Reigning champions are off to a flying start

The Nova Raiders duo look like the men to beat again after they surged to victory in round one of the event,

Middleton and Harris made the most of calm conditions in the North Shropshire Wheelers' promotion to power home on the Prees-Lower Prees 10-mile course in 23 minutes 29 seconds.

A delighted Middleton explained: "It's always a pleasure riding with 'Bomber', who was in good form. It was also great to see so many Raiders racing."

Harris was also delighted with the flying start, adding: "It was a good start to the season, I felt strong in the good conditions."

Middleton and Harris held off a strong challenge from last year's silver medallists – their team-mates Nick Pavard and Mark Harrison – who stopped the watch on 24:12 to help themselves to the runner's-up spot.

That friendly rivalry looks like continuing in 2016 when fitness levels improve, with Harrison commenting: "The first race of the season is always a bit of a shock but I am happy with the result."

Pavard was content to take second and also encouraged by the turn-out.

He said: "A Raiders one-two is always a fantastic result but the amount of new teams competing was the highlight, though, especially the number of ladies teams."

The competition has taken off among both mixed sex teams and ladies teams, with a strong performance from Wrekinsport's Amanda Witty and Delwyn Jones.

It saw them take fourth place overall in 25:49, behind the Revolutions Racing pairing of Steve Elcocks and Dan Lamsdell, who were 59 seconds ahead.

That performance reached new heights for Witty, who explained: "I was really chuffed with the result. Neither of us have trained but it was a personal best for me."

Jones and Witty are the defending mixed team champions, with the closest challenge in this contest coming from North Shropshire Wheelers' Caroline Lloyd and Phil Guy, who recorded 28:38.

With two Raiders ladies teams in competition, it was first-time pairing Jade Chapman and Jenny Newton who took the lead in this championship after finishing in 28:20, ahead of Jo Coombes and Rachel Storey (31:24).

A delighted Chapman commented: "I was really pleased with our time. It was the first time doing a 2-Up together."

Round two of The Coaching Revolutions 2-Up Series takes place on April 24 when Revolutions Racing promote their 10-mile event on the Nesscliffe bypass.

Results: 1 Scott Harris/Ed Middleton (Nova Raiders) 23:29, 2 Nick Pavard/Mark Harrison (Nova Raiders) 24:12, 3 Steve Elcocks/Daniel Lamsdell (Revolutions Racing) 24:50, 4 Amanda Witty/ Delwyn Jones (Wrekinsport) 25:49, 5 Richard Cordova/ Matt Harrison (North Shropshire Wheelers) 25:58, 6 James Greehalgh/James Handley (North Shropshire Wheelers) 26:56, 7 Scott Rollo/Will Rollo North (Shropshire Wheelers 27:38), 8 Jade Chapman/Jenny Newton (Nova Raiders 28:20), 9 Caroline Lloyd/Phil Guy (North Shropshire Wheelers) 28:38, 10 Les Boughey/Amrico Atwal (North Shropshire Wheelers) 28:47.