R2 Little Sweetpea Gardens/BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series: Nova Raiders Station Road climb

A course change due to road works gave many riders a first sight of the Station Road, Ironbridge hill climb course in Round 2 of The Little Sweetpea Gardens/BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series. The second event in 24 hours following Wrekinsport’s opener, the Nova Raiders’ promotion features a vicious acute turn just as riders enter the steepest part of the ¾ mile climb towards Broseley in the shadow of The Ironbridge. Taking his second win in 24 hours AeroCoach rider Jonny Morris stopped the watch on 3 minutes 11 seconds, 6 seconds outside the longstanding course record of former National Champion Stuart Dangerfield when still a member of Wolverhampton Wheelers. Morris was impressed with the climb, stating: “This was a proper hill climb – you can’t afford to hold back on the first steep section, so the pain starts early! It was great to have the warm weather too unlike last year, thanks to Nova Raiders for a great event”.

Taking the runner-up spot but his second set of maximum Series points Kirk Vickers was clearly feeling the after effects of the Wrekinsport climb but set out his challenge for the Championship he has sealed on three previous occasions with a strong 3:17 effort. Vickers’ comments show however that he was happy with his climb: “It’s been a while since I’ve done the climb, and I didn’t have the best legs so was quite happy to scrape second. I look forward to Round 3 at The Stiperstones”.

Hill climbing is a discipline particularly suited to young riders who have a distinct weight advantage, and travelling across for Llangollen to Shropshire for the second evening in a row 16 year-old Louis Lermite went one better than the previous evening to take third spot in a strong 3:22. Lermite revealed that the course suited his style and that he had clearly found his rhythm: “I really enjoyed it again, this course was much more suited to me because of the steeper gradient and I definitely paced this one a lot better than the previous night, thanks again to the organisers”.

The rider Lermite swapped places with was Wrekinsport’s Tomos Hales, who had far from a good start on the 200 metres of flat before the climbing begins in earnest. Covid-19 regulations mean that riders have to start without being held up – something particularly important in such a relatively short race as a hill climb, and Hales lost time as a result. Nevertheless he took 18 points for second County rider and strengthened his hold on the Silver medal position as a result of his 3:29 climb. He explained: “I didn’t have the greatest start as I didn’t clip in till the start of the steep bit. I had some work colleges at the top that spurred me on to the finish. I was happy to come 4th Overall and 2nd amongst the SCCA riders – thanks for Nova for putting the event on”.

Hales beat Oswestry Paragon’s Jack Young by a single second, but that gave the 17 year-old another 20 point maximum in the Junior Series. Young’s comments show how the characters of the hills used in the Series varies tremendously, offering different challenges: “The course is a completely different type of effort to Wrekinsport, but I enjoyed that one. I liked the steep bit at the start; then it was just trying to push a bit at the end”.

Women’s winner Rebecca Richardson was also travelling across from Wales to get plenty of practice in for a tilt at the Nationals later in the year, and she posted a great time of 3:46 to take 9^th place Overall from a 25-strong field. She was impressed by the climb, stating: “Another great climb, easier to pace than Wrekinsport, a steep first section then hold on to the line! I was happy with the win and thank you to everyone who organised, volunteered and helped. It’s a great Series”.

Whilst Richardson thought the hill was easier to judge Veteran’s winner John Hines didn’t – although that didn’t stop him taking his second win in 24 hours with a fine ride of four minutes exactly. The Newport Shropshire CC rider stretched his lead to four points over Paramount CRT’s Chris Riley who was 11 seconds back. Hines commented: “Really tough – a super difficult hill to pace with steep and flatter sections, but a great event, and again superb support on the hill”.

Result:

Veterans on Actual:

Women’s:

Juniors:

Cumulative standings after two rounds

Overall Top 10:

Veterans standings:

Junior standings:

Women’s standings: