Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 4-Up

A hotly anticipated event was blessed with glorious conditions as one of the highlights of the Shropshire time trialling programme saw keen competition for honours from 21 teams of four in this rarely seen format as the Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 4-Up took place from Edgmond. Just 29 seconds separated the winners from the runners-up Revolutions Racing as Bridgnorth CC ‘A’ took a maiden win with a strong team comprising Tim Beardmore, Jonathan Mills-Keeling, Ben Pierce and Rob Childs. Finishing strongly, the team covered the 50 kilometre T-shaped course taking in Edgmond, Crudgington, Shawbirch and Hodnet in 1 hour 5 minutes and 38 seconds, with the time taken on the third counting rider to cross the line, meaning team tactics are all part of the race as squads can elect to use up a rider as a pacer, work together or drop a rider who is struggling.

This happened with the Bridgnorth squad, who won The John Farr Trophy for the first time, as Beardmore explained: “Near perfect conditions for one of the best events of the year. Unfortunately things didn’t quite go to plan, as we dropped Rob after eight miles due to the fact he was on a road bike with clip-on. As a three we were pretty smooth, and Ben was super strong doing about 50% of the work. I thought it would be tight between us and the Revolutions Racing team; so stoked to take the win – massive thanks to everyone who helped make it happen”.

Beardmore has ridden this format before, but the rest of the squad were new to the format, with 17 year-old Pierce putting in a particularly fine shift: “First time doing a 4-Up team time trial, it was good to take part in something different, I really enjoyed it. Thanks to my team mates at Bridgnorth CC for asking me. Thanks to everyone that helped the event take place, hopefully I will be back to take part next year”. Mills-Keeling is an experienced solo time triallist and despite the hard work that goes into racing in the team format, with team mates egging you on at the edge of your ability he identified two of the key aspects that leave many riders grinning from ear-to-ear when they’ve recovered – the novelty and sheer fun: “First time I have ridden a team time trial, loads of fun and I’ll definitely do it again, thanks to everyone for putting it on”.

Three of the members of Revolutions Racing team, Dean Callister, Andy Rose and Mark Pritchard were in the winning Nova Raiders squad the previous year, but were just edged out in 2022 despite a fabulous effort of 1:06:07, which was 1:14 faster than in 2021. Like Bridgnorth they finished with three riders, with even a slight incline searching out a rider at the cutting edge of their ability, as Andy Rose explained after blowing up entering Waters Upton: “My favourite event of the year. Conditions were perfect; I gave everything but burnt all my matches at 25 miles and dropped off the back. Great effort from my team mates with a strong ride. Really pleased to get second place, and congratulations to the Bridgnorth team for their victory. Thanks to all the volunteers and organisers”

Dean Callister and Mark Pritchard both concurred with Rose’s thought on the event and were gracious in defeat, with Callister stating: “Always one of the best and enjoyable events of the year. The team did incredibly well and all worked very hard. We lost to a stronger team on the day so well done Bridgnorth – looking forward to next year”. Pritchard added: “A great day of racing, one of my favourite races of the year. We all did a great ride and were gutted to just miss out on first place Congratulations to Bridgnorth, and thanks to everyone for putting on a great event”.

The newest member of the squad was 18 year-old Henri Bedford, who has had very limited racing in 2022 thanks to A levels taking precedence – not that you would know it from the way he led the team to the line. This was his first experience of the 4-Up, and his comments echo others who have never tried the format before: “My first time doing a 4-Up and I absolutely loved it. I learnt a lot from it and will definitely be doing it again next year! Big thanks to the rest of the Revolutions team for making it enjoyable. Congratulations to Bridgnorth on their win, and huge thanks to the marshals”.

Aside from the rareness of the format the event is something that draws crowds of spectators, with Crudgington a particularly popular place to gather; and the post-race social which is always popular hosted by Lance and Debbie at The Lamb at Edgmond well received. Entries come from riders who never otherwise ride time trials; and are particularly popular amongst some clubs, with Wrekinsport comprising a third of the field this year with seven teams. The ‘A’ squad of Tomos Hales, Oliver Rodwell, Jon Evans and Phill Roberts took third place in 1:09:11, with two changes from the 2021 line-up improving by 33 seconds. Rodwell was one of the new riders, and showed his keenness to partake: “It was an excellently organized event from start to finish, beautiful conditions. I was so keen to be involved in this event I’d driven back up from holiday in Cornwall the morning before the race. The experience of Tomos and Phil managed to be enough to pull the team through for third place with two novices in Jon and myself. Absolutely delighted, and can’t wait for next year”.

Hales and Roberts marshalled the team well, with all four finishing together, and showing the new riders were quick learners: “Our Wrekinsport team was very well organised for such little practice. Good to finish with all 4 riders. Big congratulations to Bridgnorth with the win, and big thanks for Dave Fletcher for putting on the highlight event of the year”. Evans added: “Firstly a huge thanks to all who organised and marshalled the event, and to the Lamb for welcoming us all. This being my first 4-Up I felt the ride went really well as a team, we rode very smoothly and managed to finish with a full team which definitely helped the further we got into the event, and obviously to come away with a third place for both the team and for myself personally was a great outcome. Hopefully back next year for more of the same”.

Retaining the Women’s 4-Up Trophy Wrekinsport CC Women comprising Deb Hutson-Lumb, Clare Cotterill, Victoria Doran and Bethan Till crossed the line together in 1:26:57, a large 3:23 improvement with Hutson-Lumb marshalling the squad well. She already had eyes on 2023, with a big improvement targeted with a change to time trial bikes: “A fantastic team effort with everyone putting time in on the front, working to their strengths and helping keep the team together. I was really pleased that we got round on road bikes in the time we did. Time Trial bikes next year and sub 1 hour 20 – no pressure team”! Hutson-Lumb is undoubtedly one of the strongest female competitors in Shropshire and was new to the squad, coaxing the team around. Victoria Doran was candid in her post-race comments, but this is just another challenge from a rider who has attempted every distance and every type of course the County can throw up in 2022. Her response is extremely modest considering her strongly admired competitive streak: “I found it tough! We were much more ranging in ability this year and I was the weakest rider, so I had my work cut out for the start. However, considering we only had one practice session and even that had one rider missing, I think we rode well together as a team – definitely room for improvement though! That’s the polite version without any swearing”! That left the final word to Clare Cotterill: “Great to put out a ladies team from Wrekinsport again. I was really happy to have improved the time from last year and to ride with such strong ladies. It was a super event, and wonderful to see so many Wrekinsport teams out on the course”.

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