The final standings or the inaugural SCCA hill climb series make great reading for club. Sam, Rebecca and Ian all top their categories

The race report fo the final round and the final standings:-

Nova Raiders “Abbey” Road Hill Climb

The destination of the County’s Hill Climb Trophy was settled with one round to go as Kirk Vickers took another fine win in Round 7 of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series. Starting adjacent to the picturesque Lilleshall Abbey grounds, the Nova Raiders promotion saw Vickers storm up the longest climb on the calendar, the 1.8 mile climb of Lilyhurst Road in 4 minutes 41.81 seconds to make it a 1-2 for Rhino Velo with Matt Davies capturing the runner-up spot.

Taking his fourth win from the five events he has entered Vickers clearly showed his dominance in 2016 at this tough discipline which requires riders to push themselves to the limit in short, sharp efforts. He was mindful of the presence of his team mate however in a hill which suited Davies’ style, stating: “I was pleased to bag another victory. Well done to Matt, a close result. A very fast, undulating course, I paced it well. I’m happy to seal the Series“.

A late arrival at the event left Davies with no time for a proper warm up but full of adrenalin thanks to the race to make it. Davies tried in vain to best Vickers’ time, putting in a huge effort in the final climb to the finish line but missing out by just over three seconds with a fine effort of 4:45.47, with the strain telling on his face in the charge for the line. Davies was full of praise in his post-race comments for Vickers, stating: “I’m really pleased with getting close to Kirk. Maybe I left the warm up a little late, but the best man won! A big thanks to Nova Raiders and to the timekeepers“.

But if there was a battle going on for overall positions that wasn’t the only one, with the Veteran’s having a tussle too. Veterans’ Series winner Ian Coe was in for a shock in his hunt to add an overall Hill Climb medal to his tally thanks to first-time entrant Richard Kay. The North Shropshire Wheeler made an immediate impression taking the morning’s third spot overall in 5:03.03 to squeeze Coe into 4th place and runner-up in the Veteran’s just over two seconds back on 5:05.36.

With Coe accustomed to winning having taken maximum Veteran’s points in five previous events he also had glowing comments for Kay putting in that strong ride: “It was a long and surprisingly tough climb. I was pleased with my ride, I couldn’t have done any better – well done to Richard Kay. Congratulations also to Kirk on overall Gold. Thanks Nova Raiders, perfect weather“! Kay added: “I was very pleased to get on the podium with the Rhino lads. A nice fast course I thought. Great stuff from the Raiders as always“.

With a final round to go there are still a huge nine of the 12 Series medals to resolve at Ironbridge at 11am on Sunday in a Series that is going to the wire. Whilst Gold’s have been settled in Overall, Veteran’s and Ladies categories Silver and Bronze are open. In the Overall standings it’s perm any two from six as Matt Garthwaite, Ian Coe, Matt Davies, Chris Roberts, Ian Coupland, Devon Round and Dan Watts are all capable of taking a medal. Meanwhile in the Veteran’s it’s a three-way battle for those two medals between Coupland, Stuart Proctor and Mike Holwill. In the Juniors it’s between Sam Holwill and Devon Round for the Gold and Silver whilst the Bronze is much more open; and it’s a similar position in the Ladies with Silver and Bronze both up for grabs.

 

Result:

 

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Kirk Vickers Rhino Velo RT S 4:41.81 20
2 Matt Davies Rhino Velo RT S 4:45.47 18
3 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 5:03.03 16
4 Ian Coe Hafren CC V 5:05.36 14
5 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 5:17.81 12
6 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 5:18.60 10
7 Nick Long Nova Raiders S 5:18.95 8
8 Ian Pollard Nova Raiders V 5:35.07 6
9 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT S 5:41.40 4
10 Tim Evans Newport Shropshire CC V 5:54.48 2
11 Jack Clements Audlem CC S 6:12.01
12 Sara Willhoit SY Tri L 6:14.75
13 Tim Nelson Newport Shropshire CC V 6:31.79 2

 

Veteran’s Result:

 

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Vets Points
1 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 5:03.03 20
2 Ian Coe Hafren CC V 5:05.36 18
3 Andy Rose Nova Raiders V 5:17.81 16
4 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 5:18.60 14
5 Ian Pollard Nova Raiders V 5:35.07 12
6 Tim Evans Newport Shropshire CC V 5:54.48 10
7 Tim Nelson Newport Shropshire CC V 6:31.79 8

 

Ladies Result:

 

Ladies Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Ladies Points
1 Sara Willhoit SY Tri L 6:14.75

 

Cumulative standings after seven rounds

 

Overall Top 10:

 

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Kirk Vickers Rhino Velo RT S 96
2 Matt Garthwaite Rhino Velo RT S 70
=3 Ian Coe Hafren CC V 68
=3 Matt Davies Rhino Velo RT S 68
5 Chris Roberts Hafren CC S 64
6 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 56
7 Devon Round Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 52
8 Daniel Watts SCCA Private Member S 38
9 Stuart Proctor Paramount CRT V 32
10 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC L 30

 

Veteran’s Top 10:

 

Position Name Club Best 5
1 Ian Coe Hafren CC 100
2 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers 86
3 Stuart Proctor Paramount CRT 68
4 Mike Holwill Hafren CC 62
5 Tim Evans Newport Shropshire CC 42
6 Ian Pollard Nova Raiders 34
7 Bryn Davies Hafren CC 28
=8 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers 20
=8 Simon Ward Ludlow Brewery RT 20
=10 Andy Rose Nova Raiders 16
=10 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC 16

 

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

 

  • The 8th and final round of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series takes place at 11am this Sunday when Newport Shropshire CC promote their climb of Bridge Road, Ironbridge. Starting outside D’Arcy’s on the Broseley side of The Iron Bridge, signing on takes place from 10:15am with parking available opposite the start.

Race report courtesy of Dave Fletcher SCCA