R4 UK ICT 2-Up Series Hafren CC 10

It was a close call at the top of the standings in Round 4 of the UK ICT 2-Up Series as winners an runners-up were separated by just four seconds with both dipping below the benchmark 20 minute barrier in the Hafren CC 10. Two Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Juniors took the spoils as James Satoor and Ben Pierce teamed up to great effect to push out the Round 3 winners Henri Bedford and David Griffiths with a great ride of 19 minutes 55 seconds on a far from perfect night. Satoor and Pierce went one better than their Round 1 effort at Prees with the smooth surface of the Berriew – Welshpool course suiting their style, with Satoor commenting: “It was a pretty windy evening, but Ben and myself were happy with the win, especially after a tough weekend for both of us at the Junior Tour of Yorkshire – thanks to Hafren CC for organising a good evening”. Pierce added: “I enjoyed riding with James. We were pleased with our time, it was nice to get under 20 minutes, thanks to everyone who helped with the time trial”.

Griffiths and Bedford took a couple of points out of the Series lead of Nova Raiders’ Graeme Donnell and Andrew Lacon who were third on the evening in 21:43 and now hold a 14 point advantage over both Satoor and Pierce, and Griffiths and Bedford who are tying on 38 points apiece, and despite beating the 20 minute mark by a single second it appears the windy conditions caused them a few issues on the return, with Griffiths commenting: “Henri and I rode well together again but unfortunately we were pipped by Ben and James who put in a great ride on the return leg. We need a little more practice in crosswinds and we should be able to go faster for the same effort”. Bedford meanwhile is learning all the time and can get no better teacher in this team version than Griffiths, a three time Scottish Champion at the discipline, with Bedford beating his solo personal best by a single second. He added: “Another sub-20 with the help once again from Dave pulling me around. I can’t thank him enough for another great time. We’ve still got a bit of work to do to be able to have a completely fluid ride together”.

In the Mixed Team Championship 2019 Champions Mark Hill and Emma Serjeant headed back to the top of the standings on home turf with a fine effort of 23:35 – although there seemed to be a disagreement on how the race went, with Hill commenting “I was feeling sunburned at the start! Emma rode strongly in the first half, with me putting in an extra effort on the second leg to achieve a parallel crossing of the finish line – thanks to the Hafren CC crew for a great course”. Serjeant however seemed to fade following that hard effort on the ‘out’ leg, adding: “It was good to be racing on home soil but unfortunately my legs just weren’t feeling it and Mark had to drag me over the line – a big thank you to Des and the crew for running the event”.

In the Women’s event a new teaming saw Oswestry Paragon’s Helen Tudor and Vikki Jones post a good time of 27:38, with Tudor experienced racing at all distances solo but almost incredibly making a first foray into the 2-Up format, as she explained: “Twenty years of time trials and my first 2-Up, and my first ride with Vikki so a lot to learn, but a great event and I love being out with Hafren CC”.

Full result:

Mixed Team:

Women’s Team:

Cumulative Standings after four rounds

Overall

Mixed Team

Women’s Team