Another day, another course record for Matt Davies as he rounded off a superb weekend of racing. After shaving two seconds off Andy Bason’s record on the Brimfield 10 in round 4 of the Friction Hydraulics Series he equalled Andy Wilkinson’s 53 minute 12 second mark in round 5, the sporting Prees – Battlefield 25 promoted by Nova Raiders. In less than ideal conditions Davies battled through the wind and rain on a chilly morning to win the event in style, leading his new Rhino Velo Racing team home in some style. He explained: “Another day and another race. It was tough on the way out, but I got stuck in from the Battlefield turn. Really chuffed with the result, especially with five Rhino Velo riders clocking times under the hour. A huge thank you to all those involved in putting on the race even if the weather was a little grim“.
Not only did Davies extend his lead to 110 points in the Series, that superb quality across the team, placing five riders in the Top 10 saw them gain big points in the Top Club award, moving up to the lead in that competition. Davies’ team mate Matt Garthwaite was also on fire, gaining the runner-up spot with a superb 54:36 – a fabulous time on this tough, undulating circuit. An incredulous Garthwaite commented: “I couldn’t believe my eyes as I approached the finish line with 54 minutes on the clock. I wasn’t expecting anything like that as it didn’t feel like a fast day or course, and I could certainly feel my legs from the previous day’s efforts. Great to see so many Rhino Velo lads on the road which will put us at the top of the table, but for now, it’s back to the road racing scene“.
Rhino Velo didn’t have it quite all their own way with Hafren CC rider Bryn Davies taking third place overall with a huge personal best of 56:38 as well as winning the Veterans’ competition in +9:48 in his first entry to the Friction Hydraulics Series of 2016. A surprised Davies stated: “I was really pleased with the result – a personal best on a ’25- by eight minutes!. A great course, thanks to Nova Raiders for a great event“. Davies took that Veterans’ win from North Shropshire Wheelers Richard Kay who settled for the runner-up spot on the day. However his +8:21 effort propelled him into the lead of the Veterans Series by a 50 point margin, a competition which saw him finish runner-up in 2015 and he will be going all out to finish one better this year.
In the Ladies Series Pauline Hughes also made it two wins in two days with a strong 1:07:31 seeing off Jenny York by 34 seconds. Hughes also stretched her lead at the top of the Ladies table to 45 points over York and was delighted with another win, explaining: “I have had a fantastic weekend of racing, and I feel proud to have secured another win against such a strong ladies field“.
With many top rides popping up throughout the field one of the best went to Junior winner Sam Morris who knocked a huge margin off his course best with a 1:01:18 effort – good enough for 11th spot overall. Morris opened up a 110 point lead at the top of the Junior standings with this ride, commenting: “Another tough one! It was great to come back nine minutes quicker than last year”.
Result
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series – Round 5
| Position | Name | Club | Time | Points |
| 1 | Matthew Davies | Rhino Velo Race Team | 53:12 |
60 |
| 2 | Matthew Garthwaite | Rhino Velo Race Team | 54:36 |
55 |
| 3 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 56:38 |
50 |
| 4 | Kirk Vickers | Rhino Velo Race Team | 56:42 |
45 |
| 5 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 57:00 |
40 |
| 6 | Richard Kay | North Shropshire Wheelers | 57:52 |
35 |
| 7 | Andrew Tamplin | Revolutions Racing | 58:47 |
30 |
| 8 | Chris Pook | Rhino Velo Race Team | 58:52 |
25 |
| 9 | Charlie Bailey | Rhino Velo Race Team | 59:53 |
20 |
| 10 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | 1:00:27 |
15 |
| 11 | Sam Morris | Revolutions Racing | 1:01:18 |
10 |
| 12 | William Baugh | Ludlow CC | 1:01:40 |
5 |
| 13 | Rob Kennard | Revolutions Racing | 1:02:44 |
5 |
| 14 | Jonathan Smith | Nova Raiders | 1:03:28 |
5 |
| =15 | Simon Evans | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 1:04:47 |
5 |
| =15 | Andy Maxwell | Nova Raiders | 1:04:47 |
5 |
| 17 | Richard Smith | Wrekinsport CC | 1:04:57 |
5 |
| 18 | Martin Skehan | Nova Raiders | 1:06:02 |
5 |
| 19 | Pauline Hughes | Revolutions Racing | 1:07:31 |
5 |
| 20 | Alistair Hatton | Wrekinsport CC | 1:07:47 |
5 |
| 21 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 1:08:05 |
5 |
| =22 | Dave York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 1:08:08 |
5 |
| =22 | Dave Gostelow | Wrekinsport CC | 1:08:08 |
5 |
| 24 | Amanda Whitmore | Revolutions Racing | 1:09:11 |
5 |
| 25 | Jade Chapman | Nova Raiders | 1:11:52 |
5 |
| 26 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 1:12:08 |
5 |
| 27 | Les Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | 1:14:45 |
5 |
| 28 | Juliet Suddaby | Paramount CRT | 1:14:57 |
5 |
| 29 | Helene Belmans | North Shropshire Wheelers | 1:18:49 |
5 |
| Nick Pavard | Nova Raiders | DNS-A | ||
| Shaun Sutton | North Shropshire Wheelers | DNS-A | ||
| Andrew Rose | Nova Raiders | DNS | ||
| Ceris Eslava | Paramount CRT | DNS | ||
| Damian Platek | Revolutions Racing | DNS | ||
| Ian Pollard | Nova Raiders | DNS | ||
| John Robertson | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | DNS | ||
| Simon Harrison | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | DNS |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship – Round 5
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | +/-Vet Std | Vets Points |
| 1 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | +9:48 |
60 |
| 2 | Richard Kay | North Shropshire Wheelers | +8:21 |
55 |
| 3 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | +7:20 |
50 |
| 4 | Andrew Tamplin | Revolutions Racing | +7:13 |
45 |
| 5 | Charlie Bailey | Rhino Velo Race Team | +7:10 |
40 |
| 6 | Pauline Hughes | Revolutions Racing | +6:38 |
35 |
| 7 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | +6:24 |
30 |
| 8 | William Baugh | Ludlow CC | +5:58 |
25 |
| 9 | Rob Kennard | Revolutions Racing | +5:18 |
20 |
| 10 | Jonathan Smith | Nova Raiders | +4:22 |
15 |
| 11 | Amanda Whitmore | Revolutions Racing | +3:51 |
10 |
| 12 | Simon Evans | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | +3:03 |
5 |
| 13 | Richard Smith | Wrekinsport CC | +2:53 |
5 |
| 14 | Martin Skehan | Nova Raiders | +2:50 |
5 |
| 15 | Dave York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | +2:30 |
5 |
| 16 | David Gostelow | Wrekinsport CC | +1:41 |
5 |
| 17 | Jade Chapman | Nova Raiders | +1:23 |
5 |
| 18 | Alistair Hatton | Wrekinsport CC | +1:05 |
5 |
| 19 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | +0:41 |
5 |
| 20 | Juliet Suddaby | Paramount CRT | -1:55 |
5 |
| 21 | Les Boughey | North Shropshire Wheelers | -6:06 |
5 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Ladies Championship – Round 5
| Ladies Pos’n | Name | Club | Time | Ladies Points |
| 1 | Pauline Hughes | Revolutions Racing | 1:07:31 |
60 |
| 2 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 1:08:05 |
55 |
| 3 | Amanda Whitmore | Revolutions Racing | 1:09:11 |
50 |
| 4 | Jade Chapman | Nova Raiders | 1:11:52 |
45 |
| 5 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 1:12:08 |
40 |
| 6 | Juliet Suddaby | Paramount CRT | 1:14:57 |
35 |
| 7 | Helene Belmans | North Shropshire Wheelers | 1:18:49 |
30 |
| Ceris Eslava | Paramount CRT | DNS |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship – Round 5
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Sam Morris | Revolutions Racing | 1:01:18 |
60 |
Top Club Award – Round 5
| Pos’n | Club | Points |
| 1 | Rhino Velo Race Team |
205 |
| =2 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers |
55 |
| =2 | Revolutions Racing |
55 |
| 4 | Hafren CC |
50 |
| 5 | North Shropshire Wheelers |
45 |
| 6 | Nova Raiders |
20 |
| =7 | Bridgnorth CC |
15 |
| =7 | Wrekinsport CC |
15 |
| =9 | Ludlow CC |
5 |
| =9 | Oswestry Paragon CC |
5 |
| =9 | Paramount CRT |
5 |
Cumulative Standings after five rounds
Friction and Hydraulic Services Shropshire Championship Points Series
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 12 |
| 1 | Matt Davies | Rhino Velo RT | S | 295 |
| 2 | Victor Chetta | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | S | 185 |
| 3 | Andrew Tamplin | Revolutions Racing | S | 165 |
| 4 | Matt Garthwaite | Rhino Velo RT | S | 155 |
| 5 | Kirk Vickers | Rhino Velo RT | S | 140 |
| 5 | Richard Kay | North Shropshire Wheelers | V | 140 |
| 7 | George Evans | SCCA Private Member | S | 115 |
| 8 | Stephen Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | V | 80 |
| 9 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 75 |
| 10 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | V | 70 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Veterans Championship
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Richard Kay | North Shropshire Wheelers | 210 |
| 2 | Stephen Minton | Ludlow Brewery RT | 160 |
| 3 | Tim Beardmore | Bridgnorth CC | 155 |
| 4 | Andy Hazell | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 145 |
| 5 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 115 |
| 6 | Gary Duncan | Paramount CRT | 110 |
| 7 | Pauline Hughes | Revolutions Racing | 100 |
| 8 | James Griffiths | Clee Cycles | 90 |
| 9 | Andrew Tamplin | Revolutions Racing | 85 |
| 10 | William Baugh | Ludlow CC | 80 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Ladies Championship
| Ladies Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Pauline Hughes | Revolutions Racing | 275 |
| 2 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 230 |
| 3 | Amanda Whitmore | Revolutions Racing | 165 |
| 4 | Ceris Eslava | Paramount CRT | 150 |
| 5 | Susan Jeffery | Wrekinsport CC | 135 |
| 6 | Tracey Billington | Wrekinsport CC | 125 |
| 7 | Jade Chapman | Nova Raiders | 120 |
| 8 | Helen Tudor | Oswestry Paragon CC | 115 |
| 9 | Juliet Suddaby | Paramount CRT | 70 |
| 10 | Emma Robinson | Wrekinsport CC | 45 |
Friction and Hydraulic Services Junior Championship
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Best 12 |
| 1 | Sam Morris | Revolutions Racing | 225 |
| 2 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 115 |
| 3 | Jamie Holmes | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 60 |
| 4 | William Hints | Ludlow CC | 50 |
| 5 | Matthew Tilson | Ludlow CC | 45 |
Top Club Award
| Position | Club | Total Points |
| 1 | Rhino Velo RT | 590 |
| 2 | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 460 |
| 3 | Revolutions Racing | 310 |
| 4 | Nova Raiders | 215 |
| 5 | North Shropshire Wheelers | 170 |
| 5 | SCCA Private Members | 170 |
| 7 | Ludlow Brewery RT | 165 |
| 8 | Wrekinsport CC | 135 |
| 9 | Ludlow CC | 80 |
| 10 | Paramount CRT | 75 |
| 11 | Bridgnorth CC | 70 |
| 12 | Hafren CC | 50 |
| 13 | NewportShropshire CC | 45 |
| 14 | Clee Cycles | 40 |
| 15 | Oswestry Paragon CC | 25 |
| 16 | Evolve | 10 |
- Round 6 of the Friction Hydraulics Series is the first chance to gain County medals of the year when Mid Shropshire Wheelers promote the SB Sports Injuries Shropshire Championship 50 on 15th May at Prees.