A dead heat for first place made for an intriguing ending to 2023’s Mower Mec 2-Up Series as riders faced a quite different challenge to normal. With 4-way traffic lights at Crudgington crossroads a move to the tight and technical Shawbirch – Long Lane circuit for Round 7, run by Wrekinsport CC meant 11 turns had to be negotiated, breaking up rider rhythm and meaning pairs had to settle into frequent changes of pace – and occasional traffic snarl-ups. Pairs had to complete 2⅔ laps of the tight and technical circuit, designed by swapping start and finish points of a club 5 mile course – with Mason Durant and Paul Duncan tying for honours on the night with Dean Callister and Jonathan Mills-Keeling in 21 minutes 36 seconds. After 2½ miles Callister and Mills-Keeling held a one second advantage, and by 6¼ miles had stretched that out to 13 seconds. However Durant and Duncan put the power on in the final 3¾ mile lap, thanks to luck of the draw meaning they could see their rivals for much of the latter part of their race, spurring them on to greater heights using the ‘negative split’ strategy and having a clearer run through hindering traffic. Durant and Duncan helped themselves to Mower Mec Overall Gold, edging out Hafren CC’s Jan Davies and Mark Hill who doubled up on medals to seal Overall 2-Up Silver to add to the Mixed Team Gold won just 24 hours earlier.
Durant enjoyed his evening’s racing and the type of course more suited to road racing skills than time trialling’s usual flat out effort. He commented: “The race went well, good power from both of us, reasonable changes and good communication throughout. Well done to Dean and Jon, and thanks to luck of sign-on times they were a good carrot for us to chase on the second and third laps. We could have taken some of the turns a bit better, but I really liked the course - a really different challenge and physiology from the normal faster courses. It’s been a great series with Paul; we have really improved and learnt a lot throughout - thanks a lot to all the organisers”. Duncan added: “First time racing that course, we went reasonably fast and were happy to tie with such accomplished time triallists. There was some room for improvement, mainly on the technical section after exiting the A442. I carried too much speed in on the second lap, nearly lost the back end and wiped off way too much speed. Pleased with the time and joint win though! We have both had a great time racing the Mower Mec Series. For my first proper season in time trialling I’m really proud that Mason and I have secured the championship win. I’m looking forward to returning next year for more 2-Up racing - thanks to everyone involved in organising and keeping us safe throughout the Series”.
Mills-Keeling put a long memory to good use as he remembered road racing on exactly the same circuit when traffic was rather lower, riding as a pair for the first time with Callister. He stated: “I raced the course on my first ever road race in 1989. It was much busier then I remembered, but nice to mix it up and the first time I have ridden with Dean in a 2-Up. We got caught with some traffic, but well done to the other team for joint first”. Callister added: “Great fun, and great to ride with Jon. A tricky course as a 2-Up, but we got round with a few stops due to traffic, but that’s open road racing - well done to other team in joint win”.
Taking the honours for the promoting club were two riders normally trying to rip the legs off one another in Wrekinsport club events – Ben Southgate and Phil Roberts. Here though they worked together to take third spot in 22:57 by a solitary second from reigning 2-Up Champions Rob McGregor and Chris Riley, unfortunately making their only appearance as a pair in 2023. Southgate and Roberts were three seconds adrift at 2½ miles, which had extended to five seconds after 6¼ miles, but pulled a rabbit out of the hat to scorch around the final lap and just take the final podium position. Roberts commented: “A new course brought it challenges. Looking at the split times we paced it exceptionally well with a really strong last lap. Well done Ben for digging deep”. Southgate added: “Happy with how we rode, it was a lot more technical than our normal course”.
With the Mixed Team medals decided 24 hours earlier at Ludlow and lying in the Overall Bronze position Vic Doran kept an eye on who turned up on the evening, with partner Ashley Kirkham on standby. When it became obvious that they had sealed that Bronze to add to the Mixed Team Silver won 24 hours earlier, Doran teamed up with Mollie Croxon to add Women’s Gold to her medal haul – the first time anyone has won medals in every available category. From the sidelines Kirkham stated: “I was initially targeting the Mixed Team, so getting anything else was a pleasant surprise”. Doran and Croxon stopped the watch on 31:18, with Doran commenting: “It’s been great riding the 2-Ups with Ash. Sharing the success of an Overall Bronze and a Mixed Team Silver is the icing on the cake, and then a Gold riding with Mollie is the cherry on the top!” Croxon added: “My first 2-Up event and Vic brought a great positive spirit. Super-nice to win events as a team; and the support we have received for winning has been really nice - thank you for the opportunity”.
With the Mixed Team medals already sorted a very last minute team paired up after a bit of persuasion and intent to ride solo, taking eighth spot overall in 24:41. Deb Hutson-Lumb and Ben Wood had never ridden together before, but both displayed the sheer fun element of this format in their post race comments. Wood commented: “The partnership with Deb was great. It was very last minute, but I really enjoyed riding with her. The technical course meant it was difficult to get our rhythm going and we seemed to always catch up with people at a junction - big thanks to Deb for partnering up with me”! Hutson-Lumb added: “As a last minute, never ridden together before 2-Up team both admitting to being rubbish at corners I think we did rather well. Ben is sharper away from turns than I am, but we managed to keep it together pretty well, and it was way more fun than riding the course solo”.
