Hafren CC Pentre’r Beirdd Hill Climb
Hafren CC took the major spoils in Round 5 of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series with members winning in all categories in the climb of Pentre’r Beirdd – with one taking the first Gold medal of the Series. If there has been one feature of this Series so far it has been the varying nature of the climbs challenging different styles of climbing ability, with Hafren CC’s own 0.9 mile promotion providing the shortest, sharpest and smoothest surface yet. This meant all out attack from the off was required, with 22 year-old Chris Roberts setting a fine winning margin of eight seconds after powering up the climb in 4 minutes 5 seconds.
Roberts moved himself up to third spot in the Series on the strength of this win having been Hafren’s best-placed rider throughout all five events and was very complimentary about the organisation stating: “It was a very well run hill climb event. A real nice climb where you could attack all the way up. Some very fast times set by all. Thanks to all that were involved to make it what it was. Proper job“!
It was a close call for the overall runner-up spot with Veteran riders unusually battling it out for the major points, with Veteran’s Series leader Ian Coe just edging out Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Ian Coupland by three seconds. Coe leads the Veterans’ Series by 28 points from Coupland, with that lead stretched after he crossed the line in 4:13 – and revealed local knowledge played it’s part commenting: “I made full use of home advantage and a climb I know very well. It is shorter than the previous climbs, with a tough unrelenting gradient from start to finish. I was very pleased with my ride, I felt I rode it perfectly taking nine seconds off last year’s time“. Coe went on to complement event winner Roberts adding: “I was especially pleased to see Chris Roberts take the win and Hafren championship, he’s been the strongest Hafren rider throughout the Series and deserved to take it“.
Coupland was pleased with his ride of 4:16, but his comments bear out that unfamiliarity with the hill played it’s part as he stated: “A good attacking climb with a good road surface which helps. I suffered from the hairpin to the finish, it was slightly further than I expected. Well done to Hafren, the cakes where great at the finish“!
With a 21 rider field including three Ladies Rebecca Richardson showed her class to not only take the Ladies’ win but seal Gold in this Championship with an effort good enough for 5th spot overall. Richardson took the first medal of the Series with a fabulous effort of 4:24, with Sarah Willhoit runner-up on the morning in 5:03 clearly showing Richardson’s form. Richardson has won all five rounds in the Ladies category, earning a staggering maximum 100 points in the shortest time possible in this best 5 from 8 Series. She commented: “It is fantastic to win the Series. Pentre’r Beirdd is a tough climb, but I had the advantage of knowing it well from training rides“.
In the Junior Series Sam Holwill moved into the lead after taking 10th spot overall in 4:44 – a second ahead of father Mike ensuring bragging rights in the Holwill household. Holwill is another rider who has entered all five events showing the popularity of this new Series, and was delighted with his performance commenting: “I’m really pleased with my time – especially beating my Dad by 1 second! It was a tough climb as the first part is very steep. I’m very happy to be leading the Junior Hill Climb Series as I am only 13“!
Result:
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Chris Roberts | Hafren CC | S | 4:05 | 20 |
| 2 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | V | 4:13 | 18 |
| 3 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 4:16 | 16 |
| 4 | Alex Loven | Fibrax Wrexham RC | V | 4:23 | |
| 5 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | L | 4:24 | 14 |
| 6 | Ashley Banks | Hafren CC | S | 4:33 | 12 |
| 7 | Richard Williams | Unattached | S | 4:34 | |
| 8 | Andy Maxwell | Nova Raiders | S | 4:35 | 10 |
| 9 | Mark Hammond | Paramount CRT | S | 4:40 | 8 |
| 10 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | J | 4:44 | 6 |
| 11 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | V | 4:45 | 4 |
| 12 | Carl Evans | Hafren CC | S | 4:47 | 2 |
| 13 | Conrad Taylor | Hafren CC | S | 4:52 | 2 |
| 14 | Thomas Fraenzel | Hafren CC | S | 4:57 | 2 |
| 15 | Mark Thomas | Hafren CC | V | 5:01 | 2 |
| 16 | Mark Hill | Hafren CC | V | 5:02 | 2 |
| 17 | Sarah Willhoit | SY Tri | L | 5:03 | |
| 18 | Alun Roberts | Hafren CC | V | 5:36 | 2 |
| 19 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | L | 6:01 | 2 |
| 20 | Tim Evans | Newport Shropshire CC | V | 6:24 | 2 |
| 21 | Steve Taylor | Hafren CC | V | 6:55 | 2 |
Veteran’s Result:
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Vets Points |
| 1 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | V | 4:13 | 20 |
| 2 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 4:16 | 18 |
| 3 | Alex Loven | Fibrax Wrexham RC | V | 4:23 | |
| 4 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | V | 4:45 | 16 |
| 5 | Mark Thomas | Hafren CC | V | 5:01 | 14 |
| 6 | Mark Hill | Hafren CC | V | 5:02 | 12 |
| 7 | Alun Roberts | Hafren CC | V | 5:36 | 10 |
| 8 | Tim Evans | Newport Shropshire CC | V | 6:24 | 8 |
| 9 | Steve Taylor | Hafren CC | V | 6:55 | 6 |
Juniors Result:
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | J | 4:44 | 20 |
Ladies Result:
| Ladies Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Ladies Points |
| 1 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | L | 04:24 | 20 |
| 2 | Sarah Willhoit | SY Tri | L | 05:03 | |
| 3 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | L | 06:01 | 18 |
Cumulative standings after five rounds
Overall Top 10:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 5 |
| 1 | Kirk Vickers | Rhino Velo RT | S | 76 |
| 2 | Matt Garthwaite | Rhino Velo RT | S | 70 |
| 3 | Chris Roberts | Hafren CC | S | 64 |
| 4 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 52 |
| 5 | Matt Davies | Rhino Velo RT | S | 50 |
| 6 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | V | 46 |
| 7 | Daniel Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 38 |
| =8 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 30 |
| =8 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | L | 30 |
| 10 | Andy Maxwell | Nova Raiders | S | 18 |
Veteran’s Top 10:
| Position | Name | Club | Best 5 |
| 1 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | 96 |
| 2 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 68 |
| 3 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | 62 |
| 4 | Stuart Proctor | Paramount CRT | 52 |
| 5 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 28 |
| 6 | Tim Evans | Newport Shropshire CC | 26 |
| 7 | Ian Pollard | Nova Raiders | 22 |
| 8 | Simon Ward | Ludlow Brewery RT | 20 |
| 9 | Neil Coles | Oswestry Paragon CC | 16 |
| 10 | Mark Thomas | Hafren CC | 14 |
Juniors Top 10:
| Position | Name | Club | Best 5 |
| 1 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | 84 |
| 2 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 80 |
| =3 | Matthew Redworth | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 18 |
| =3 | Max Gibbons | Ludlow Brewery RT | 18 |
| =3 | Sam Morris | Revolutions Racing | 18 |
| =6 | James Satoor | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 16 |
| =6 | William Jones | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 16 |
| =8 | Ben Vernon | Wrekinsport CC | 14 |
| =8 | Jack Young | Oswestry Paragon CC | 14 |
| =8 | Lewis Page | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 14 |
| =8 | William Hints | Ludlow CC | 14 |
Ladies Standings:
| Position | Name | Club | Best 5 |
| 1 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | 100 |
| =2 | Heulwen Gilbert | Ludlow Brewery RT | 18 |
| =2 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | 18 |
- Round 6 of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series takes place at 11am on 2nd October when Paramount CRT promote their event on the “Five Chimneys” climb at Hughley.