Marches CC 10

Nick Long and Ed Middleton made hay while the sun shone on a glorious evening at Queen’s Head. The Nova Raiders’ pair narrowed the gap to just four points to absent Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series leaders Scott Harris and Matt Gibbons with a fine win in Round 4 promoted by Marches CC. Middleton and Long took victory by 20 seconds with an excellent effort of 21 minutes 51 seconds on the Queen’s Head – Gobowen course, a favourite of the pair, with Long determined to make up for lost ground after a spectacular crash wrecked both his bike and his chances in Round 2.

Now fully fit again, Long finally had his restored time trial bike back and took full advantage of the opportunity to close up on the missing leaders: “With Scott and Matt unable to make the race it was important for us to make the most of it and put down a good performance. Finally back on my time trial bike, but I clearly got overexcited and went out far too hard during the first few miles and struggled to breathe on the return leg and needed to cling onto Ed’s wheel for the home run. A great course once again, thanks to everyone for their help putting on a great race“.

Middleton could tell his partner was itching to make up lost ground, with the added incentive of a big travelling contingent from the club helping matters: “Seeing so many Nova Raiders on the start line always fires us up, so with a few teams missing we planned to go hard from the start. Nick set the pace and we give it 100%. Thanks to Marches CC for putting on a great nights racing“!

It was another Nova Raiders’ pairing who took the runner-up spot with Andy Rose and Andy Maxwell helping themselves to second with a great ride of 22:11 to push out Hafren CC pairing Mark Hill and Pete Thomas by 18 seconds. Rose indicated the level of effort the pair had put in with that 18 seconds vital in lifting the pair two points ahead of Hill and Thomas in the Overall standings, with Rose stating: “I have been racing with Andy for a couple of seasons now and that was by far the hardest we have worked together. We gave it our all and we were delighted with the result. It’s a great 2-Up course and a big thanks to all the officials on the night“.

Maxwell meanwhile was full of praise for his partner’s efforts, adding: “Rosie put some really strong turns in, I had to call him back at one point. Happy to get second, lots of Nova Raiders making a great atmosphere. We will try hard to get near Nick and Ed next time“!

In the Mixed Team competition Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Andy Collins and Lucy Hart took the win to squeeze the advantage of Bernard and Deb Hutson-Lumb. Collins and Hart stopped the watch on 24:06 for a 15 second victory over the Nova Raiders’ pairing, with Collins already anticipating Round 5: “Marches CC put on a great event. I’m glad we won, and we are looking forward to the next one as me and Lucy particularly like hills“!

Meanwhile Deb Hutson-Lumb revealed that two events in two nights had had an effect on her performance, having competed in the Friction Hydraulics Series the previous night: “My tired legs from the previous day’s Hafren 25 whinged their way round the course but our time was slightly quicker than in Round 3 despite a proper stop at the turn for a car“. Bernard agreed that racing 24 hours earlier had been instrumental in their race: “Our ride was steady because Deb had tired legs from the Hafren 25 the day before. As a result we had a 10 mile domestic about the pace! In reality the event was great and we enjoyed the course, apart from needing to stop at the turn due to a mistimed car“.

The Women’s Series looks to be going the way of the defending Champions as Jenny Newton and Jane Chapman made it four wins from four events with a fabulous 25:22, 12 seconds ahead of Hafren CC’s Emma Serjeant and Louise Downward. This was a strong effort, 31 seconds faster than in Round 3 on the same course, with Newton enjoying her evening out: “I always enjoy the 2-Ups. We had a great ride, both felt good and were glad to pip the lovely Hafren girls to the post! Thanks to the organisers as always“. Chapman meanwhile seemed to enjoy her evening for quite a different reason as she added: “We had a good ride and enjoyed it – especially the visit to the pub after“!

Result:

Mixed Team

Women’s Team

Cumulative Standings after four rounds

Overall

Mixed Team

Women’s Team

Round 5 of the Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series takes place on Wednesday when Nova Raiders promote their 10 mile Sporting event between Cherrington and Newport. Sign on at The Lamb at Edgmond.