Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 4-Up

Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 4-Up

It was a narrow win in the Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 4-Up as a visiting team took victory by just 17 seconds at Edgmond. The Liverpool Phoenix squad of Edward Chilton, Toby Williams, Arthur Winstanley and Neil Hughes pushed out a strong local Nova Raiders squad with a fine effort of 1 hour 9 minutes 51 seconds. On their first visit to the event the squad enjoyed the unusual team format, with Hughes commenting: “We really enjoyed the event and were glad we made the trip from Liverpool. We were surprised to take the win with some very strong teams, with Nova putting in a great ride making it super close. The atmosphere and the support from the other teams, marshals and organisers was fantastic and made the day“.

These sentiments were echoed by Hughes’ team mates with Chilton adding: “It was a great event with a great HQ and well organised. Nova put in a great ride making it super close and a good day out. We’ll be back next year“! Williams continued: “It was a good ride from our team, a great event and well done to Nova Raiders for running us so close“. Winstanley meanwhile was already looking forward to 2018 stating: “It was a great event, a lovely route, a great HQ and atmosphere. We’ll be back to defend our win“.

Whilst Nova Raiders were pushed into the overall runners-up spot their ‘A’ squad of Ed Middleton, Matt Gibbons, Tim Beardmore and Andy Rose didn’t go away empty-handed, winning the John Farr 4-Up Trophy for best County team with their 1:10:08 effort, which had been their pre-race objective – but it didn’t come easily. Middleton, more used to racing in the 2-Up format explained: “The dynamics changed and so did my role. I was the jam in a painful jam sandwich. A great Nova turnout, thanks to the organisers“! Beardmore meanwhile had praise to give for the winners and for team mate Matt Gibbons, who put in a powerful performance. He stated: “A great morning’s racing. Big congratulations to Liverpool Phoenix on taking the overall win. It was fantastic to pick up the John Farr Trophy, we rode really well as a team with Matt putting in some super strong efforts. A great atmosphere with lots of support on the course. A big thanks to organisers, marshals and timekeepers“.

Beardmore wasn’t the only one delighted to pick up the County Trophy with Gibbons adding: “I’m really happy to bring the John Farr Trophy home for the Raiders for the first time. A fun event I enjoyed racing with mates“. The closing remarks were left for Andy Rose, who stated: “A tremendous team effort. I was very pleased that the team won the John Farr 4-Up Trophy and came Overall runner’s up. Many thanks to the officials, marshals  and my team mates“.

This rarely seen format is one of the highlights of the County time trialling season with teams of four working together around a 50 kilometre circuit. With Shawbirch island back in action for 2017 the popular Edgmond – Crudgington – Shawbirch – Hodnet course returned to in use with the usual good turnout of spectators cheering the teams on. Riders faced a rising wind which made the first leg to Crudgington tough but assured a fast return to the finish line with most teams finishing strongly.

Stourbridge Velo are previous winners of this event but had to settle for third in 2017 thanks to the powerhouse efforts of Liverpool Phoenix and Nova Raiders A. Despite this the squad of Matthew Cooper, Rob Kennard, Darren Shaw and Mike Anslow still put in a strong performance of 1:12:06 and seemed pleased with their efforts, with Cooper commenting: “We were super happy with 3rd today, a solid effort from Stourbridge Velo. Thank you to the race organisers and marshals for putting on such a good event“. Kennard agreed, adding: “A great team effort for our first race together. A massive thanks to organisers and marshals for a great morning“.

One of the highlights of the format is the range of competitors it attracts, with fast time triallists looking for the overall win, road racers looking for break away practice, and a serious interest from female competitors, with a prize for the best team containing at least two Women’s. It was a good battle between Market Drayton CC Combined and Revolutions Racing with the Market Drayton squad of Alison Dockney, Sarah Grant, Oliver Allan and Danny Glover taking the prize by 2:59 with a fine team effort of 1:20:10. Dockney summed up the atmosphere in her comments, stating: “Thank you for a super day at the 4-Up! We would love to do it again next year. A big thank you to all of the marshals, event organisers and everyone who was competing – it was a really friendly event“.

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