R2 Mower Mec 2-Up Series 2024: Paramount CRT

Round 2 of the Mower Mec 2-Up Series saw new partnerships take the wins in both the Overall and Mixed Team event and new leaders at the top of the standings as Paramount CRT promoted their 10 mile race on the fast Westbury – Shoot Hill course. The promoting club’s John Goh and Mason Durant took the overall win on a warm evening and were the only all-male pairing in the race – but it was a close call. Goh and Durant charged around the course in 22 minutes 22 seconds, coping best with a tricky and rare cross-headwind on the initial six mile leg to the Shrewsbury by-pass. Speaking for the pair Goh showed the fun of the format in his post-race comments: “I think the last time I did a 2-Up was over five years ago. I wanted to show my support for the event as my club were organising it. In the end I arranged to ride with Mason. He’s got a big engine and can really wind it up, so I was excited to ride with him. We agreed that we would take shorter turns of about 30-40 seconds. I know what I can and cannot do, so we agreed that Mason would take slightly longer turns if he was feeling strong. It was a warm night and there was a deceptive crosswind on the outward leg. Lots of fun, and I’ll try and do it again soon if I can fit it in. I’d encourage others to get involved – it’s a super way to spend an evening”!

The close call was provided by the Mixed Team winners in a first-ever teaming, as Chris Riley and Hayley Wells stopped the watch on a hugely impressive 22:37 – 2:56 ahead of third placed Thea Osmund and Eddie Emblem. Riley knew he had been in a race as Wells urged him on in her first-ever attempt at the format, with Riley’s comments tongue in cheek: “My mum told me to avoid fast women and she was right! Hayley made my 22+ minutes very uncomfortable, but it was sure exciting. I’m looking forward to some more inter-club partnership – Thanks Hayley“.

Wells has participated in the larger 4-Up format but really enjoyed the experience of her first try at the pairs format, with her comments graphically showing exhilaration of team riding: “My first ever 2-Up, and what a blast it was! Chris and I have never ridden together so there was a lot of trust needed to hold each other’s wheel. We went out hard and pushed each other across the distance right to the line. An awesome course; and another stunning evening of racing – thank you to Paramount for organising”.

Just four seconds behind Osmund and Emblem in 25:37, SCCA Private Member Sorrel Williams and Oswestry Paragon’s Karl Lombardi pushed out reigning Mixed Team Champions Jan Davies and Mark Hill by exactly the same margin in a tight contest, lifting themselves into the lead of not only the Mixed Team competition but also the Overall standings too in a season where Mixed Teams are making a big impression.

Full:

Mixed Team:

Cumulative Standings after two rounds

Overall

Mixed Team: