Marches CC Blodwel Bank Hill Climb
Storm Brian played it’s part in the eighth and penultimate round of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series as riders benefited from a 40mph tailwind – but endured torrential rain throughout. The Marches CC event saw the first ever use as a hill climb of the fearsome 0.94 mile Blodwel Bank, rearing up to 12% at it’s steepest to sap the legs and burn the lungs – with Dan Watts taking a fine win.
Watts flew up the tough climb in 2 minutes 54 seconds to elevate himself into the Silver medal position in the Overall standings with one round to go, beating the winner of Rounds 6 and 7 David Scott by 12 seconds – and ahead of a 15-strong field. The gradient and conditions evidently suited the RAF CA rider, who was gaining his first experience of a climb last used in anger within the 17 mile Oswestry Paragon CC Mountain TT in 2013 – a title that speaks volumes. He stated: “I’m really pleased to end the Series for me on a high. A new course with a strong tailwind suited me well and was a small confidence boost ahead of the Nationals this weekend“.
Scott was not quite on top form thanks to illness but did enough to put four seconds into Watts’ RA team mate Ryan Morley, finishing the climb in 3:09. The Rhino Velo rider was full of admiration for the winner, commenting: “A cracking ride from Mr Watts! I did what I could recovering from a cold, and misjudged the pacing“!
Scott’s comment reveals how much this climb can catch riders out, but he wasn’t the only one surprised by the ferocity of Blodwel Bank as two medals were settled in the Veteran’s Series. Taking Gold was Mid Shropshire Wheeler Ian Coupland, winning his fifth Veteran’s event of the Series to make it a perfect 100 points in this best five from nine competition. Coupland was 6th Overall but first over-40 rider in an impressive 3:35, overtaking two other competitors in the process. Despite his victory he revealed that the gradient change caught him out: “I did not pace that effort well – a deceptive little climb, though I’m pleased with the Veterans win“.
Whilst Coupland didn’t know Blodwel Bank well Oswestry-based Neil Coles is all too familiar with the climb and captured Veterans Silver with a solid 4:49 effort. He stated: “Blodwel Bank is a familiar toughie, though a tailwind probably made for inaugural fast times. It was great to win Silver, and well done Ian on taking Gold“.
A feature of this Series has been both the number of under-18 riders in competition and the impressive times they have posted, with 16 year-old Ronnie Tse taking his second Junior win on the trot. A late entrant to the Series, Tse would surely be challenging for medals had he entered earlier rounds, with a fine effort of 3:19 meaning he was fourth overall. Tse’s nearest challenge came from team mate Ben Pierce, who set a time of 4:11. He stated: “It was special to have a hill climb on such a stormy day, especially with a strong tailwind up a climb – which was just right“! All three Junior medals as still in play in the final round on Sunday in this most open of Series.
Two medals are still to be resolved in the Women’s Series too with Jenny York consolidating her Series lead. York can only be usurped by Hafren CC’s Emma Serjeant in that final round after setting a time of 6 minutes exactly. She stated: “I loved the climb and was pleased with the win. Well done everyone riding in such grim conditions“! One medal was resolved on the day with York’s young team mate Lucy Hart unable to be caught capturing Women’s Bronze.
Result:
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Dan Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 2:54 | 20 |
| 2 | David Scott | Rhino Velo RT | S | 3:06 | 18 |
| 3 | Ryan Morley | RAF CA | S | 3:13 | |
| 4 | Ronnie Tse | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 3:19 | 16 |
| 5 | Mark Hammond | Paramount CRT | S | 3:33 | 14 |
| 6 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 3:35 | 12 |
| 7 | Haydn Jones | Wrexham RC | V | 3:41 | |
| 8 | Jan Kardasz | Wrexham RC | V | 4:00 | |
| 9 | Ben Pierce | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 4:11 | 10 |
| 10 | Mark Jones | Wrexham RC | V | 4:12 | |
| 11 | Neil Coles | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 4:49 | 8 |
| 12 | Jack Young | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 5:19 | 6 |
| 13 | Ned Millington | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 5:30 | 4 |
| 14 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 6:00 | 2 |
| 15 | David Jones | Wrexham RC | V | 6:40 |
Veterans Result:
| Veteran’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Veteran’s Points |
| 1 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 3:35 | 20 |
| 2 | Haydn Jones | Wrexham RC | V | 3:41 | |
| 3 | Jan Kardasz | Wrexham RC | V | 4:00 | |
| 4 | Mark Jones | Wrexham RC | V | 4:12 | |
| 5 | Neil Coles | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 4:49 | 18 |
| 6 | Ned Millington | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 5:30 | 16 |
| 7 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 6:00 | 14 |
| 8 | David Jones | Wrexham RC | V | 6:40 |
Juniors Result:
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Ronnie Tse | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 3:19 | 20 |
| 2 | Ben Pierce | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 4:11 | 18 |
| 3 | Jack Young | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 5:19 | 16 |
Women’s Result:
| Women’s Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Women’s Points |
| 1 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 6:00 | 20 |
Cumulative standings after eight rounds
Overall Top 10:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 5 |
| 1 | Kirk Vickers | Rhino Velo RT | S | 98 |
| 2 | Dan Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 94 |
| 3 | David Scott | Rhino Velo RT | S | 90 |
| =4 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 64 |
| =4 | Matty Redworth | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 64 |
| 6 | Devon Round | Rhino Velo RT | J | 50 |
| 7 | Mark Hammond | Paramount CRT | S | 48 |
| 8 | Tyler Brennan | Hafren CC | J | 46 |
| 9 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | J | 40 |
| 10 | Neil Coles | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 38 |
Veterans Top 10:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 5 |
| 1 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 100 |
| 2 | Neil Coles | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 92 |
| 3 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | V | 76 |
| 4 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | LV | 60 |
| 5 | Andy Collins | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 50 |
| 6 | Ned Millington | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 42 |
| 7 | Paul Williams | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 32 |
| 8 | Dave York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 24 |
| 9 | John Robertson | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 24 |
| 10 | Darrell Walsh | Oswestry Paragon CC | V | 22 |
Juniors Top 10:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 5 |
| 1 | Matty Redworth | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 90 |
| =2 | Devon Round | Rhino Velo RT | J | 76 |
| =2 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | J | 76 |
| 4 | Tyler Brennan | Hafren CC | J | 60 |
| 5 | Ronnie Tse | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 40 |
| 6 | Ben Pierce | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 34 |
| 7 | Sam Morris | Revolutions Racing | J | 32 |
| 8 | Jack Young | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 30 |
| 9 | Lucy Hart | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WJ | 28 |
| =10 | Charlie Fisher | Newport Shropshire CC | J | 16 |
| =10 | Tom Bullock | Newport Shropshire CC | J | 16 |
Women’s standings:
| Position | Name | Club | Cat | Best 5 |
| 1 | Jenny York | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WV | 92 |
| 2 | Emma Serjeant | Hafren CC | W | 78 |
| 3 | Lucy Hart | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | WJ | 56 |
| 4 | Louise Downward | Hafren CC | W | 26 |
| 5 | Hannah Lancaster | Ludlow CC | WJ | 20 |
| 6 | Jacqui Seatton | Newport Shropshire CC | WV | 18 |
| 7 | Emily Hinton | Ludlow CC | W | 16 |
| 8 | Pauline Hughes | Revolutions Racing | WV | 14 |
The final, deciding round of the Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series takes place at 11am this Sunday when Paramount CRT present the 0.9 mile “Five Chimneys” climb at Hughley, near Much Wenlock with 8 remaining medals in play. Park at Wenlock Edge car park on the B4371 out of Much Wenlock, sign on at the start line on the edge of Hughley village.