A tough but enjoyable course lay in prospect for riders in the inaugural Rhino Velo RT Hilly 21 at Bridgnorth – but that toughness didn’t stop the promoting club’s Matt Garthwaite from taking a fabulous win of nearly three two minutes in Round 2 of the Friction Hydraulics Series. Garthwaite charged around the lumpy Bridgnorth – Much Wenlock – Shipton – Morville course in 48 minutes 34 seconds, with event promoter Chris Pook making it a fine 1-2 for the club. Garthwaite coped well with the hard, rolling second leg climbing out of Much Wenlock and battled through the wind that affected the long final leg on an otherwise perfect morning. He commented: “I was pleasantly surprised with the result after just returning to the bike since the Cyclo-Cross season. My ride went to plan, I took it easy  on the downhill and powered up the hills. A great day for it, and nice for Rhino Velo to put an event on“.

Meanwhile Pook took the runner-up spot to ensure Rhino Velo took home the biggest points haul in the Top Club Award with a great effort of 51:29. Organising his first time trial he thoroughly enjoyed his day stating: “It was a perfect day for it. There was a nice atmosphere at sign-on and a challenging course to tackle. I actually enjoyed the climb out of Much Wenlock as it plays more to my strengths. I was pleased with my time and my legs felt strong – but what a ride by Matt Garthwaite; he scorched round“!

Taking third spot overall Stuart Proctor surprised 2016’s Silver medallist Victor Chetta by three seconds with a fabulous effort of 52:48, showing just how much he has improved over the close season. Proctor also took the win in the Veteran’s event by a big margin of 1:43 with +3:45 – just one of three riders to beat their standard showing the nature of the course. However the Revolutions Racing rider found the course to his liking, stating: “A fantastic morning, although even the first few lumps are fierce after only a few miles. The headwind on the way back from Shipton didn’t help, but I was chuffed to come in under my target time of 53 minutes! Another first time on this course, and a proper lumpy one, I never expected to time trial so slowly! Great organising and weather from Rhino Velo“!

Proctor took that Veteran’s victory ahead of North Shropshire Wheelers’ Richard Kay, who set a fine +2:02, pushing Wrekinsport’s Mark Griffiths into third spot with +0:42. Kay was another who nearly missed out on riding the testing circuit revealing: “I nearly didn’t go because I’d been ill for previous week. A great course, and great weather, and an awesome performance by Matt Garthwaite. Thank you Rhino Velo“. Griffiths had his own issues but echoed Kay’s sentiments, adding: “A great race. It was my first outing on a different bike, and my seat was slowly getting lower“!

It was two wins on the trot for Pauline Hughes in the Women Series with a 4½ minute lead over a chasing pack of three Nova Raiders. Hughes flew around the circuit in 1:04:34 to make it a maximum 120 points earned so far – and revealed she is looking forward to the later season, commenting: “I enjoyed the race, although the last leg tough against the headwind. I’m glad the hilly ones are over and I’m looking forward to some flatter courses. Well done to all the lovely Nova women – so close”!

So close indeed as 19 year-old Charlotte Chapman led a triple bill of Nova Raiders split by just 26 seconds. Chapman took home bragging rights after finishing a mere two seconds up on mother Jade in 1:09:02 in what is the second event in a row the pair have been split by a tiny margin. The younger Chapman stated: “It definitely wasn’t an easy course, some of those hills were evil, but overall I enjoyed it. I can’t quite believe how close all of us Nova women were, its great to have some friendly competition“!

With Stuart Proctor leading Revolutions Racing home the club found themselves at the head of the Top Club Award standings for the first time ever – as well as winning the team prize with backup courtesy of Junior Sam Morris, 6th overall in 56 minutes exactly; and Jason Harland, making the Top 10 with a fine 56:21. Morris made it the maximum 120 points in the Junior Series thanks to his second win on the trot, and he was pleased with his efforts stating: “A great day for it on a great course! I’m looking forward to the rest of the time trialling season“.

 

Result

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 2

 

Pos’n Forename Surname Club Time Points
1 Matthew Garthwaite Rhino Velo Race Team 0:48:34 60
2 Chris Pook Rhino Velo Race Team 0:51:29 55
3 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing 0:52:48 50
4 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers 0:52:51 45
5 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers 0:53:22 40
6 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing 0:56:00 35
7 Ewan Caird Paramount CRT 0:56:20 30
8 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC 0:56:21 25
9 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders 0:56:24 20
10 Jason Harland Revolutions Racing 0:56:29 15
11 William Baugh Ludlow CC 0:57:03 10
12 Lee Handley Paramount CRT 0:57:25 5
13 Wayne Pryce Wrekinsport CC 0:57:45 5
14 Andy Maxwell Nova Raiders 0:58:18 5
15 Andrew Mear Ludlow CC 0:58:45 5
16 Adam Mumford Wrekinsport CC 1:01:00 5
17 Tom Masters Wrekinsport CC 1:01:28 5
18 Ian Hobley Mid Shropshire Wheelers 1:01:56 5
19 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders 1:02:19 5
20 Andy Davies Paramount CRT 1:03:03 5
21 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders 1:03:39 5
22 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 1:04:34 5
23 Vince Evans Wrekinsport CC 1:04:37 5
24 Richard Dyke Ludlow CC 1:05:58 5
25 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 1:09:02 5
26 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders 1:09:04 5
27 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 1:09:28 5
28 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC 1:11:31 5
Ed Middleton Nova Raiders DNF
Simon Harrison Mid Shropshire Wheelers DNS
Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers DNS
Dave York Mid Shropshire Wheelers DNS
Craig Howells Nova Raiders DNS
Rob Kennard Revolutions Racing DNS
Oliver Hayward Rhino Velo Race Team DNS
Matthew Davies Rhino Velo Race Team DNS

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 2

 

Vets Pos’n Forename Surname Club Vet +/- Vets Points
1 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing +03:45 60
2 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers +02:02 55
3 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC +00:42 50
=4 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders -00:30 45
=4 William Baugh Ludlow CC -00:30 45
6 Jason Harland Revolutions Racing -00:45 35
7 Lee Handley Paramount CRT -02:12 30
8 Andrew Mear Ludlow CC -02:21 25
9 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing -02:34 20
10 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders -05:52 15
11 Ian Hobley Mid Shropshire Wheelers -06:22 10
12 Adam Roberts Nova Raiders -06:35 5
13 Vince Evans Wrekinsport CC -06:38 5
14 Andy Davies Paramount CRT -07:39 5
15 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders -07:49 5
16 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders -08:45 5
17 Richard Dyke Ludlow CC -09:34 5
18 Richard Goddard Newport Shropshire CC -14:28 5

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women Championship – Round 2

 

Women Pos’n Forename Surname Club Time Women Points
1 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 1:04:34 60
2 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 1:09:02 55
3 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders 1:09:04 50
4 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 1:09:28 45
Jenny York Mid Shropshire Wheelers DNS

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 2

 

Junior Pos’n Forename Surname Club Time Junior Points
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing 0:56:00 60

 

Top Club Award

 

Pos’n Club Points
1 Rhino Velo Race Team 115
2 Revolutions Racing 105
3 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 50
3 Nova Raiders 50
5 Wrekinsport CC 45
6 North Shropshire Wheelers 40
6 Paramount CRT 40
8 Ludlow CC 20
9 Newport Shropshire CC 5

 

Cumulative Standings after two rounds

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 12
1 Victor Chetta Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 105
2 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing V 95
3 Matthew Garthwaite Rhino Velo Race Team S 60
=4 Bryn Davies Hafren CC V 55
=4 Chris Pook Rhino Velo Race Team S 55
6 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing J 55
=7 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT V 50
=7 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders V 50
=9 Matthew Gibbons Nova Raiders S 40
=9 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 40

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Stuart Proctor Revolutions Racing 110
2 Tim Beardmore Nova Raiders 85
=3 Stephen Minton Ludlow Brewery RT 60
=3 William Baugh Ludlow CC 60
=5 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 55
=5 Mark Griffiths Wrekinsport CC 55
=5 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers 55
8 Gary Walters Ludlow Brewery RT 45
9 Jason Harland Revolutions Racing 40
=10 Andy Hazell Mid Shropshire Wheelers 35
=10 Gary Duncan Paramount CRT 35

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Women Championship

 

Women Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Pauline Hughes Revolutions Racing 120
2 Charlotte Chapman Nova Raiders 110
3 Jade Chapman Nova Raiders 100
4 Jenny Newton Nova Raiders 90

 

Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship

 

Junior Pos’n Name Club Best 12
1 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing 120

 

Top Club Award

 

Position Club Total Points
1 Revolutions Racing 185
2 Nova Raiders 180
3 Mid Shropshire Wheelers 120
4 Rhino Velo Race Team 115
5 Ludlow Brewery RT 85
6 Wrekinsport CC 70
7 Hafren CC 55
8 Ludlow CC 50
9 North Shropshire Wheelers 45
10 Clee Cycles 25
11 Paramount CRT 15
12 Newport Shropshire CC 10
13 SCCA Private Members 5

 

  • Round 3 of The Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series takes place on Sunday, 16th April when Mid Shropshire Wheelers present their 25 between Prees and Hodnet.