R5 BBR Hill Climb Series: Shropshire Cycling Clubs Association Homer Bank Hill Climb

It was an unbelievably close finish in Round 5 of the BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series as David Scott finally took victory on the short, sharp Homer Bank climb in Shropshire Cycling Clubs Association’s promotion. Scott had finished third in 2023 behind Steven Prince and Tomos Hales; and runner-up in 2024 behind Hales; but here he finally got the better of the Wrekinsport rider on his favourite punchy style of climb – by just 0.19 seconds, also seeing off four-time Series winner and course record holder Kirk Vickers in a mouth watering triple threat contest.

Covering just 0.5 miles and briefly touching 18% in the middle, riders have to bury themselves from the off with no hiding place – and endless twists and turns to manage as the course corkscrews up Wenlock Edge. Scott stopped the watch on 2 minutes 3.48 seconds, clearly burying himself in the effort up the final agonising climb to the line, and moving up to joint second in the overall standings as a result. He stated: “Very happy to finally win on Homer Bank – third time lucky! It was a fun night battling Kirk and Tomos. I had to dig in very deep for the win”.

Hales was runner-up in 2:03.67 in the closest finish of the Series so far, agonisingly just missing out in a format where winning margins can be tight, and why things are normally timed to 1/10ths of a second as standard. Hales extended his Series lead from four to ten points as a result of his efforts, clearly going into the red on the tricky final ramp but just missing out in a terrific head-to-head. He was good natured about the defeat, claiming tongue in cheek to be gutted initially but enjoying being pushed to the limit, commenting: “I do enjoy the Homer Bank hill climb as the short distance plays to my strengths. I paced the bottom half well and managed to save some for the top half. Great to be up there with David with as tight as it can be on the watch. Thanks Fletch and Rita for hosting one of the most popular hill climbs of the Series”.

Vickers was making his third appearance of the season, and being the course record holder looked odds on given he had won his two previous rounds. Here though he was consigned to an uncustomary third spot in 2:10.04, not troubling his own 1:52.56 set in the inaugural event in 2020 despite having a helping tailwind at times. He was nevertheless pleased with his climb, stating: “A nice tailwind on the night, I paced the effort well and had a strong finish. I’m happy with third to some quick times from David and Tomos”.

Whilst Vickers didn’t score a personal best, female winner Claire Blackwell-Smyth did, registering 4:04.04 thanks to that helpful tailwind in a sheltered course that acts like a funnel to move up to second in the Veterans standings and stretch her Female Series lead to 38 points. She was delighted with this, stating: “I really enjoyed riding Homer Bank this year getting a good personal best too although I think the tail wind might have helped – thanks to Rita and Fletch for organising”.

Best placed Veteran was unattached rider John Woodward making his first appearance of 2025 with an impressive winning time of 2:19.01 which took fourth spot overall. Like a few coming back to the discipline after a while away Woodward revealed the pain riders can put themselves through, particularly when performing anaerobic exercise: “My first hill climb for a while, which was a bit of a system shock! I got my pacing a little wrong on the last kick, but happy with how it went overall. I didn’t really have much of a plan apart from to go hard; you forget how tough it is – great to see everyone, well done to all”.

County winner Neil Coles took his second maximum points tally on his comeback from injury as he looks to make up lost ground, beating Oswestry Paragon team mate and Series leader Peter Fletcher by 1.14 seconds and moving up to third in the Veterans standings. Unlike Hales, Coles prefers longer efforts, and gave it his all: “Surprised but pleased as the short sharp climbs don’t suit me. I started too fast with an encouraging tail wind and burned out on the last kicker”.

Full:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Cumulative standings after five rounds

Overall:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors: