Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 4-Up

Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 4-Up

The most hotly-anticipated time trial in the Shropshire calendar saw an excellent turnout of visiting teams take the spoils, a first-time winner carving their club’s name on The John Farr Trophy and some mightily close competition for the new Women’s 4-Up Trophy in the Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 4-Up. The rarely seen 4-rider team time trial format attracted 26 teams to The Lamb at Edgmond looking to complete a 50 kilometre course taking in Crudgington, Shawbirch and Hodnet before returning to Edgmond for a well-deserved post-race social and a warm welcome from new landlords Lance and Debbie.

The pre-race atmosphere at The Lamb was buzzing, and continued out on the course with plenty of spectators and marshals shouting encouragement spurring the riders on, with the Top 3 teams covered by just 46 seconds in a tight contest. Wrexham-based Velotik Racing Team comprising David Williams, Toby Willams, Gareth Sanger and Chris Mann took the Overall win in a fine time of 1 hour, 6 minutes and 14 seconds, just seeing off the close attentions of Kidderminster club Success Cycling by 31 seconds. 

Speaking for the Velotik squad Sanger was delighted to take the win, but revealed that their run did not go as smoothly as they’d have liked: “I’m sure I speak for all when I say we were really pleased with the win. Three of us had ridden the Manchester and District ’50’ the afternoon before so we were not sure how our legs would perform. On top of this we could only describe the ride we did as being ‘eventful’, with several hold ups impacting us and we lost some considerable time, so when we got back and found out we had won we were ecstatic. Many thanks for a well organised event“.

Velotik weren’t the only squad to see hold-ups as runner’s up Success Cycling comprising Andrew Overton, Jamie Jenkins, Steven Vanes and Gary Jones were also slowed by an unfortunate ‘off’ for one of the teams due to a touch of wheels, although all members thankfully emerged largely unscathed. Despite that issue Overton was sure that the delay hadn’t affected the result: “We were pleased with how the ride went. Our basic aim was if we averaged around 28 mph we would be happy with that, and we all said it would be nice if we were in the mix at the end, which we were. We lost a chunk of time around the eight mile mark due to a team before us having an ‘off’ and we hit a queue of traffic as a result, but I think we all agreed that it probably wasn’t enough time to take the win – but it would have been close! Overall we were pleased, a great event, great organisation, and will probably have another pop at it next year“. Team mate Gary Jones added: “A big thank you for organising this event. It’s our first 4-Up team time trial and we thoroughly enjoyed it. A great venue and great people. We sure were on the limiter, great competitor team spirit“. Jones’ comments reveal just how ‘on the rivet’ the squads are prepared to push each other, attaining speeds many could only dream about in solo competition as they encourage each other on to greater heights.

Meanwhile regular visitors to this annual event and previous winners Preston CC took third spot in 1 hour 7 minutes exactly with a new line-up led by Matt Moorhouse and Paul Johnstone and featuring novice riders Colin Carefoot and Dan Chesters put in an encouraging display. The Preston team looked well-drilled as they passed the finish line on the way out despite that inexperience and unfamiliarity within the squad as Johnstone revealed: “It’s the first time we have ridden as a 4-Up with this line-up and only the first season of time trialling for Colin and Dan – and only Dan’s second ever time trial! Matt was our powerhouse who did 99 % of the work. The rest of us just hung on hoping for the finish line. Can I thank you for a great event yet again“. Carefoot added: “It was a really well organised event made even more enjoyable with the good weather and excellent choice of HQ, we will definitely be back next year. As far as the race went we had not ridden as a team before, not even a practice run together so consequently we were not as tight or efficient as we could or should have been, but still had good speed thanks to Matt Moorhouse dragging us round. Unfortunately on the return leg from the last roundabout we became a little disjointed and some cars got in between us and then slowed for other riders which cost us dearly, but that’s how goes sometimes. Congratulations to both Velotik Racing team and Success Cycling, and a big thank you again for making it such a fantastic day out“.

Not all the concentration was on the Overall places with Shropshire squads firmly focussed on winning the County’s John Farr 4-Up Trophy – with a close battle seeing Wrekinsport put their name on this Trophy for the first time after beating holders Nova Raiders by a narrow 18 seconds in an excellent 1:09:59. The Nova ‘A’ squad has held this Trophy for the last two years, but with Chris Halford wrangling the Wrekinsport ‘A’ squad also including Rich Smith, Tomos Hales and Allan Henderson to hold a pre-determined average speed a good day ended up with added icing on the cake.

For Rich Smith this was an especially poignant win. The recipient of a liver transplant 26 years ago, Smith is the model for keeping healthy in trying circumstances and making the most of a second chance at life as he prepares for the defence of his World Transplant Games titles in Newcastle between August 17th-24th: “The 4-Up is one of the highlights of the season for me. It was great to ride as a team with the boys and narrowly pip the very strong Nova Raiders lads for the County win. Even though we were all on the limit, plans are already being hatched to go faster next year, although I’m not sure how that’ll work for me as I felt like I’d spent the night in a tumble drier the following morning. Superb organisation on a cracking day. As an aside I can’t believe we are legitimate County champions. I’ve been fortunate to pick up a few bits and bobs within Transplant Cycling over the years, but this one really does mean something special to me because it’s outside of that with, and against, ‘normal’ riders. Even more so to win it in such excellent company for Wrekinsport. I’m well happy me“!

Smith’s team mates were also ecstatic at taking victory, with Henderson commenting: “As my favourite race of the year it’s made even better to be part of the County winning team – I’m well pleased. It was a seriously hard effort that the lads put in and a well deserved win, I feel privileged to have raced with such a great team and they have inspired me to push on and improve my own abilities so that we can defend the title next year“. Hales added: “A fantastic result to achieve for the club. A season highlight event, just need to get quicker to keep up with Chris Halford’s new target time for next year. Well organised“. The final word was left to Halford, who gave his customary measured response: “The aim was to average 27mph. That’s what we did, the whole team played their part“.

If victory for the John Farr Trophy was tight the contest for the brand new Women’s 4-Up Trophy kindly donated by Nova Raiders was tighter still with first separated from second by just 17 seconds. Designed to encourage all-female squads to compete, an all-new teaming of Newport Shropshire CC’s Team Pink, comprising Rosie Homer, Tina Tomkinson, Dawn Cook and Sarah Roberts beat off the attentions of Wrekinsport CC Ladies with a fine effort of 1:32:45. For most of the squad this was their first-ever time trial and the first time all four members had ridden together, and all were thrilled by their success, with Roberts stating: “I loved it! I certainly never thought it was something I could do, I thought you had to be super fast to take part but you don’t, and the atmosphere on the day was great – everyone was friendly and supportive. Teamwork is key and whilst we hadn’t cycled as a four until the morning we worked well and kept together. The cheers from the marshals were really motivational too so a big thanks to them. Thank you for organising it, I think you may see us on the future“!

Cook was just as effusive in her post-race comments, adding: “What an amazing day. Team Pink  – well what can I say, we all worked well considering only three out of the four had ridden together before race day so what a fantastic result for us all. I’m so looking forward to the presentation of our well earned trophy! A big thank you all the marshals, timekeepers etc that made our day extra special. No doubt you will see us again next year“. Whilst most of the team had not experienced a time trial before Rosie Homer had and encouraged her squad to make the best of their abilities: “A massive surprise to take the new Women’s Trophy. The team rode well despite having never ridden together and we all worked to our strengths to get us round as best we could“. The final word went to Tomkinson who revealed pre-race nerves soon dissipated at an event that leaves many riders tired but elated: “I was concerned as I had never ridden with the others or done a time trial before, but it was most enjoyable and I would like to do another! Again, many thanks to all those involved in the organisation of the event and to the marshals who were very encouraging – a very well organised and friendly event“.  

With a Mixed Team prize also on offer Nova Raiders ‘B’ containing Charlotte Chapman, Steve Ford and husband and wife Deb and Bernard Hutson-Lumb took the win after stopping the clock on 1:15:25. Chapman echoed Henderson’s earlier comments and mentioned the many new faces in competition who wouldn’t normally be seen at a time trial, attracted by the unusual format and team camaraderie: “My favourite event of the year by far, I love being part of it and seeing so many new faces encouraged to give time trialling a try. Thanks to all involved, and to my fabulous team mates, we managed to get round without shouting at each other this year“! Deb-Hutson-Lumb echoed those sentiments, adding: “Brilliant to see so many teams out for another fabulous 4-Up event. A tough ride as we were put though our paces by a very strong Steve Ford. We kept together well as a team and were very pleased with the time considering we had two stops. Thank you organisers, marshals, riders, supporters and anyone else involved“. Husband Bernard concurred, although he didn’t take in much of the event thanks to being surrounded by a strong, highly competitive team who drove him on ever harder: “A great event, though I cannot say much about the actual ride as it was all a blur and then ‘thank goodness that’s over’! It was great to ride with such a good team, we seemed to ride well together. We appreciated the support along the route, many thanks to the organisers and marshals“. Ford concluded: “A great event as always, I really enjoyed it. Congratulations to Wrekinsport for the Shropshire win and to Newport Team Pink for winning the Women’s Trophy. A big thank you to all those who helped make it happen“!

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