R8 Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series: Mid Shropshire Wheelers 10

Mid Shropshire Wheelers 2-Up 10

A new pairing took a narrow win in Round 8 of the Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series – whilst one of them was celebrating earning a Silver medal too. This unusual situation was caused by the non-availability of Emma Serjeant, who together with partner Mark Hill took Mixed Team Gold in Round 7 added Overall Silver to their tally. Hill instead paired up with former Series Champion Pete Thomas for a very brisk workout thanks in part to Thomas’ desire for competition in a format he excels at and partly due to a roaring south-westerly wind that aided riders down the 6 mile opening straight.

Thomas and Hill stopped the watch on 22 minutes 10 seconds, just pushing out Nova Raiders Graeme Donnell and Andrew Lacon – although Hill knew he had been in  race hanging onto Thomas: “It felt like a Functional Threshold Power 20 minute test behind Pete! A persona best for me, thanks all at Mid Shropshire Wheelers for the time trial, and thanks to the south-westerly too. I’m very happy to take Silver this year and have enjoyed every round this year with Emma alongside me. We work well and will hopefully carry on. Thanks to all the clubs marshals and timekeepers“. Thomas, obviously relishing the chance to get back into competition added: “A lovely tail wind going out made for a pretty quick ride. When Mark said Emma was unavailable I jumped at the chance to get back at it. Hopefully I’ll be competing again next year“.

When Serjeant was contacted about taking a second medal in the Series she was delighted with the news, stating: “This is a fantastic result for us, I’m very happy to take Overall Silver. I have once again loved the 2-Up Series. Thank you to everyone who makes it possible and all the riders for an excellent Series“.

After impressing in the Coaching Revolutions Championship 4-Up new Nova Raiders members Graeme Donnell and Andrew Lacon made their first entrance into the 2-Up Series with some style, capturing the runner-up spot in 22:17. The Dudley-based duo enjoyed the conditions on the night but were surprised by the sting-in-the-tail offered by this course  Shoot Hill, which despite it’s shortness can catch out the unwary. This was the case for Donnell and Lacon, who were left rueing not having left enough in the tank to push so close to the finish, Donnell commented: “First time on this course for the Dudley Section of the Raiders; dragged around by my phenomenal partner Andrew at speeds you normally dream about due to the nice tailwind. I just blew up on Shoot Hill much to his chagrin and missed out! Hafren Boys 1-Nova 0; chapeau! Extremely well organised as usual, and great to see Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ youth taking part“. Lacon didn’t seem that upset by runners-up spot judging by his post-race comments: “Very happy with the time posted. Our first time on the course, I just need to work my partner harder to get top spot next year“!

Donnell and Lacon weren’t the only riders surprised by the effort required near the end as Nova team mates Deb and Bernard Hutson-Lumb not only took victory in the Mixed Team event – they captured 3rd spot Overall too in a personal best time of 23:09. This moved the husband and wife pair into the Mixed Team Silver medal spot and like many teams enjoyed the tail wind on the fastest part of the course. Deb Hutson-Lumb commented: “Not having ridden the course before I didn’t realise how fast it could be on the way out or that there was Shoot Hill to contend with at the end! We did rather grovel to the finish. Really pleased with the ride though, which is a PB for us on a 2-Up. Thanks to everyone who gave up their time to run the event. Great course and looking forward to riding it again“. With the final event in the Series taking place on this same course there won’t be long to wait.

Bernard Hutson-Lumb was also pleased with his ride, adding: “A good event, and the organisers managed to arrange for a dry race in between the showers. As usual for me everything was a bit of a blur in the race. First time for me on this course and I thought this is a good course, and then we found the nasty little surprise climb at the end.  All in all a great event on a good evening for a ride.  Many thanks to the organisers and marshals“.

Result:

Mixed Team

Cumulative Standings after eight rounds

Overall

Mixed Team

Women’s Team

• The 9th and final round of the Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series takes place on the same Westbury – Shoot Hill course and is the Paramount CRT event on 20th August at 7pm.