Rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of competitors in Round 2 of The Little Sweetpea Gardens/BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series as the second event in as many evenings saw a pattern start to emerge amongst the winning names – with Jonny Morris making it two wins in two nights and lowering the course record by just over four seconds in Nova Raiders climb of Jiggers Bank. Morris finished, by his high standards, a below par third in the inaugural event on this 0.82 mile course in 2019 when the rolling nature of the lower part of this unfamiliar climb seemed to unsettle him, but this time made no mistake as he put in a huge effort on the final 8% ramp to cross the line in 2 minutes 51 seconds. Morris acknowledged that he had unfinished business on this climb, stating: “I had a disappointing ride up Jiggers last year, so was really motivated for it to go well this year. Stoked to get everything out on the night and put down a good time! Great organisation and support on the night as always”!

One of the features of this Series is it’s attraction to Junior riders, with a huge 13 under-18’s amongst the 37-strong field – with Halesowen A&CC rider Tomos Pattinson taking a major scalp in ex-professional Liam Holohan, posting the only other sub-3 minute ride on the night – just. Pattinson set a fine time of 2:59 to take Overall runner-up spot on his first attempt at the climb, roared on by the second big crowd of spectators in as many nights, roaring the field on skywards. Pattinson commented: “I really enjoyed the climb, a tremendous atmosphere. I was really looking forward to The Nova Raiders event and it didn’t disappoint”.

Holohan meanwhile took the County honours and moved into an eight point lead at the top of the Overall Series standings thanks to his 3:01 effort, just beating off the attentions of Loughborough Students CC rider Sam Morris by a second. Holohan commented on one of the main features of this Series, the significant variation in the types of climb offered, showing the richness of the local topography – and the adaptability required of the climbers: “The weather wasn’t quite as nice as the evening before, however another wonderfully organised event that I was grateful to take part in. The climb wasn’t perfectly suited to me, with the first part been quite flat, so I was happy to be in the mix”.

Holohan’s closest challenger in the Series is another Junior, Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ James Satoor, who has 32 points to show for his efforts as well as stretching his lead at the top of the Junior Series, Satoor crested the climb in 3:13 for 6th spot Overall, a very impressive effort, with Henri Bedford 13 seconds back for SCCA Junior runner-up. This was Satoor’s first experience of Jiggers Bank under racing conditions, and he clearly enjoyed the experience after recovering: “I was happy to get full points at the Nova Raiders hill climb, it’s a tough climb, made tougher in the rain, but good to do another hill climb – thanks a lot to Nova Raiders for putting on such a well organised event”. 

With no women racing the 2019 sopping wet edition there was a guaranteed Women’s Course Record in the making, with Hannah Pearson, Morris’ partner taking a second Women’s win is just over 24 hours. Pearson set a blistering pace of 4:01 to beat off the attentions of Wrekinsport’s Beth Till, who moved into a commanding lead of the Women’s Series with her 4:35, showing the standard Pearson has laid down for all who follow. Pearson was more than satisfied with her effort, stating: “I was happy to leave everything on the road again, although I paced things a little better this time”!

It was a familiar 1-2 at the head of the Veteran’s Series too as Mark Hammond showed just why he won the 2018 Veteran’s Series with maximum points. The Paramount CRT rider stopped the watch on 3:16, 7 seconds ahead of CC Bridgnorth’s Scott Palmer – although with 11 seconds of the difference between the two from Round 1 shaved off Palmer had definitely honed his methodology overnight, and this should be an entertaining battle. Hammond’s comments reflect how not paying due respect to the lower slopes of this climb can come back to haunt a rider as the road rears up: “I went off a little too hard and ended up really hanging on at the end – I was pleased with the time and my result”. Palmer added: “After knowing my mistake at The Wrekin I tried to pace Jiggers a lot better. It seemed to work, but I definitely have more in the tank”!

Full result:

Pos’nNameClubCatTimePoints
1Jonny MorrisFishface CyclesS2:51.
2Tomos PattinsonHalesowen A&CCJ2:59.
3Liam HolohanHolohan CoachingS3:0120
4Sam MorrisLoughborough Students CCS3:02.
5Charlie GennerHalesowen A&CCJ3:03.
6James SatoorMid Shropshire WheelersJ3:1318
7Ryan GreavesTeam HuubJ3:15.
8Mark HammondParamount CRTV3:1616
9Scott PalmerCC Bridgnorth RWGV3:2314
10Tomos HalesWrekinsport CCS3:2412
11Henri BedfordRevolutions RacingJ3:2610
12James HardsUnattachedS3:31.
12Phil RobertsWrekinsport CCS3:318
12Robbie DisneyLudlow CCS3:318
15Nick LongNova RaidersS3:364
16Elliott WillsWrekinsport CCS3:422
16Paul BaileyCC Bridgnorth RWGV3:422
18Christopher RileyParamount CRTV3:432
19John BradleyNova RaidersV3:442
19Jack InglisWrekinsport CCJ3:442
21Rob McGregorParamount CRTS3:492
22Mark PritchardNova RaidersS3:052
23Tom HydeNewport Shropshire CCJ3:512
24Cameron Coley-SmithStourbridge CCS3:55.
25Simon RomeiParamount CRTV3:582
26Neil ColesOswestry Paragon CCV4:012
26Hannah PearsonFishface CyclesW4:01.
28Noah KilleenMid Shropshire WheelersJ4:222
29Cerys GreavesTeam HuubJ4:29.
30Dave MooreWrekinsport CCV4:332
31Bethan TillWrekinsport CCW4:352
32Tom JacksonNewport Shropshire CCJ4:492
32Will HydeNewport Shropshire CCJ4:492
34Leo AllenNewport Shropshire CCJ4:552
35Emily ForbesUnattachedW5:13.
36Ben SouthgateUnattachedJ5:22.
37Hugh JacksonNewport Shropshire CCV8:052

SCCA:

Pos’nNameClubCatTimePoints
1Liam HolohanHolohan CoachingS3:0120
2James SatoorMid Shropshire WheelersJ3:1318
3Mark HammondParamount CRTV3:1616
4Scott PalmerCC Bridgnorth RWGV3:2314
5Tomos HalesWrekinsport CCS3:2412
6Henri BedfordRevolutions RacingJ3:2610
7Phil RobertsWrekinsport CCS3:318
7Robbie DisneyLudlow CCS3:318
9Nick LongNova RaidersS3:364
10Elliott WillsWrekinsport CCS3:422
10Paul BaileyCC Bridgnorth RWGV3:422
12Christopher RileyParamount CRTV3:432
13John BradleyNova RaidersV3:442
13Jack InglisWrekinsport CCJ3:442
15Rob McGregorParamount CRTS3:492
16Mark PritchardNova RaidersS3:052
17Tom HydeNewport Shropshire CCJ3:512
18Simon RomeiParamount CRTV3:582
19Neil ColesOswestry Paragon CCV4:012
20Noah KilleenMid Shropshire WheelersJ4:222
21Dave MooreWrekinsport CCV4:332
22Bethan TillWrekinsport CCW4:352
23Tom JacksonNewport Shropshire CCJ4:492
23Will HydeNewport Shropshire CCJ4:492
25Leo AllenNewport Shropshire CCJ4:552
26Hugh JacksonNewport Shropshire CCV8:052

Veterans on Actual:

Vets Pos’nNameClubCatTimeVets Points
1Mark HammondParamount CRTV3:1620
2Scott PalmerCC Bridgnorth RWGV3:2318
3Paul BaileyCC Bridgnorth RWGV3:4216
4Christopher RileyParamount CRTV3:4314
5John BradleyNova RaidersV3:4412
6Simon RomeiParamount CRTV3:5810
7Neil ColesOswestry Paragon CCV4:018
8Dave MooreWrekinsport CCV4:336
9Hugh JacksonNewport Shropshire CCV8:054

Juniors:

Junior Pos’nNameClubCatTimePoints
1Tomos PattinsonHalesowen A&CCJ2:59.
2Charlie GennerHalesowen A&CCJ3:03.
3James SatoorMid Shropshire WheelersJ3:1320
4Ryan GreavesTeam HuubJ3:15.
5Henri BedfordRevolutions RacingJ3:2618
6Jack InglisWrekinsport CCJ3:4416
7Tom HydeNewport Shropshire CCJ3:5114
8Noah KilleenMid Shropshire WheelersJ4:2212
9Cerys GreavesTeam HuubJ4:29.
10Tom JacksonNewport Shropshire CCJ4:4910
10Will HydeNewport Shropshire CCJ4:4910
12Leo AllenNewport Shropshire CCJ4:556
13Ben SouthgateUnattachedJ5:22.

Women:

Women’s Pos’nNameClubCatTimeWomen’s Points
1Hannah PearsonFishface CyclesW4:01.
2Bethan TillWrekinsport CCW4:3520
3Emily ForbesUnattachedW5:13.

Cumulative standings after two rounds

Overall Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Liam Holohan Holohan Coaching RT S 40
2 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 32
3 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 26
4 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 24
=5 Scott Palmer CC Bridgnorth RWG V 18
=5 Will Lewis CC Bridgnorth RWG S 18
=7 Dan Watts SCCA Private Member S 16
=7 Phil Roberts Wrekinsport CC S 16
9 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC S 14
10 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 10

Veterans Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 40
2 Scott Palmer CC Bridgnorth RWG V 36
3 Paul Bailey CC Bridgnorth RWG V 32
4 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 28
5 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 18
6 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 14
=7 John Bradley Nova Raiders V 12
=7 Neil Wilson Paramount CRT V 12
9 Oliver Rodwell Wrekinsport CC V 10
10 Dave Moore Wrekinsport CC V 8

Junior standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 40
2 Jack Inglis Wrekinsport CC J 34
3 Henri Bedford Revolutions Racing J 18
4 Tom Hyde Newport Shropshire CC J 14
5 Noah Killeen Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 12
=6 Tom Jackson Newport Shropshire CC J 10
=6 Will Hyde Newport Shropshire CC J 10
8 Leo Allen Newport Shropshire CC J 6

Women’s standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Bethan Till Wrekinsport CC W 40
2 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 18