R5 Mower Mec 2-Up Series: Mid Shropshire Wheelers 2-Up 10

Chris Riley and Rob McGregor sealed the Mower Mec 2-Up Series Championship for 2026 with a fabulous maximum 100 points after winning all five rounds so far – and with two rounds still remaining in this Best 5/7 Series. The Paramount CRT pair took a win on a well-supported evening in the Mid Shropshire Wheelers 10 on the rarely used Cold Hatton to Shawbirch course due to road works higher up the A442 in an event that attracted five Junior riders who all acquitted themselves famously on a red hot evening.   

Off first pair, Riley and McGregor crossed the finish line in 22 minutes 34 seconds; with a great challenge from a two of those Juniors representing the promoting club; Jude White and Thomas Oxley who posted an excellent 23:38 to take the runners-up spot. This is the first time Riley and McGregor have teamed up since their Series win in 2022, with Riley also taking the Championship in 2024 when teamed with Hayley Wells. This clearly was a high point for Riley, who has crammed in as many races across all competitions as possible in 2026. He commented: “Winning the Mower Mec 2-Up Series and five events will be the highlight of my season. It’s not a big crowd, but a lovely atmosphere and great camaraderie between the riders and competitors. It has been a pleasure to be riding with Rob again, and he’s been the perfect partner and true gent as the stronger legs of our partnership. The fifth round by Mid Shropshire Wheelers has been one of the best yet – thanks to everyone who makes these fun and lively events possible”.

McGregor has also had a strong season, and enjoyed pairing up again with Riley. He was also happy to have some diversity using a different course: “It’s been great riding the Series with Chris and posting faster times than we managed in 2022. Winning the overall Series is the icing on the cake! It was good to use the reserve course for a bit of variety. The headwind on the return leg was tough, but we rode well together again. Thanks to everyone who has helped to run the events”!

Making their first appearance in the Mower Mec Series in 2026 were Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Jude White and Tom Oxley, the best placed of an encouraging presence of younger riders with a very strong 23:38 on road bikes, something commented on by White: “A very warm evening for the 2-Up time trial, but both Tom and I felt like we had good legs. It’s always going to be tough with both of us on road bikes as we haven’t got time trial bikes, but we gave it our all and came out with a great result – thanks to Helen Tudor and the team for putting on a great event”. Like McGregor, Oxley also commented on the northerly head wind that made things trickier for the return leg: “Me and my fellow rider Jude worked well together, but the race was made very hard by a powerful headwind on the way back, where we averaged 5 mph slower than the way out. We still kept pushing hard, and although tiring near the end we were fairly pleased with a time of 23:38 getting us second overall on the day”.

That interspersion of White and Oxley pushed the pair currently lying in the Championship Silver medal position down to third on the night, as Peter Fletcher and Karl Lombardi stopped the watch on 24:10, their fastest pairing of the Series so far. Lombardi liked the challenge of something different, as well as the warm weather which is often conductive to good times: “I really enjoyed the race; it was hot and sunny for a change in this Series. We worked well together taking one minute turns or so, with Pete dictating the pace on a course I’ve never done before in its entirety. We kept it light and fluffy in nature, but definitely worked up a sweat due to the heat. Some parts of the course were in the shade which was most welcome”. Fletcher added: “Another ‘enjoyable’ evening made far greater by the continuation of the glorious heat wave. Karl and I worked well together, taking the usual minute intervals, and saw how it went. It was seemingly smoother and tighter than usual so we’ve got to be content. Thanks once again for the timeless volunteering whether timekeeping or marshalling, none of this could be possible, and also for the organisation for yet again a quality evening”.

In the Mower Mec Female Series Market Drayton CC’s Jane Morris and Jo Evans moved to the top of the standings with a fine win of 28:27, beating Nicky Mason and Jenny Newton of Nova Raiders into the runner-up spot in 29:19. Both commented on the good turnout, with Morris particularly pleased at the preponderance of youngsters, three pairing up with their fathers in an encouraging ‘handing of the baton’ sense: “Well, the weather couldn’t have been more of a contrast to the last event we took part in, with much warmer and drier conditions! It was a straight forward course with a bit of headwind on the return leg. It was great to see a good turnout, and especially to see so many younger riders and more ladies taking part. Thank you to all the marshals and organisers for doing a fantastic job, as always”. Evans added: “It was a good course, worth using again. The headwind on the way back was tough. Great to see the better weather and a good turn out; thanks to all the marshals”.

Paramount’s husband and wife team Mitchell and Evie Fletcher took another win in the Mower Mec Mixed Team Series with a relatively steady time for them of 26:40 due to a low speed pre-race spill for Evie which saw her gamely continue with a sore elbow. Mitchell commented for the pair, stating: “We both love the time trial courses running from the Waters Upton area, so this was a great opportunity to seek more points in the Mower Mec Series and to try a new course too! We started strong, with Evie pulling all the way to Shawbirch, putting me in an amazing position to tackle a tricky headwind back to the finish. This was actually our strongest and most cohesive team performance, which we’re super proud of. With not too many left in the Series we look forward to closing it out, and hopefully with some silverware! Thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers as well for hosting an amazing evening, with amazing support from all the volunteers”. The pair beat Mid Shropshire Wheeler’s Evie and Chris Charles into the runner-up spot in 30:33 despite a strong solo finish from 12 year old Evie after 29:20 thanks to father Chris suffering a slow puncture and crossing the line over a minute behind his daughter. With the time taken on the second rider in a pair, Evie showed some great potential and can only hope for better luck next time. Meanwhile 13 year old Flo Parkinson and father Mark moved into the runner-up spot in the Mixed Team contest thanks to their 33:45 effort. There was also another good performance from 12 year old Alexander Richardson and father Alan in 30:36.

Full

Females

Mixed

Cumulative Standings after five rounds

Overall

Female Team

Mixed Team