Mid Shropshire Wheelers 10.

Scott Harris and Matt Gibbons took another huge win in Round 6 of The Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series and in the process all but technically assured themselves of the Series Championship, one better than in 2017 where they finished as Silver medallists. The Nova Raiders’ pairing now have the maximum 100 points available from their best five counting rounds – which are all five rounds they have completed. The only way they can be beaten is if team mates Ed Middleton and Nick Long win the final four events and post a faster time than Harris and Gibbons’ best effort.

Harris and Gibbons have been in dominant form this year and recorded an excellent 22 minutes 4 seconds time in the Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ 10 after having to dig hard into an unusual headwind on the long 6 mile opening leg from Westbury to beat Hafren CC pair Mark Hill and Pete Thomas by 53 seconds. Nevertheless Gibbons was not counting his chickens, commenting: “I’m delighted to gain the maximum 100 points with Scott, but it’s still going to be tight and I’m not celebrating until it’s official. There are a few teams battling it out at the top and producing lots of close racing“.

Turning to the race he continued: “It worked out to be a good night – a win on the bike and still got home in time to see England go through! I really like the course, on a good surface and a tough last mile. Thanks to all the marshals and organisers for putting on a good event“. Harris added: “A good race, I was glad to get the win on one of the best Shropshire courses. Thanks to the timekeepers and marshals who made the event happen, and to Matt for sticking some big turns in again“.

New partnership Hill and Thomas edged out the young Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ pairing of James Satoor and Ben Pierce by three seconds with their fine effort of 22:57, with Thomas knowing he had been in a race, commenting: “I was going well until Shoot Hill where I died! Myself and Mark are still learning about each other“. Hill meanwhile gave a detailed insight into how tough the race had been: “Another warm evening, hot with a full-face helmet. We set off into a headwind, our speed was OK and we caught a lorry and a car going onto Shrewsbury bypass. A spurt of speed up to the Welshpool roundabout gave us a boost, with 38mph all the way to Ford. As soon as you turn to Shoot Hill you feel the pain, with some frantic gear swapping trying to crawl to the line. One of my favourite courses“.

Gibbons and Harris weren’t the only ones bearing down on a title with Andy Collins and Lucy Hart adding 20 points to their tally to move into the lead in the Mixed Team Series. The pair posted a fine effort of 24:52, though they that didn’t come without some sacrifice, as Collins explained: “It could have gone a lot better. Lucy had ridden The Youth Tour of London, a 4-stage National circuit race over the weekend and was exhausted before we started! We shall try and get our act together next time. Happy to have done the time we did, a good event on a great course. Thanks to all the helpers, lovely quiet roads“!

It was a close call in the Women’s Series with the top three split by just 13 seconds as new SCCA members Sarah Grant and Alison Dockney took the win – and Series leaders and reigning Champions Jenny Newton and Jane Chapman were pushed down to third spot by just two seconds. Grant and Dockney are a strong team and set a good time of 25:56, having won both races they have entered since joining the Association midway through the season and are still potentially in the hunt to make a late challenge for Gold. Dockney commented: “I loved the course for the Mid Shropshire Wheelers 10, it was a really close Women’s race! I’m really enjoying racing the 2-Ups and am looking forward to Round 7 in a few weeks. Thanks Mid Shropshire Wheelers for another fun night of racing“. Grant agreed it was a close run call, but echoed Thomas’ thoughts about the end of the course: “It was a very close race for the women! We are so pleased with our time and still buzzing with excitement. We were shouting plenty of encouragement at each other at that last nasty climb – who put that there“‽

Result:

Women’s Team:

Mixed Team:

Cumulative Standings after six rounds

Overall

Mixed Team

Women’s Team

• Round 7 of The Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series takes place at 7pm on 24th July when Ludlow CC run their 10 on the fast Ludlow by-pass course.