R7 Little Sweetpea Gardens/BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series: SCCA Homer Bank climb

For once a Course Record didn’t go on one of the most testing hills in The Little Sweetpea Gardens/BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series, as Shropshire Cycling Clubs Association promoted their climb of Homer Bank – although Jonny Morris got close. At just half a mile it’s about all out effort on a sinuous climb that takes no prisoners, ramping up to 18% and with a tricky finish just when the legs are screaming to stop, and even though Morris beat his own time convincingly from the inaugural 2020 event he just failed to beat Kirk Vickers record of 1 minute, 52.56 seconds.

Morris stopped the watch on 1:55.24, knocking 2.6 seconds off his 2020 effort and the only rider on the night to dip below the two minute mark, taking a convincing win of over 16½ seconds to show the clear quality of his ride on a glorious late summer evening. His post-race comments show that there’s no working your way into the climb, it’s an instant pain fest: “It’s a really short climb needing riders to go out hard from the start. I rode it better than last year, but not quite well enough to trouble Kirk’s impressive time. I’m happy to have introduced someone new to hill climbs for the second year in a row on this hill”.

One rider who has been missing from the 2021 Series until now is Bridgnorth CC’s Scott Palmer, 2020’s Bronze medallist, but he appeared to be right in form from his first event back after a spell of illness has kept him away from competition. For a first ride back Palmer impressed, just 0.18 seconds off his 2020 effort with a fine 2:11.87 to take the runner-up spot and the honours for the County. Palmer also took maximum points in the Veterans standings too, and his comments show how that final push for the line can turn the legs to jelly: “My first hill climb of the season due to holiday and illness. It was grim at the top, but I’m happy with second Overall and first Veteran”.

It was a close call for the final podium spot with John Woodward shading things from the rider who returned to occupying the Silver medal position after this climb, Tomos Hales with Woodward beating Hales by just 0.16 seconds with a fine effort of 2:13.53. One format difference to standard time trials in the hill climb discipline is that normally riders can be held up and simply let go, but not pushed off. However under Covid-19 restrictions still in place not even that has been possible – but a conveniently placed notice board adjacent to the start gave the riders the ability to start whilst clipped into the pedals, a luxury in 2021. Woodward’s comments reflect this unusual situation: “My first time starting whilst holding onto a post, I managed to get away OK thankfully! It’s a tough short sharp climb in two parts Homer Bank, and I was pleased with how I went. Congratulations to Jonny; another level once again. Thanks to the organisers and marshalling on the night, it helps to make the occasion what it is”.

Hales returned to second spot in the championship after overtaking Ludlow CC’s Robbie Disney in the standings with the Ludlow CC rider 6^th on the night, but he holds an advantage of just two points from Disney and Oswestry Paragon Junior Jack Young who are tying in the Bronze medal position in an extremely close contest: Hales commented: “My favourite hill climb of the year, a very tough finish and a huge relief to get to the finish line. Thanks SCCA for putting the event on”.

In the Junior competition Newport CC’s posted a huge improvement of 9½ seconds over his 2020 effort to take the win in 2:37.83 from Wrekinsport CC’s Ben Southgate, who still posted the biggest improvement of the evening – an almost unbelievable 54 seconds. Hyde was pleased with his climb, stating: “My second hill climb of the year. Great support on the side of the road and from other riders, I beat my time from last year so was happy with the result”.

Full:

Veterans:

Juniors:

Cumulative standings after seven rounds

Overall Top 10:

Veteran’s Top 10:

Junior Top 10:

Women’s standings: