A brand new competition started off with a bang with a rare triple tie for first place in Round 1 of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series, presented by Mid Shropshire Wheelers over a 1.1 mile climb from The Stiperstones Inn. With a fine field of 35 riders converging for the start of this new Series Kirk Vickers took an early lead after tying with two riders he knows well – VC Equipe’s Elliott Jones and Team Wiggins professional Liam Holohan.
The trio all stopped the watch on 4 minutes 13 seconds with Rhino Velo rider Vickers delighted to take the Series lead in the inaugural event. He commented: “I paced it really well and had a strong finish. What are the chances of triple tie? I’m pleased to take early lead in the Series“.
Meanwhile Holohan, who is based in Shrewsbury revealed his reasons for turning out – and that there was more than just time tying the top three, stating: “I love to come along and support the local events. The local clubs do such a great job giving up their time to making racing possible. I was particularly happy with the result as I coach the whole podium so it shows the coaching works“!
There wasn’t only a tie for first place, there was no separating the climbing specialists who took joint 4th either as Dan Watts and Matt Garthwaite finished just two seconds off the pace of the leading riders in what is already looking to be a hard fought competition.
The discipline suits the lightweight riders and so is particularly suitable to Juniors, with five youngsters amongst a good field of 36 riders. Coming out on top of the pile was Mid Shropshire Wheeler Devon Round, whose 4:16 effort gave him a clear win of 53 seconds with Hafren CC’s Sam Holwill getting closest. Round’s fine effort was good enough to take 6th place overall, with the delighted youngster commenting: “I was pleased with my result against such good competition. My first hill climb of the year was a shock to the system“!
But there was competition at the other end of the age scale too with the over 40’s Veterans having their own Championship to fight for. Coming out on top of the pile was Hafren CC rider Ian Coe, whose 4:49 just pushed out Paramount’s Stuart Proctor by a single second. A delighted Coe stated: “Perfect weather for racing greeted us at the inaugural event of the Hill Climb Series Thanks to our host for organising and generously providing chip butties and prizes. I was obviously delighted to cross the line as 1st Veteran and thrilled to see seven club mates taking part, all putting in excellent performances. I thoroughly enjoyed a great event, even the actual hill climb. I’m looking forward to what is sure to be an equally tough challenge in Round 2 at the Wrekin“.
One of Coe’s team mates mentioned in his comments was Rebecca Richardson, who took victory in the Ladies Series thanks to a fine effort of 4:56. The lightweight Richardson is ideally suited to climbing and enjoyed the climb. She commented: “The Stiperstones was good, you had time for recovery. I was really pleased with my time“.
Result:
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| =1 | Kirk Vickers | Rhino Velo RT | S |
4:13 |
20 |
| =1 | Liam Holohan | Team Wiggins | S |
4:13 |
|
| =1 | Elliott Jones | VC Equipe | S |
4:13 |
|
| =4 | Daniel Watts | SCCA Private Member | S |
4:15 |
18 |
| =4 | Matt Garthwaite | Rhino Velo RT | S |
4:15 |
18 |
| 6 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
4:26 |
14 |
| 7 | Chris Pook | Rhino Velo RT | S |
4:28 |
12 |
| 8 | Chris Roberts | Hafren CC | S |
4:38 |
10 |
| 9 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | V |
4:49 |
8 |
| 10 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V |
4:50 |
6 |
| 11 | Kristen McKenna | El Escorial CC | S |
4:53 |
|
| =12 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | L |
4:56 |
4 |
| =12 | Stuart Proctor | Paramount CRT | V |
4:56 |
4 |
| 14 | Nick Long | Nova Raiders | S |
5:03 |
2 |
| 15 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V |
5:05 |
2 |
| 16 | James Joyce | Hafren CC | V |
5:08 |
2 |
| 17 | Andy Maxwell | Nova Raiders | S |
5:13 |
2 |
| =18 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | J |
5:19 |
2 |
| =18 | Andy Bone | Unattached | V |
5:19 |
|
| 20 | Simon Evans | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V |
5:20 |
2 |
| 21 | Andy Woodvine | Unattached | S |
5:21 |
|
| 22 | James Satoor | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
5:22 |
2 |
| 23 | Ian Pollard | Nova Raiders | V |
5:26 |
2 |
| 24 | Sarah Willhoit | SY Tri | S |
5:31 |
|
| 25 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | V |
5:33 |
2 |
| 26 | Lewis Page | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
5:47 |
2 |
| 27 | Oliver Rowe | Paramount CRT | S |
6:00 |
2 |
| 28 | Helen Wainwright | Unattached | S |
6:08 |
|
| 29 | Tim Morgan | Unattached | S |
6:10 |
|
| 30 | Giovanni Trassatti | North Shropshire Wheelers | V |
6:24 |
2 |
| 31 | Des Pugh | Hafren CC | V |
6:32 |
2 |
| 32 | Holly Bushton | University of Liverpool CC | L |
7:01 |
|
| 33 | Tim Evans | NewportShropshire CC | V |
7:11 |
2 |
| 34 | Joseph Lycett | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
8:47 |
2 |
| Alex Loven | Fibrax Wrexham RC | V |
DNF |
Veterans Result:
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Vets Points |
| 1 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | V |
4:49 |
20 |
| 2 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V |
4:50 |
18 |
| 3 | Stuart Proctor | Paramount CRT | V |
4:56 |
16 |
| 4 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | V |
5:05 |
14 |
| 5 | James Joyce | Hafren CC | V |
5:08 |
12 |
| 6 | Andy Bone | Unattached | V |
5:19 |
|
| 7 | Simon Evans | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V |
5:20 |
10 |
| 8 | Ian Pollard | Nova Raiders | V |
5:26 |
8 |
| 9 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | V |
5:33 |
6 |
| 10 | Giovanni Trassatti | North Shropshire Wheelers | V |
6:24 |
4 |
| 11 | Des Pugh | Hafren CC | V |
6:32 |
2 |
| 12 | Tim Evans | NewportShropshire CC | V |
7:11 |
2 |
| Alex Loven | Fibrax Wrexham RC | V |
DNF |
Juniors Result:
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
4:26 |
20 |
| 2 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | J |
5:19 |
18 |
| 3 | James Satoor | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
5:22 |
16 |
| 4 | Lewis Page | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
5:47 |
14 |
| 5 | Joseph Lycett | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
8:47 |
12 |
Ladies Result:
| Ladies Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Ladies Points |
| 1 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | L |
4:56 |
20 |
| 2 | Holly Bushton | University of Liverpool CC | L |
7:01 |
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