R9 BBR Hill Climb Series: Paramount CRT The Burway climb

The curtain came down of Shropshire’s time trialling season – with an absolute classic to end things in Round 9 of the BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series. The only Open hill climb in the County got a large entry of 53 riders and a closed road as Paramount CRT promoted their climb of The Burway. Noted as one of the 100 best climbs in the country, riders came from all points of the compass to take on the challenge of the 20% gradient, last used in its classic 0.86 mile form for 1989’s National Hill Climb, where Sir Chris Boardman set a course record of 5 minutes 1.8 seconds that still stands – into a tough headwind and on a steel bike. Given the advances in technology in the interim, riders were keen to see just how close they could get on a beautiful morning, where the final Series medals were settled and a surprise winner took the plaudits.

Last seen in the 2020 Series when he not only took the Junior title, but the overall one as well; Bridgnorth CC’s James Satoor climbed to a shock victory in 5:13.01, nearly 9½ seconds ahead of reigning Shropshire Champion Dave Scott. Satoor comes with an excellent cycling background; with father Paul and uncles Ian and Neil all regulars at the Wolverhampton Track League as well as being keen cyclists. Given the technology wasn’t around in 1989, Satoor also lowered the benchmark Strava segment. He stated: “I was really pleased to come away with the win. The Burway is a historic and brutal climb that I know very well, so to add my name alongside Boardman means a lot! It’s been a long season for me racing on the road and in the velodrome, but I’m glad to have been able to put some of the late form to good use. Thank you to Paramount for putting on a great event, and to everyone who came out to support – it was a great atmosphere”! Satoor’s comments refer to the considerable number of spectators out on the course, ringing traditional cow bells and yelling encouragement.

Scott, the Series Champion for the third year running’ had no gripes about being beaten fairly and squarely for once; whilst getting his own back on team mate James Pearce, the only other rider to have beaten Scott in this Series in 2025 as the pair finished in 5:22.50 and 5:26.20 respectively to take second and third. Scott commented: “It was great to race such an iconic climb on a closed road course. Lots of competitors and spectators made for a great event. I was happy with my ride behind young James Satoor, the headwind made for a hard last 30 seconds”!

With the Silver and Bronze medals to be settled the extra compliment of riders meant it was ‘as you were’ for Tomos Hales and Kirk Vickers, as they ended things with the same two point gap they started the morning with, both having been unable to improve their tally in this best 5 from 9 Series. Vickers finished equal 4^th on the day in 5:27.80, whilst Hales finished 11^th in 6:18.20, taking Silver for the second year running. Hales commented: “A good battle with Dave and Kirk this year. There have been some tight ones; however they do seem to blow me away on the longer climbs. Great events as always, and this year they saved the most painful until last”. Vickers added: “I enjoyed the hill climbs, some good competition throughout. I was particularly happy with my performance on The Burway, which was an exciting finish to the Series”.

If there has been one rider who has impressed in 2025 for tenacity it’s 12 year-old Mid Shropshire Wheeler Evelyn Charles, who lifted herself to Shropshire Junior Hill Climb Gold with a fabulous effort of 10:05.31. This effort also won her Female Silver too in a maiden season of great promise. The big race atmosphere clearly made the experience something special – as did the very traditional and now all too rarely seen post-race presentation ceremony, which almost every rider attended, making a great memory. She commented: “I found The Burway climb the toughest yet, with a very different feel to the earlier climbs in the Series. However, the great support from the spectators and other competitions really helped. The after event presentation and cakes really finished the day; and I’m delighted to have won the Shropshire Junior Hill Climb Championship”. This consigned the rider Charles had been tied with for the title pre-race to the Silver medal position, with Bridgnorth CC’s James Saunders stating when told of the medal win: “It’s nice, they’re good fun and great training, and it helps when you do well”.

Elevating herself into the Junior Bronze position at the last gasp with a fabulous 12:27.10 effort was another Mid Shropshire Wheeler 12 year-old, Florence Parkinson, who graphically showed how much the attainment and experience meant – and how a practise run made all the difference: “I went down on the Friday afternoon to have a practise and make sure I was able to get over the start section cattle grid and up to the first corner as I could see from the profile it would be very tough! I was a little freaked out when I saw the 20% gradient sign at the bottom of the Burway, but I felt reassured after the practise that I could actually do it! I was pleased to find the weather was perfect conditions for a hill climb. After the first section was done I then set in for a hard grind up to the summit, the supporters cheering me on made all the difference in me getting there without blowing up! I was so thrilled to win the runner-up Junior prize money and will be back next year. I suspect the competition will be fiercer as a lot of my peer group from around the West Midlands region have just turned 12 years old, and having seen my pictures are keen to tackle this amazing ‘Open event’!

Females came from far and wide – with the winner Frankie Leveton of Huddersfield Star Wheelers entering after spotting an unexpected chance to compete whilst on a cycle touring holiday. Leveton stopped the watch on 8:49.30; 10.2 seconds ahead of County winner Becky Griffiths. Leveton explained: “I was visiting Church Stretton with a group of women from my cycling club and we were staying nearby. When I saw there was a hill climb on nearby I just couldn’t resist entering! Not being from the area I had no idea what I’d let myself in for, and so it was a bit of a shock when I went for a pre-race ride up The Burway after signing on and saw how tough a climb it is! With the gradient so steep to start; and then other ramps later on I knew it was going to be a difficult climb to pace, but I tried to not go too hard at the beginning and to make sure I saved something in my legs to kick at the end. I was very surprised but absolutely delighted to come away with 1st female! I would like to thank the wonderful event organiser Claire and all of the volunteers, and the supporters on the climb. I was made to feel so welcome and it is definitely one of the friendliest hill climbs I’ve ever been to”!

Griffiths took the honours for the County in 8:59.70 in her only appearance of the Series, and she too had words of praise for the organisational skills of Claire Blackwell-Smyth, the BBR Female Series winner, stating: “It was a great event, brilliantly organised by Claire and the Paramount team. This was my one and only hill climb this year, so it felt tough and I was glad to see the finish! Finish line views don’t get much better than the top of The Burway in the sunshine”.

With just the Bronze medal outstanding in this category it was another Paramount rider, Becky Pugh who showed how first-timers can surprise themselves and find a close-knit community happy to dole out advice and encouragement in equal measure: “As this is my first hill climb season I’m really happy with Bronze, but also that I took part. Any nervousness to partake was quickly wiped away by how welcoming and encouraging everyone was, from organisers to fellow riders”.

Exemplifying just how far riders came from, the Veterans category was won by Russell Powell of Sid Valley CC; a club based in East Devon. Powell is a hill climb specialist, popping up at events all over the country and is in training for the National Hill Climb on 26^th October in Matlock, Derbyshire. Powell commented: “It was a great climb with stunning views once crested, organised by a very friendly cycling club and the spread of cake afterwards was amazing. The post hill climb ride was enjoyable with quite a good turnout. I will be back next year and hopefully improve on my time”. His time of 6:00.50 was over 56 seconds ahead of the nearest competition, Seb Frost, who posted an excellent time despite a knee injury and a first ever appearance in a hill climb, as he explained: “Considering I’m a downhill mountain bike racer normally, but out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the moment I was pretty happy with how it went in my first-ever hill climb event – especially considering I’d never even ridden up that particular hill before”!

That left one medal to be confirmed in the BBR Veterans Series, with Newport Shropshire CC’s Tim Evans taking the Bronze. He is outright the winner of the SCCA’s President’s Trophy, effectively the Association’s combativity award, having entered all 16 rounds of the Friction Hydraulics Series, four rounds of the SB Sports Injuries Series and, showing adaptability and tenacity, six rounds of the BBR Series – despite not expecting to. This included this event, the toughest of the lot, which he finished in 9:05.80, as he explained: “I hadn’t planned to ride this Series, but after a successful race on the Stiperstones, knocking 2½ minutes off my best time from years ago, and also following some kind words of encouragement from Tomos Hales I decided to keep going. I’ve really enjoyed the Series, and it has given me the confidence to enter more races, including the Welsh Championship on the Tumble; Snake Pass; and hopefully the Nationals at the end of October. Congratulations to Neil Coles for winning, I hope to get closer to him next season. Thanks to all the organisers and marshals involved for making this a truly special and memorable event”.

Full:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors:

Final Cumulative standings after nine rounds

Overall:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors: