Mid Shropshire Wheelers Stiperstones Hill Climb

Kirk Vickers headed into the lead of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series as the reigning champion took a fine win by over 10 seconds in Round 2, Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ climb of The Stiperstones. Starting from The Stiperstones Inn, Vickers flew up the 1.02 mile course in 3 minutes, 57.73 seconds ahead of a strong field of 31 riders enjoying a lovely evening’s sport. The Holohan Coaching RT rider

lopped a huge 10 seconds off his personal best for the course in the process, beating the four minute mark for the first time. He stated: “One of my favourite climbs of the Series. I paced it well and rode to a new personal best, very pleased with the result“.

Vickers’ nearest competition came from Mule CC’s David Scott who last competed this climb in 2017 and couldn’t quite outpace Vickers despite knocking over 15 seconds off that 2017 effort to stop the watch on 4 minutes, 8.67 seconds. Scott’s unfamiliarity with the climb was instrumental in this, as coping with a changing gradient and a small downhill section benefit from riding the course in anger first. Despite this Scott was pleased with his climb, commenting: “I was happy with second at Mid Shropshire Wheelers, but I need to improve the pacing. It’s shorter than I remember“!

Hill climbing season usually attracts Juniors into competition as they typically have the fine advantage of not carrying much weight, ideal for tackling hills. 16 year-old Hafren CC Junior Sam Holwill not only took the Junior win in 4:20.57, beating Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ James Satoor into runner-up spot by 6.35, he also took third spot Overall too. Holwill’s performance was all the more remarkable given he was riding on the back of a major youth tour, but he was delighted to move into joint first place in the Junior standings and finish highly placed overall. He commented: “My legs were tired for the Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ hill climb as I’d just finished the North West Youth Tour, but I came third so I guess they can’t have been that bad“!

That wasn’t the only success for the Welsh border club either as Emma Serjeant was the only female in competition and moved into the joint lead of the Women’s Series as a result of her fine 6:00.48 effort. Serjeant was delighted with her time, setting a new personal best and revealed she enjoys the challenge brought by the climb: “Stiperstones is one of my favourite hill climbs as it can be broken into two parts. A win and a course PB by over 30 seconds so I’m very pleased“.

In the Veteran’s Series Richard Kay piled on the pressure at the top of the standings with his second win in as many events. North Shropshire Wheelers’ Kay was getting his first experience of The Stiperstones climb and posted an excellent 4:39.20 to take that win by over 24 seconds from Richard Bacon. Being unfamiliar with the climb Kay kept his powder dry from the off, as he explained: “I rode the first ramp cautiously by my standards, which seemed to pay off with a PB. Great rides by Kirk and Dave. Many thanks to Mid Shropshire Wheelers for such a friendly event“.

Result:

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 3:57.73 20
2 David Scott Mule CC S 4:08.67  
3 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 4:20.57 18
4 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 4:26.92 16
5 Jack Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 4:33.20 14
6 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 4:35.51 12
7 George Nistor Paramount CRT S 4:35.67 10
8 Tomos Pattinson Halesowen A&CC J 4:38.36  
9 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 4:39.20 8
=10 Aled Lees Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 4:40.73 6
=10 Rory Blakemore Unattached S 4:40.73  
12 Matt Davies Holohan Coaching RT S 4:41.73 4
13 Dave Saunders Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 4:42.51 2
14 Matthew Barrett Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 4:46.73 2
15 James Hards Unattached S 4:50.36  
16 Ryan Greaves Litchfield CC J 4:50.70  
17 James Ellmore Unattached S 4:50.98  
18 David Hiatt Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 5:00.20 2
19 Richard Bacon LMDV V 5:03.89  
20 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 5:10.70 2
21 Neil Wilson Paramount CRT V 5:16.06 2
22 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 5:19.11 2
23 Elijah Hall Unattached J 5:30.75  
24 Elliott Davies Unattached S 5:32.41  
25 Alex Peveral-Cooper Unattached S 5:53.29  
26 Nick English Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 5:58.39 2
27 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC W 6:00.48 2
28 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 7:06.86 2
29 Paul Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 7:25.20 2
30 John Sproson Unattached S 10:05.16  
31 Geoff Sproson Unattached V 10:25.87  

Veterans Result:

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Vets Points
1 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 4:39.20 20
2 Richard Bacon LMDV V 5:03.89  
3 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 5:10.70 18
4 Neil Wilson Paramount CRT V 5:16.06 16
5 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 5:19.11 14
6 Paul Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 7:25.20 10
7 Geoff Sproson Unattached V 10:25.87  

Juniors Result:

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 4:20.57 20
2 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 4:26.92 18
3 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 4:35.51 16
4 Tomos Pattinson Halesowen A&CC J 4:38.36  
5 Ryan Greaves Litchfield CC J 4:50.70  
6 Elijah Hall Unattached J 5:30.75  
7 Nick English Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 5:58.39 14
8 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 7:06.86 12

Women’s Result:

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC W 6:00.48 20

Cumulative standings after two rounds

Overall Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 38
2 Jack Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 22
3 Liam Holohan Holohan Coaching RT S 20
4 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 18
=5 Dave Saunders Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 16
=5 George Nistor Paramount CRT S 16
=5 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 16
=5 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 16
9 Matt Davies Holohan Coaching RT S 14
=10 Chris Pook Holohan Coaching RT S 12
=10 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 12

Veterans Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 40
=2 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 32
=2 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 32
=2 Neil Wilson Paramount CRT V 32
5 Andy Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 12
=6 Paul Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 10
=6 Will Baugh Ludlow CC V 10
8 Simon Shorrock Paramount CRT V 8
9 David Cannell Paramount CRT V 6
10 Tim Evans Newport Shropshire CC V 4

Junior standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
=1 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 20
=1 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 20
=3 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=3 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=5 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 16
=5 Noah Killeen Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 16
6 Nick English Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 14
7 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 12

Women’s standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
=1 Natalie Brooks Paramount CRT W 20
=1 Emma Serjeant Hafren CC W 20