Oswestry Paragon CC Mount Road Hill Climb.

The National Hill Climb Champion graced Round 3 of the Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series as Dan Evans put in a dominant performance to win the Oswestry Paragon Mount Road event by over 13 seconds. Evans showed off his pedigree as well as the National Champions’ jersey to outpace the course record breaker from both Rounds 1 and 2 Jonny Morris with a fabulous effort of 5 minutes 46.83 seconds on the tough 1.65 mile climb with a sting in the tail.

Despite that fabulous effort Evans failed to beat his own Course Record, set in 2017 by 11.2 seconds thanks to a new, liberal sprinkling of rough chippings and a headwind that rendered the final half-mile ramp especially cruel. Evans was however pleased to open his season with a win despite the pain, commenting: “As usual Oswestry Paragon put on a great event. The sun was out, and so were the racers. The hill was its usual disgusting self, that last ramp taking an eternity to climb and leaving us all gasping for air at the finish. The new chip and tar surface seems to have slowed the course down considerably, with most times seemingly 10-15 seconds slower than usual. Some strong rides from some of the local youth riders“.

Evans’ final comment showed the good level of interest in this Series from young riders, who have a natural weight advantage on the climbs. After missing Round 2 Hafren CC’s Sam Holwill made up for lost time, taking a fine win in 6:27.55 – a strong 6th Overall amongst a good field of 30 riders. Holwill beat Jack Young by 1:09.78 with a personal best effort, showing the strength of his ride. However his tongue-in-cheek remarks shows he had his attention elsewhere: “I beat my Course Personal Best by 44 seconds. It was great to race against National Hill Climb Champion Dan Evans – shame I didn’t beat him! Thanks to Oswestry Paragon CC for putting the event on“.

Meanwhile Morris was encountering the climb for the first time and seemed to be kicking himself for not riding up it first to get the measure of this most vicious of events. Morris took Overall runner-up after stopping the watch on 6:00.19, 6.11 seconds ahead of David Scott and revealed: “I only drove the climb beforehand which didn’t do that last ramp justice! It seemed to just go on for ever, and I was really suffering by the time I got to the top. A great ride by Dan to take the win and start his season strong“.

Series leader Kirk Vickers was in for a shock as for the first time this year he didn’t take maximum points – that honour went to Revolutions Racing’s Sam Morris. 19 year-old Morris had taken County 3rds in both Rounds 1 and 2 but really came into his own on this longer hill to take the County win with a fine 6:08.24. He stated: “A great event, with a real good atmosphere on the climb. Being slightly longer seemed to suit me a bit better, but that last ramp at the end just kept on going“!

Vickers had to settle for the 18 points for County runner-up  thanks to his 6:14.02 ride, but is certain to come back strongly in the upcoming rounds in the face of this year’s uprated competition. He stated: “Always a hard event. I was a bit keen at the start and paid for it at the end. Tough competition with some fast times set by everyone“.

If Vickers dropped his first points of the Series that wasn’t the case in the Veteran’s Championship with Ian Coupland adding another 20 point maximum to his tally – a perfect 60 point score from three events. Coupland pushed out Gareth Sanger by 2.66 points to end his afternoon on 7:10.40 – although he revealed he had misjudged his effort and nearly paid for it: “I was very luckily to take the Veterans – so pleased! I went too hard on first ramp and blew near the top. Great to see the National jersey. Thanks to Oswestry Paragon, always a test“.

In the Women’s competition there was no stopping Evans’ wife Jess despite her suffering in conditions. Her time of 7:46.34 was 35.46 seconds down on her 2017 attempt but still gave her the win by nearly 46 seconds from Hannah Pearson. Meanwhile Oswestry Paragon member Liz Breeze helped herself to the maximum 20 points on offer with her 10:49.36 effort and moved into joint 2nd place in the Women’s Championship as a result. He commented: “I love all the support riders give each other, young and older! And thank you the organisers for the chance to challenge ourselves“!

Result:

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Dan Evans Assos Equipe S 05:46.83
2 Jonny Morris Fishface Cycles RT S 06:00.19
3 David Scott 3C Payment Sports S 06:06.30
4 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing S 06:08.24 20
5 Kirk Vickers Rhino Velo RT S 06:14.02 18
6 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 06:27.55 16
7 Jack Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 06:44.23 14
8 James Davies Oswestry Paragon CC S 06:45.40 12
9 Rob Kerr Oswestry Paragon CC S 07:00.30 10
10 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 07:10.40 8
11 Gareth Sanger Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 07:13.06
12 Steve Aston Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 07:14.56
13 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 07:17.34 6
14 Simon Barkley Oswestry Olympians Tri V 07:35.52
15 Jordan Stamp Wrekin College Tri S 07:36.30
16 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 07:37.33 4
17 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 07:38.15 2
18 Jess Evans Assos Equipe W 07:46.74
19 Tom Richardson Oswestry Paragon CC S 07:55.28 2
20 Jan Kardasz Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 07:56.30
21 Mark Mawson Unattached V 08:00.71
22 Justin Walsh Unattached S 08:04.48
23 Hannah Pearson Fishface Cycles RT W 08:32.33
24 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 08:46.33 2
25 Peter Everett Fibrax-Wrexham RC S 08:51.33
26 Jason Arnold Hafren CC S 09:19.77 2
27 Sarah Breeze Unattached W 10:40.84
28 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 10:49.36 2
29 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 11:13.33 2
30 David Jones Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 12:32.30

Veterans Result:

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Vets Points
1 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 07:10.40 20
2 Gareth Sanger Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 07:13.06
3 Steve Aston Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 07:14.56
4 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 07:17.34 18
5 Simon Barkley Oswestry Olympians Tri V 07:35.52
6 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 07:38.15 16
7 Jan Kardasz Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 07:56.30
8 Mark Mawson Unattached V 08:00.71
9 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 08:46.33 14
10 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 10:49.36 12
11 David Jones Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 12:32.30

Juniors Result:

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 06:27.55 20
2 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 07:37.33 18
3 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 11:13.33 16

Women’s Result:

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Jess Evans Assos Equipe W 07:46.74
2 Hannah Pearson Fishface Cycles RT W 08:32.33
3 Sarah Breeze Unattached W 10:40.84
4 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 10:49.36 20

Cumulative standings after three rounds 

Overall Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Kirk Vickers SCCA Private Member S 58
2 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing S 52
=3 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 28
=3 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 28
=3 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 28
6 James Davies Oswestry Paragon CC S 24
=7 Dan Watts SCCA Private Member S 18
=7 Tyler Brennan Hafren CC S 18
9 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 16
10 Jack Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 14

Veterans Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 60
2 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 52
3 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 38
4 Jason Harland Revolutions Racing V 28
5 Andy Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 24
6 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 18
=7 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 14
=7 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 14
9 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 12
10 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC V 8

Junior standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 40
2 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 38
3 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 34
=4 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 30
=4 Lucy Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 30
6 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=7 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 12
=7 Henry Fleming Wrekinsport CC J 12

Women’s standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Lucy Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 38
=2 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 20
=2 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC W 20
4 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 16