Ludlow CC Wigmore Road Hill Climb.

Being faced with strong opposition in the opening three rounds of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series just made Kirk Vickers bounce back even harder as he not only took victory in Round 4 – he broke the course record too. Vickers excelled on the longest climb of the Series, Ludlow CC’s 1.95 mile climb of Wigmore Road, shaving 10 seconds off his own 2016 record to stop the watch on 7 minutes 5 seconds. This is clearly a hill to Vickers’ taste, as evidenced by his comments: “I always love the Ludlow CC hill climb – a fast, long climb where aero can have an effect. Pacing was also key, pleased to win and lower the course record against tough competition.”

That tough competition came from Jonny Morris, no stranger to course records himself having already decimated two in the first two rounds of the Series. This time however the relatively shallow and long nature of this climb saw him finally succumb to Vickers’ determination as he finished six seconds off the pace in 7:11. He was in no doubt that Vickers had upped his game, just beating off a challenge from Vicker’s team mate Ollie Hayward by a single second, stating: “A very hard hill to pace and I finished much too fresh, so I definitely have unfinished business with it next year! Kirk put in a stormer to win on the night and lower the course record, we’ve definitely been pushing each other over the last week“!

Vickers wasn’t the only rider upping his game, with some strong performances throughout the field, not least from Hafren CC’s Sam Holwill who took the Junior win with a personal best 7:35 for victory over Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ James Satoor by 21 seconds. So strong was Holwill’s ride that he finished 4th Overall amongst a field of 23 riders, with that personal best sliced by a huge margin of 1:04. This effort moved him up to joint 1st place in the Junior Series with Satoor in what should be a fascinating battle as the Series unfolds. Holwill commented: “I smashed my Ludlow hill climb PB by over a minute. It was great to be best Junior and less than 30 seconds behind Kirk“.

The Wigmore Road climb isn’t just a favourite of Vickers, it is also much loved by Veteran’s winner Steven Prince. Prince shaved 23 seconds off his 2017 time to record a fine performance of 8:16. He stated: “I really like this climb and it’s my local one so was pleased with my time, a personal best and the win. Thanks to Ludlow CC and all the helpers. A massive chapeau to Kirk for smashing the course record, been some great times this season“.

Meanwhile taking County Veteran’s honours was Mark Hammond, who elevated himself to the top of the Veteran’s standings with a fine attempt of 8:28. Hammond was getting his first taste of the climb and enjoyed his trip to the south of the County, commenting: “One of the best climbs in the league but a hard one to judge an effort on given the longer distance. I was pleased to get the Veteran’s win. Thanks to the marshals“.

There was only one Women’s competitor but that didn’t stop Hannah Lancaster setting another personal best of 8:49, 43 seconds better than her 2017 ride despite some tiredness. She stated: “I had tired legs after having had a long season of racing, but was pleased to have beaten last year’s time“.

Result:

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Kirk Vickers SCCA Private Member S 07:05 20
2 Jonny Morris Fish Face Cycles S 07:11
3 Ollie Hayward Rhino Velo RT S 07:12 18
4 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 07:35 18
5 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 07:56 16
6 Ronnie Tse Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 08:15 14
7 Steven Prince Fish Face Cycles V 08:16
8 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC J 08:18 12
9 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 08:28 10
10 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 08:35 8
11 Hannah Lancaster Ludlow CC WJ 08:49 6
12 Dave Allen Bridgnorth CC V 08:53 4
13 Sean O’Toole VC Sevale V 08:54
14 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V 08:56
=15 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 09:02 2
=15 Dan Cutting Epic Cycles V 09:02
17 Will Hints Ludlow Brewery RT J 09:15 2
18 Paul Lancaster Ludlow CC V 09:32 2
19 Lee Monks Ludlow CC S 09:34 2
20 Clancy Wilson Ludlow CC V 09:45 2
21 Simon Brown Ludlow Brewery RT V 09:54 2
22 Will Baugh Ludlow CC V 10:00 2
23 Richard Dyke Ludlow CC V 10:15 2

Veterans Result:

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Vets Points
1 Steven Prince Fish Face Cycles V 08:16
2 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 08:28 20
3 Dave Allen Bridgnorth CC V 08:53 18
4 Sean O’Toole VC Sevale V 08:54
5 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V 08:56
=6 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 09:02 16
=6 Dan Cutting Epic Cycles V 09:02
8 Paul Lancaster Ludlow CC V 09:32 14
9 Clancy Wilson Ludlow CC V 09:45 12
10 Simon Brown Ludlow Brewery RT V 09:54 10
11 Will Baugh Ludlow CC V 10:00 8
12 Richard Dyke Ludlow CC V 10:15 6

Juniors Result:

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 07:35 20
2 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 07:56 18
3 Ronnie Tse Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 08:15 16
4 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC J 08:18 14
5 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 08:35 12
6 Hannah Lancaster Ludlow CC WJ 08:49 10
7 Will Hints Ludlow Brewery RT J 09:15 8

Women’s Result:

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Hannah Lancaster Ludlow CC WJ 08:49 20

Cumulative standings after four rounds

Overall Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Kirk Vickers SCCA Private Member S 78
2 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing S 52
3 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 46
4 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 44
5 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 28
6 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 26
7 James Davies Oswestry Paragon CC S 24
=8 Dan Watts SCCA Private Member S 18
=8 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=8 Tyler Brennan Hafren CC S 18

Veterans Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 72
2 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 60
3 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 54
4 Jason Harland Revolutions Racing V 28
5 Andy Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 24
=6 Dave Allen Bridgnorth CC V 18
=6 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 18
=8 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 14
=8 Paul Lancaster Ludlow CC V 14
=8 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 14

Junior Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
=1 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 58
=1 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 58
3 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 46
=4 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 30
=4 Lucy Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 30
6 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
7 Ronnie Tse Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 16
8 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC J 14
=9 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 12
=9 Henry Fleming Wrekinsport CC J 12

Women’s standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Lucy Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 38
=2 Hannah Lancaster Ludlow CC WJ 20
=2 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 20
=2 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC W 20
5 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 16