Mid Shropshire Wheelers do it in style

Wheelers took the overall win, as well as retaining the John Farr Trophy, in the most anticipated event of the Shropshire Time Trialling calendar.

The quartet of George Rowlands, Kirk Vickers, George Evans and Ewan Grivell-Mellor blazed around the 50-kilometre course in this rarely seen format.

They do so in a fabulous time of one hour six minutes and 35 seconds – bettering the club's 2014 effort by a huge margin of 6:22.

1 - Mid Shropshire Wheelers (George Rowlands, Kirk Vickers, George Evans, Ewan Grivell-Mellor) 01:06:35;

2 - RAF CA (Ryan Morley, Dan Watts, Antony Richardson, Robert Gray) 01:07:15;

3 - Newport Combined (Matthew Garthwaite, Paul Bailey, Dave Owen, Richard Nickless) 01:10:57;

4 - Nova Raiders A Ian Pollard, Ed Middleton, Scott Harris, Mark Harrison) 01:12:44;

5 - Wrekinsport A (Dave Gostelow, Delwyn Jones, Dave Moore, Alistair Hatton) 01:14:31;

6 - Wrekinsport B (Fraser MacKinnon, Richard Smith, Simon Gray, Alex Leek) 01:15:13;

7 - Revolutions Racing 3 (Ben Goddard, Ian Harcourt, Andrew Hellowell, Pete Craddock) 01:15:39;

8 - Frodsham Wheelers (John Flynn, Alan Clark, Robert Duckett, Gary Hartley) 01:15:48;

9 - Nova Raiders B (Ian Laverie, Stephen Urbicki, Colin Barnes, Mark Golding) 01:16:35;

A late reshuffle saw two promising juniors included, with 17-year-old Evans and 16-year-old Grivell-Mellor helping the squad to come within just 1:28 of Paramount CRT's 2012 course record.

Grivell-Mellor commented: "It was a really good, hard event. We rode well and strong together. We're all extremely happy with how we did."

Those sentiments were backed up by his team-mates with Evans confirming: "We worked really well as a team and I was pleased with the outcome after an hour and six minutes of pain!"

Meanwhile, the 'elder statesmen' of the squad, 21-year-old Vickers and Rowlands, 20, were well drilled, being the two returnees from 2014.

Vickers was encouraged by the large numbers of spectators this event attracts, stating: "We were happy with the overall win, that was the objective.

"There was massive support on the road and we worked well together."

Rowlands was equally delighted with the success, adding: "It was a well-measured effort from the team and I was pleased to play a part in laying down a smoking fast time with a great set of guys."

Starting from Edgmond, riders tackled the rolling terrain for six miles towards Crudgington before a trip along the A442 to Shawbirch, a long stretch to Hodnet and a final leg-sapping return to Edgmond via Crudgington.

Taking the runners-up spot, in 1:07:15, were a well-drilled RAF CA squad, with team members travelling from across the country to compete – although local SCCA Private Member Dan Watts didn't have far to travel to the event.

Watts stated: "The team were pleased with the time. We rode well together considering it was the first time we had raced with each other."

Taking third spot from the 21 squads in competition were a combined Newport outfit featuring three members – Matt Garthwaithe, Paul Bailey and Dave Owen – and local Revolutions Racing rider Richard Nickless.

The squad's 1:10:57 pushed out a strong Nova Raiders A challenge featuring 2-Up champions Ed Middleton and Scott Harris by 1:47.

Nickless said: "I'm more than happy with bronze on the day, it was ny toughest team time trial yet!"

As well as competition for overall honours, several squads included ladies, with a prize for the best mixed team.

And it was a family affair as Revolutions Racing's John Byatt and Karen Summers, accompanied by son Tom and 2-Up partner Amanda Whitmore took the prize to finish 15th in a fine 1:22:35.