2 Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers 160
3 Juliet Suddaby Mid Shropshire Wheelers 130
4 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC 120
5 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 115
6 Helen Tudor Oswestry Paragon CC 100
7 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC 60
8 Debbie Hutson-Lumb Nova Raiders 55
=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 580
2 SCCA Private Members 480
3 Hafren CC 275
4 North Shropshire Wheelers 210
5 Ludlow Brewery RT 205
6 Wrekinsport CC 165
7 Ludlow CC 125
8 Revolutions Racing 115
9 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 95
10 Oswestry Paragon CC 55
11 Newport Shropshire CC 25
=12 Clee Cycles 5
=12 Paramount CRT 5

 

  • Round 6 on Sunday is the first chance to win County medals this year when Mid Shropshire Wheelers promote the SB Sports Injuries Shropshire Championship 50 over four laps of the Prees – Whitchurch – Quina Brook circuit.