R1 BBR Hill Climb Series: Paramount CRT Asterton Bank Climb

Round 1 of the BBR Hill Climb Series opened with arguably the toughest climb as Paramount CRT promoted their climb of Asterton Bank. Alternatively known as The Portway, the lung-bursting climb touches 26% near the bottom of its 0.63 mile distance, with the narrow road benefiting from an approved road closure for the duration of the event thanks to the dogged determination of organiser Claire Blackwell-Smyth. Used for the first time officially in 2023, the Course Record was smashed to smithereens as visiting rider Gabe Dellar knocked a huge 13 seconds off Dave Fellows’ 5 minute 6 second benchmark to stop the watch on 4:53 – as well as beating 2023 National Hill Climb Champion Andrew Feather’s unofficial Strava segment by two seconds.

23 year-old Dellar who rides for Stolen Goat is not a pure hill climb specialist, more often seen near the front of road races, but is a powerful cyclist looking to make a name for himself in the hill climbing discipline. Spectators were looking forward to a mouth watering visit from the National Champion for an intriguing head-to-head, but with horizontal rain an hour before the start on a generally miserable day, and with helpers having to stop the finish line gazebo from taking off thankfully conditions softened to drizzle for the event, leaving a wet and slippery surface to add to the challenge.  

Taking the County honours and the maximum 20 points on offer was Mule CC’s Dave Scott, the reigning BBR Series Champion as he set out his stall for a strong defence with a great time of 5:07. Scott was one second faster than in 2023 thanks in part to a helpful tailwind, having been two seconds slower than former Course Record holder Dave Fellows in 2023, but here in a revenge return match got the better of Fellows by 9 seconds. Scott was delighted to take maximum points, but showed the dangers of not respecting the early part of the course enough, and particularly the initial bend: “Asterton was as brutal as ever and I set out too enthusiastically and paid for my effort in the second half. I managed to beat my personal best by a second, but by the skin of my teeth! Happy, but will learn from my pacing disaster in the climbs to come”!

Solihull CC rider Fellows was positive about finishing third in 5:16 on a beast of a climb, stating: “It was as tough as I remember! Even though it was drizzly and the road appeared to be slippery I managed to get up without any traction issues. Kudos to Gabe and Dave for some cracking rides; and thanks to Paramount CRT for putting the event on and obtaining the road closure”.

Scott’s nearest challenge for BBR Series honours came from Wrekinsport’s Tomos Hales, whose all-round abilities seem to have stepped up a gear in 2024. Hales was Bronze medallist in 2023 and is looking to better that, docking a huge 31 seconds off his 2023 effort in 5:27 showing that imporovement. He commented: “The weather just about rolled out for the Asterton Bank Hill Climb. The road was still wet, so it didn’t leave much traction for getting up it. I managed to pace it a lot better than last year and was pleased with my time. Thanks to Claire Blackwell-Smyth for organising, it is a great addition to the hill climb season and Paramount CRT provides such a great atmosphere to a horrendous hill to climb”.

The leading Veteran took 5^th spot overall with a new name on the local scene taking a surprise win in this competition, with Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ William Witterick stopping the watch on 6:07. Witterick’s margin of victory was an impressive 38 seconds over Paul Bailey, and like others misjudged the starting ramp and didn’t let a little air out of his tyres to assist with grip on the greasy surface: “Well, I went off too fast, struggled for grip with my skinny tubs but just about hung in there. Thanks to Paramount for an atmospheric, well organised event – although I was horrified to discover the signing on was at the top”!

In the Female contest former Paramount member Sara Willhoit travelled from Derbyshire to defend her Female Course Record of 6:07, but was six seconds slower. A runner of some note, Willhoit hadn’t ridden her bike for quite some time but couldn’t resist a trip to this fabulous challenge – and thoroughly enjoyed her evening. She commented: “So happy to have successfully defended the title! What a hill, what a race, what a great bunch of people – I can’t wait for next year! I wasn’t expecting to have so much wheel slip, but the tailwind this year was lovely”.

Willhoit beat the 2023 Silver medallist Hayley Wells, who took the 20 points on offer in a great time of 7:30. Like Hales, Wells has been going from strength to strength all season, and improved by 24 seconds from her 2023 attempt. She did however have pre-race nerves to contend with: “I was a little apprehensive going into this one and conscious not to blow up too early! I set off at a sensible pace but the tank was fully empty by the final corner. A great atmosphere and lots of support along the climb, awesome work Paramount, thanks for a great opener to the hill climb season”.

Full:

Females:

Veterans on Actual: