Ludlow CC Wigmore Hill Climb
The course record was broken in Round 4 of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series as Series leader Kirk Vickers outpaced a 38-strong field to extend his lead. Vickers tackled the 1.95 mile Wigmore Road climb promoted by Ludlow CC in 7 minutes 15 seconds, shaving a single second off the previous record. A delighted Vickers commented: “A great climb, good length and easy to get into a rhythm. A good, friendly turnout with lots of support. Surprised by Course Record and happy with my form“.
Vickers extended his lead to six points over Rhino Velo team mate Matt Garthwaite, who finished 4th in 7:37 after the nature of the climb played it’s part. Splitting the pair was another Rhino rider Matt Davies, who found the climb suiting his style. He revealed: “More my style, less hill more time trial. Great race Ludlow, a good turn out and no stopping Kirk, he’s flying“. Davies took the runner-up spot in 7:23 after ex-Ludlow CC rider Oliver Hayward, now riding for University of Birmingham CC stopped a second Rhino Velo 1-2-3 on as many rounds split things with a strong 7:31.
In the Junior Series there was more success for Devon Round as the 17 year-old made it four straight wins to tie up a superb maximum 80 points. Round is in seemingly unbeatable form and looks a shoo-in for the Junior Hill Climb title after he recorded a fine time of 7:49 to head a good turnout of five youngsters. With Ludlow Brewery CC’s Max Gibbons taking the runner-up in a fine time of 8:18, Sam Holwill saw Round stretch his Junior Series lead by 4 points after the 13 year-old Hafren CC rider stopped the watch on 9:08. Round is also putting in an audacious challenge for overall medals, lying in the Bronze medal slot behind Vickers and Garthwaite, but with Davies just two points behind keeping that position may be tricky.
Ludlow Brewery RT had a say in the Veteran’s Series too – and for once Hafren CC’s Ian Coe didn’t have things his own way. After winning this championship in the first three rounds Coe found himself in an unaccustomed 3rd spot on 8:19 after being beaten by Simon Ward, winner in 7:56; and edged out from the runner-up spot by two seconds by Paramount CRT’s Stuart Proctor, who narrowed the gap on Coe’s Veteran’s Series lead. Ward was pleased with his effort, and had kind words for the large number of spectators on the climb who roared the riders on. He stated: “I was really happy with way ride went and great to have home supporters on the roadside. Thanks for a another season of standing on the roadside to all the Ludlow time keepers, we couldn’t enjoy the suffering without them“.
But Ludlow Bewery weren’t finished there with a part to play in the Ladies Series too, as for once Rebecca Richardson faced a challenge from Heulwen Gilbert. Richardson still put in a winning effort, flying up the climb in 8:39 which suited her style. She commented: “Very pleased with my performance! This type of hill suits me better. Great to see so many competing and people cheering us on“!
Gilbert meanwhile became the first rider to challenge Richardson in this Championship and put up a respectable effort of 10:36 after being pushed into third by unaffiliated Isla Bikes rider Isla Rowntree. Gilbert looks set to enter further climbs however as she revealed: “It was the third hill climb I’ve done, and Ollie Hayward, who I race with at university encouraged me to enter. I thoroughly enjoyed it (once I’d finished) but definitely want to do some more. A great atmosphere with some great people“!
Result:
| Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Kirk Vickers | Rhino Velo RT | S |
07:15 |
20 |
| 2 | Matt Davies | Rhino Velo RT | S |
07:23 |
18 |
| 3 | Oliver Hayward | University of Birmingham CC | S |
07:31 |
|
| 4 | Matt Garthwaite | Rhino Velo RT | S |
07:37 |
16 |
| 5 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
07:49 |
14 |
| 6 | Simon Ward | Ludlow Brewery RT | V |
07:56 |
12 |
| 7 | Chris Roberts | Hafren CC | S |
08:07 |
10 |
| 8 | Stuart Proctor | Paramount CRT | V |
08:17 |
8 |
| 9 | Max Gibbons | Ludlow Brewery RT | J |
08:18 |
6 |
| 10 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | V |
08:19 |
4 |
| 11 | Steve Chapman | Isla Bikes | S |
08:21 |
|
| 12 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V |
08:26 |
2 |
| 13 | Jacob Sparrow | Ludlow Brewery RT | S |
08:27 |
2 |
| 14 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | L |
08:39 |
2 |
| 15 | Andy Maxwell | Nova Raiders | S |
08:52 |
2 |
| 16 | Gareth Leek | Unattached | S |
09:04 |
|
| 17 | Chris Edwards | Ludlow Brewery RT | S |
09:05 |
2 |
| 18 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | J |
09:08 |
2 |
| 19 | William Hints | Ludlow CC | J |
09:17 |
2 |
| =20 | Alex Loven | Fibrax Wrexham RC | S |
09:19 |
|
| =20 | Tim Spencer | Ludlow Brewery RT | S |
09:19 |
2 |
| 22 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | V |
09:20 |
2 |
| 23 | Dan Saunders | Ludlow CC | S |
09:34 |
2 |
| 24 | Lee Monks | Pearce Cycles | S |
09:43 |
|
| =25 | Isla Rowntree | Isla Bikes | LV |
09:50 |
|
| =25 | Clancy Wilson | Ludlow CC | V |
09:50 |
2 |
| 27 | Rich Dyke | Ludlow CC | V |
10:09 |
2 |
| 28 | Heulwen Gilbert | Ludlow Brewery RT | L |
10:36 |
2 |
| 29 | Matt Tilson | Ludlow CC | J |
10:37 |
2 |
| 30 | Stuart Austin | Ludlow CC | V |
10:38 |
2 |
| 31 | Richard Corbett | Ludlow CC | V |
10:39 |
2 |
| 32 | Neal Deller | Ludlow CC | V |
11:00 |
2 |
| 33 | Ben Westoby-Brooks | Ludlow CC | S |
11:04 |
2 |
| 34 | Gino Trassatti | North Shropshire Wheelers | V |
11:06 |
2 |
| 35 | Tim Evans | NewportShropshire CC | V |
11:38 |
2 |
| 36 | Rob Burns | Isla Bikes | V |
11:56 |
|
| 37 | Carolyn Rowntree | Stourbridge CC | LV |
15:53 |
|
| 38 | Terry Rowntree | Stourbridge CC | V |
17:11 |
Veteran’s Result:
| Vets Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Vets Points |
| 1 | Simon Ward | Ludlow Brewery RT | V |
07:56 |
20 |
| 2 | Stuart Proctor | Paramount CRT | V |
08:17 |
18 |
| 3 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | V |
08:19 |
16 |
| 4 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V |
08:26 |
14 |
| 5 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | V |
09:20 |
12 |
| 6 | Clancy Wilson | Ludlow CC | V |
09:50 |
10 |
| 6 | Isla Rowntree | Isla Bikes | LV |
09:50 |
|
| 8 | Rich Dyke | Ludlow CC | V |
10:09 |
8 |
| 9 | Stuart Austin | Ludlow CC | V |
10:38 |
6 |
| 10 | Richard Corbett | Ludlow CC | V |
10:39 |
4 |
| 11 | Neal Deller | Ludlow CC | V |
11:00 |
2 |
| 12 | Gino Trassatti | North Shropshire Wheelers | V |
11:06 |
2 |
| 13 | Tim Evans | NewportShropshire CC | V |
11:38 |
2 |
| 14 | Rob Burns | Isla Bikes | V |
11:56 |
|
| 15 | Carolyn Rowntree | Stourbridge CC | LV |
15:53 |
|
| 16 | Terry Rowntree | Stourbridge CC | V |
17:11 |
Juniors Result:
| Junior Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Junior Points |
| 1 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J |
07:49 |
20 |
| 2 | Max Gibbons | Ludlow Brewery RT | J |
08:18 |
18 |
| 3 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | J |
09:08 |
16 |
| 4 | William Hints | Ludlow CC | J |
09:17 |
14 |
| 5 | Matt Tilson | Ludlow CC | J |
10:37 |
12 |
Ladies Result:
| Ladies Pos’n | Name | Club | Cat | Time | Ladies Points |
| 1 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | L |
08:39 |
20 |
| 2 | Isla Rowntree | Isla Bikes | LV |
09:50 |
|
| 3 | Heulwen Gilbert | Ludlow Brewery RT | L |
10:36 |
18 |
| 4 | Carolyn Rowntree | Stourbridge CC | LV |
15:53 |
Cumulative standings after four 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 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | J | 52 |
| 4 | Matt Davies | Rhino Velo RT | S | 50 |
| 5 | Chris Roberts | Hafren CC | S | 44 |
| 6 | Daniel Watts | SCCA Private Member | S | 38 |
| 7 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | V | 28 |
| =8 | Rebecca Richardson | Hafren CC | L | 16 |
| =8 | Stuart Proctor | Paramount CRT | V | 16 |
| 10 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | V | 14 |
Veteran’s Top 10:
| Position | Name | Club | Best 5 |
| 1 | Ian Coe | Hafren CC | 76 |
| 2 | Stuart Proctor | Paramount CRT | 52 |
| 3 | Ian Coupland | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 50 |
| 4 | Mike Holwill | Hafren CC | 46 |
| 5 | Bryn Davies | Hafren CC | 28 |
| 6 | Ian Pollard | Nova Raiders | 22 |
| 7 | Simon Ward | Ludlow Brewery RT | 20 |
| 8 | Tim Evans | NewportShropshire CC | 18 |
| 9 | Neil Coles | Oswestry Paragon CC | 16 |
| =10 | Andy Loveland | Wrekinsport CC | 12 |
| =10 | James Joyce | Hafren CC | 12 |
Juniors Top 10:
| Position | Name | Club | Best 5 |
| 1 | Devon Round | Mid Shropshire Wheelers | 80 |
| 2 | Sam Holwill | Hafren CC | 64 |
| =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 | 80 |
| 2 | Heulwen Gilbert | Ludlow Brewery RT | 18 |