The 11th and penultimate round of the BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series saw competitors having to face a couple of additional challenges in Newport Shropshire CC’s Station Road, Ironbridge climb – bitter temperatures and a rare brisk headwind; as the destination of the BBR Veterans Championship was decided from the front. Over-40’s riders winning events is a rarity, but that only made Steven Prince all the more determined to finally get the better of Overall BBR Series winner Tomos Hales by a two second margin after charging up the three-quarter mile course in 3 minutes 34 seconds to seal the Veterans Series in style.

Prince had extra cause for celebration as that win also meant he went home with the Overall Silver medal in a great end to the season. He was pleased to get the better of the Shropshire Champion, stating: “A tough climb made harder by a strong headwind, especially at the top for the final sprint. I’ve been second to Tomos a few times this season so chuffed to have finally beaten him – thanks to Newport CC and the marshals for another great event, as they have been all Series”.

The headwind and cold affected Hales significantly as he was 12 seconds down on his Round 2 effort on the only hill to be used more than once in this Series, finishing in 3:36. Having already taken the Series win the day before Hales didn’t need to ride, but his enjoyment of the format and competitive nature got the better of him. He commented: “A cold start for the Newport hill climb, it was tough on the lungs. I struggled in the middle section, but happy to take second. Well done to Steven for the win, and thanks for Newport for hosting”.

Making only his second appearance of the Series Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ John Woodward elevated himself into the Top 10 standings thanks to taking a strong third place in 3:56, 13 seconds ahead of Wrekinsport’s Phil Roberts. He was another rider suffering in the central section of the climb, which features a horrible initial ramp at the bottom featuring an acute bend that scrubs off all vestiges of speed, with the middle under significant tree cover which held the cold. He commented: “Third; and I suffered on the longer climb, especially in the middle. A great effort by Steve to take the win, thanks to Newport CC for organising, photos, chatter and the coffee – It was a chilly start”!

It was a close race in the Women’s competition as visiting rider Hannah Havelock-Allen beat the Women’s champion Hayley Wells by a single second. Havelock-Allen took the win in 4:55, but her comments show that the climb which appears to have a fairly constant gradient through much of its length is actually anything but, requiring good gear selection at the right point – something she found proved difficult: “I really enjoyed the climb, despite some dodgy gear changes on the way up! Some good short punchy sections, thanks for a great local event”!

Wells was 18 seconds down on her winning Round 2 time, having a wariness of that initial bend, and with the temptation to underestimate just where the finish line is: “It was good to be back at Station Road, one of the more challenging climbs where you don’t want to blow up too early! It was a tight battle at the top with just one second between the top two ladies – well done to Hannah on the win! A great turnout of riders, and thanks for the coffee at the end courtesy of Darcy’s”!

With just one Junior in competition Newport’s Will Hyde took a creditable ninth spot from the 18-strong field in 4:37; and the only other medal decided on the day also went to a Junior, with Ben Southgate now unable to be caught in the Silver medal slot. When told of his win he stated: “Really happy with my efforts, and really happy to receive a medal, back to training now”.

Result:

Position Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Steven Prince SCCA Private Mermber V 03:34 20
2 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 03:36 18
3 John Woodward Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 03:56 16
4 Phil Roberts Wrekinsport CC S 04:09 14
5 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC S 04:12 12
6 Matt Blythe Newport Shropshire CC V 04:25 10
7 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 04:27 8
8 Mark Spruce Wolverhampton Wheelers CC V 04:34 .
9 Will Hyde Newport Shropshire CC J 04:37 6
10 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 04:40 4
=11 Rob McGregor Paramount CRT S 04:41 2
=11 Paul Horton Wolverhampton Wheelers CC S 04:41 .
13 Hannah Havelock-Allen Racing Chance Foundation W 04:55 .
14 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 04:56 2
15 Paul Bailey Cheshire Ghost Riders V 05:00 .
16 Elliot Wills Wrekinsport CC S 05:21 2
17 Edward Bolland Black Country Triathletes V 05:22 .
18 Tim Evans Newport Shropshire CC V 07:16 2

Veterans on Actual:

Vet’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Vets Points
1 Steven Prince SCCA Private Mermber V 03:34 20
2 Matt Blythe Newport Shropshire CC V 04:25 18
3 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 04:27 16
4 Mark Spruce Wolverhampton Wheelers CC V 04:34 .
5 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 04:40 14
6 Paul Bailey Cheshire Ghost Riders V 05:00 .
7 Edward Bolland Black Country Triathletes V 05:22 .
8 Tim Evans Newport Shropshire CC V 07:16 12

Women:

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Hannah Havelock-Allen Racing Chance Foundation W 04:55 .
2 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 04:56 20

Juniors:

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Will Hyde Newport Shropshire CC J 04:37 20

Cumulative standings after eleven rounds

Overall Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 6
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 118
2 Steven Prince SCCA Private Member V 106
3 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 84
4 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC S 82
5 Phil Roberts Wrekinsport CC S 74
6 Scott Palmer Bridgnorth CC V 68
7 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 60
8 David Scott Mule CC S 60
9 Matthew Redworth Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 52
10 John Woodward Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 34

Veterans Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 6
1 Steven Prince SCCA Private Member V 120
2 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 110
3 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 96
4 Scott Palmer Bridgnorth CC V 94
5 Andy Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 34
6 Ben Thompson Wrekinsport CC V 30
7 Liz Breeze Mule CC WV 22
8 Neil Wilson Paramount CRT V 20
=9 James Davies Mule CC V 18
=9 Martin Waters Mule CC V 18
=9 Matt Blythe Newport Shropshire CC V 18

Women’s standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 6
1 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 120
2 Liz Breeze Mule CC WV 40
3 Robin Jones Bridgnorth CC W 36
=4 Becky Griffiths Paramount CRT W 20
=4 Sarah Willhoit Paramount CRT W 20
=6 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 18
=6 Gwyneth Bowyer Ludlow CC WV 18
=6 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 18

Junior standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 6
1 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 100
2 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 56
3 Will Hyde Newport Shropshire CC J 20
4 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 16