There was a sense of something special in the air for those arriving at HQ for the Ludlow CC 10 – and it didn’t disappoint. With a stiff southerly breeze unfurling flags out almost straight a fast day was undoubtedly on the cards – with Matt Davies beating his own course record set earlier in the year by 11 seconds, leading home the third of the field who set personal bests on a top day. Davies hurtled around the Brimfield – Ludlow course in Round 12 of the Friction Hydraulics Series at Brimfield in a fabulous 19 minutes 45 seconds at well over a 30mph average. The Rhino Velo rider was totally spent at the end of his ride after battling hard through the wind-affected final three miles.
A delighted Davies revealed how he did it stating: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog! A great day, I really enjoyed the ride. However I struggled to push my ‘numbers’ and really had to work for it, averaging over 50 kilometres per hour to the turn was a first. Also this is the first time trial I’ve had to lie down straight after finishing as I was spent. I had a couple of issues with traffic and a very vocal Marches Biogas van, but I am thrilled with putting a Personal Best well under 20 minutes, and it is going to be hard to improve on“.
It was a personal best as well as a highest place finish for Andy Tamplin too as the Revolutions Racing rider helped himself to runner-up spot and shaved sixteen seconds off his own mark with a fabulous 21:37. Tamplin lifted himself to second in the Overall Championship on the strength of this ride and led Revolutions Racing to their first Top Club Award victory, though he thought he had blown his chance by going off too hard. He commented: “I overcooked the start and knew I’d pay for it later, but then the short return leg I guess worked in my favour. A tough last mile though! I felt strong with all the training for the 100. Thanks to Ludlow for putting the race on“.
Taking third overall assured Devon Round of the Junior win too as the Mid Shropshire Wheeler put in a powerhouse performance of 21:47, with his light weight helping on the climb to the Sheet island turn. Just missing out on a personal best by six seconds, Round was another rider who put his all into making the most of the roaring tailwind on the first leg and suffered later. He revealed: “I was not very pleased with my pacing today, I went out way too hard. Happy with first Junior and third County rider“.
In the Veterans standing there was only likely to be one winner with Newport Shropshire CC’s Terry Icke present. Icke set a great standard of +7:19, with his actual time of 22:07 good enough for fifth place overall, and though a late entrant to the competition has ominously lifted himself to eighth spot in this Championship. He commented: “My first time trial on the course. I had a good warm up to the start and was impressed with the downhill bit – it would be very fast on a less windy day. A blessing it stayed dry for everyone, all in all a great event“.
Icke’s closest competition in the Veterans came from the two females who are dominating the Ladies Championship, with Jenny York grabbing the runner-spot in +5:22 and Pauline Hughes third just nine seconds back in +5:13. On actual time however those positions were reversed, with Hughes taking the Ladies win in a personal best 23:56 with York 20 seconds back. The battle between these two has seen each win four rounds and tie one in a ding-dong battle for Championship honours, with Hughes delighted to take the win in her fastest-ever time. She stated: “I really enjoy that course and was thrilled to go sub-24 minutes to get a new PB. The tailwind out helped, and I pushed hard on the way back. Great to see Revolutions Racing get the Top Club Award – some fast times by all. Thanks to marshals and time keepers for an enjoyable event“. York also found conditions to her liking, adding “I loved the race – another County PB within 2 weeks! A fantastic ride by Pauline, I’m really enjoying this competition“!
Result
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 12
| Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Time | Points |
| 1 | Matthew | Davies | Rhino Velo Race Team | 19:45 |
60 |
| 2 | Andrew | Tamplin | Revolutions Racing | 21:37 |
55 |
| 3 | Devon | Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 21:47 |
50 |
| 4 | Gary | Duncan | Paramount CRT | 21:59 |
45 |
| 5 | Terry | Icke | NewportShropshire CC | 22:07 |
40 |
| 6 | Richard | Smith | Wrekinsport CC | 22:40 |
35 |
| 7 | Tim | Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | 22:46 |
30 |
| 8 | Rob | Kennard | Revolutions Racing | 22:49 |
25 |
| 9 | Clancy | Wilson | Ludlow CC | 23:11 |
20 |
| 10 | Fraser | MacKinnon | Wrekinsport CC | 23:33 |
15 |
| 11 | David | Drew | North Shropshire Wheelers | 23:45 |
10 |
| 12 | Pauline | Hughes | Revolutions Racing | 23:56 |
5 |
| 13 | Jenny | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 24:16 |
5 |
| 14 | William | Hints | Ludlow CC | 24:44 |
5 |
| 15 | Dover | Disney | Ludlow CC | 24:55 |
5 |
| 16 | Dave | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 25:03 |
5 |
| 17 | Matthew | Tilson | Ludlow CC | 25:48 |
5 |
| 18 | Ceris | Eslava | Paramount CRT | 25:58 |
5 |
| 19 | Robin | Shedden | Wrekinsport CC | 26:02 |
5 |
| 20 | Patrick | Haywood | North Shropshire Wheelers | 30:20 |
5 |
| William | Baugh | Ludlow CC | DNS-A | ||
| Tracey | Billington | Nova Raiders | DNS-A |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 12
| Vets Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | +/- Vet Std | Vets Points |
| 1 | Terry | Icke | NewportShropshire CC | +7:19 |
60 |
| 2 | Jenny | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | +5:22 |
55 |
| 3 | Pauline | Hughes | Revolutions Racing | +5:13 |
50 |
| 4 | Gary | Duncan | Paramount CRT | +5:00 |
45 |
| 5 | Andrew | Tamplin | Revolutions Racing | +4:22 |
40 |
| 6 | Richard | Smith | Wrekinsport CC | +4:01 |
35 |
| 7 | David | Drew | North Shropshire Wheelers | +3:59 |
30 |
| 8 | Rob | Kennard | Revolutions Racing | +3:56 |
25 |
| 9 | Clancy | Wilson | Ludlow CC | +3:53 |
20 |
| 10 | Tim | Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | +3:32 |
15 |
| 11 | Ceris | Eslava | Paramount CRT | +2:55 |
10 |
| 12 | Fraser | MacKinnon | Wrekinsport CC | +2:45 |
5 |
| 13 | Dover | Disney | Ludlow CC | +2:43 |
5 |
| 14 | Dave | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | +2:41 |
5 |
| 15 | Robin | Shedden | Wrekinsport CC | +1:12 |
5 |
| 16 | Patrick | Haywood | North Shropshire Wheelers | +0:38 |
5 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Ladies Championship – Round 12
| Ladies Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Time | Ladies Points |
| 1 | Pauline | Hughes | Revolutions Racing | 23:56 |
60 |
| 2 | Jenny | York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 24:16 |
55 |
| 3 | Ceris | Eslava | Paramount CRT | 25:58 |
50 |
| Tracey | Billington | Nova Raiders | DNS-A |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 12
| Junior Pos’n | Forename | Surname | Club | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Devon | Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 21:47 |
60 |
| 2 | William | Hints | Ludlow CC | 24:44 |
55 |
| 3 | Matthew | Tilson | Ludlow CC | 25:48 |
50 |
Top Club Award – Round 12
| Pos’n | Club | Points |
| 1 | Revolutions Racing |
85 |
| =2 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers |
60 |
| =2 | Rhino Velo Race Team |
60 |
| 4 | Wrekinsport CC |
55 |
| 5 | Paramount CRT |
50 |
| 6 | NewportShropshire CC |
40 |
| 7 | Ludlow CC |
35 |
| 8 | Bridgnorth CC |
30 |
| 9 | North Shropshire Wheelers |
15 |
Cumulative Standings after twelve rounds
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Matt Davies | Rhino Velo RT | S | 545 |
| 2 | Andrew Tamplin | Revolutions Racing | S | 415 |
| 3 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | S | 405 |
| 4 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | V | 300 |
| 5 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 260 |
| 6 | George Evans | SCCA Private Member | S | 235 |
| 7 | Richard Kay | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 230 |
| 8 | Matt Garthwaite | Rhino Velo RT | S | 210 |
| 9 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V | 205 |
| 10 | Kirk Vickers | Rhino Velo RT | S | 195 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | 415 |
| 2 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 400 |
| 3 | Pauline Hughes | Revolutions Racing | 325 |
| 4 | Andrew Tamplin | Revolutions Racing | 315 |
| 5 | Richard Kay | North Shropshire Wheelers | 300 |
| 6 | Gary Duncan | Paramount CRT | 270 |
| 7 | Andy Hazell | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 265 |
| 8 | Terry Icke | NewportShropshire CC | 250 |
| 9 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 225 |
| 10 | David Drew | North Shropshire Wheelers | 190 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Ladies Championship
| Ladies Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Pauline Hughes | Revolutions Racing | 690 |
| 2 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 570 |
| 3 | Ceris Eslava | Paramount CRT | 410 |
| 4 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 315 |
| 5 | Tracey Billington | Wrekinsport CC | 280 |
| 6 | Amanda Whitmore | Revolutions Racing | 265 |
| 7 | Susan Jeffery | Wrekinsport CC | 185 |
| 8 | Jade Chapman | Nova Raiders | 120 |
| 9 | Jennifer Morris | Wrekinsport CC | 90 |
| 10 | Amanda Witty | Wrekinsport CC | 85 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Sam Morris | Revolutions Racing | 450 |
| 2 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 355 |
| 3 | Kieran Morris | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 115 |
| 4 | William Hints | Ludlow CC | 105 |
| 5 | Matthew Tilson | Ludlow CC | 95 |
| 6 | Jamie Holmes | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
| 7 | James Bell | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 45 |
| 8 | Ewan Grivell – Mellor | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 40 |
| =9 | Ben Pierce | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 35 |
| =9 | Matty Redworth | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 35 |
Top Club Award
| Position | Club | Total Points |
| 1 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 1205 |
| 2 | Rhino Velo RT | 950 |
| 3 | Revolutions Racing | 835 |
| 4 | SCCA Private Members | 545 |
| 5 | Nova Raiders | 515 |
| 6 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 345 |
| 7 | Hafren CC | 335 |
| 8 | Bridgnorth CC | 290 |
| 9 | Paramount CRT | 270 |
| 10 | Wrekinsport CC | 260 |
| 11 | Ludlow Brewery RT | 190 |
| 12 | NewportShropshire CC | 165 |
| 13 | Ludlow CC | 150 |
| 14 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 85 |
| 15 | Clee Cycles | 65 |
| 16 | Evolve | 30 |
| 17 | Oswestry Peloton | 20 |
- Round 13 of the Friction and Hydraulics Services Shropshire Championship Points Series takes place on Sunday morning – and it’s the big one. Being held on a new course taking in two circuits of Prees – Hodnet – Battlefield, The Brian Mear (Bricks) Ltd Shropshire Championship 100 is a big chance to earn County medals – and score bonus points.