Wrekinsport CC 2-Up 10

There were shades of the old Freiheit classic “Keeping The Dream Alive” about the performance put in by reigning champions Ed Middleton and Scott ‘Bomber’ Harris as they did just that in round 7 of the Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series. Needing the maximum 20 points only a win would bring to set up a down-to-the-wire head-to-head battle royale to decide the destinations of the Gold and Silver medals with Series leaders Bryn Davies and Pete Thomas in the final round, the Nova Raiders pairing raced around the Waters Upton – Hodnet course in the Wrekinsport CC 10 in 22 minutes 3 seconds – despite Middleton only just making it from work in time.

Still dazed from the last minute dash and having little time for a proper warm up a shell shocked Middleton found himself having to put in a big effort, with Harris on fire and more rested from the day’s labours as they beat Andy Loveland and Dave Owen into the runner-up spot. Middleton’s tongue-in-cheek comments showed it hadn’t been an easy ride: “Bomber smelt blood, the Devil smiled and the pain rained down upon us. I swear I heard him laughing in Peplow“!

Harris’ comments were more sanguine as he realised the task ahead: “I enjoyed the race, not as fast as I wanted but pleased with the win. Looking forward to racing the Hafren boys in the last round. A brilliant time by Andy and Dave – and by our ladies team, thanks to Coaching Revolutions and Wrekinsport for putting on the event“.

Wrekinsport’s Loveland and Nova’s Owen captured that runner-up spot with a fine effort of 22:37, just pushing grabbing that place by two seconds. Loveland was pleased with the improvement over their Round 6 effort at Ludlow where they could only manage 15th place, with a huge leap in form. He stated: “I just wanted to make up for the previous week’s disappointing performance. Very pleased. Congratulations to Ed and Scott on a great win“. Owen added: “I was pleased for my partner Andy after a tough time for him last week. Chuffed“.

But there was more than just Gold and Silver in play as Chris Hill and Dilwyn Griffiths looked to consolidate their third place in the 2-Up Championship – and fend off a serious challenge from Mark Harrison and Nick Pavard. Hill and Griffiths stretched their lead to 10 points after finishing third on the night by just two seconds from Loveland and Owen in 22:39, with Harrison and Pavard back in 6th spot on 24:16. Griffiths commented: “It was a good race on a tough road, and the wind didn’t seem to help either way“! Hill meanwhile was much more expansive and revealed they had a target in mind: “Being our first season we entered into this event wanting to secure third overall in the table with what up till now has been a tight race. Pleased with third on the night, and it has hopefully cemented a podium. The wind was a challenge on the way out, but fast back. We hoped to go quicker but with times close between the Top three it looks as though the conditions hit all“.

In the Ladies Championship it was another win for Nova Raiders with Jenny Newton and Jane Chapman putting in a great effort of 26:13 to beat the team of Wrekinsport’s Liz White and Paramount’s Hil Pontefract. Newton was pleased with her ride, commenting: “Another great race for Jane and I. A bit of a headwind on the way out but a nice return, and chuffed with our time“. Chapman added: “Another good race for myself and Jenny. Loving the 2-Up Series“.

Result:

Cumulative Top 10 after seven rounds:

• The eighth and final round of the Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series takes place on 10th August when Hafren CC present their 10.