There was a shock is store at Round 5 of the BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series as Ben Pierce took a fine win away from the 2019 Cahmpion – and on one of his home climbs. Last appearing as a Junior in the 2021 BBR Series, Bridgnorth CC’s Ben Pierce took the win on Oswestry Paragon CC’s fearsome Mount Road climb by 8.41 seconds – and was surprised with his form on this tough as old boots course. One of the longer climbs in the Series at 1.65 mile, it’s the half mile sting in the tail that makes riders grit their teeth with a final 17% ramp looming up as straight as an arrow, without even a bend to break the concentration. Pierce stopped the watch on 5 minutes 47.15 seconds, just 12 seconds outside 2017 Nation Hill Climb Champion Dan Evans’ course record. He stated: “Really surprised to get the fastest time! Also thanks to Oswestry Paragon for putting it on”.

Scott moved up to second in the Overall BBR standings on the strength of a fine climb and did all he could with a personal best 5:55.56, but it just wasn’t enough on a fabulous day as riders coped with sizzling temperatures. He was generous in his post-race comments having been the pre-race favourite: “Cracking conditions, I rode is as well as I could have and managed a small personal best, but just not enough to beat the fantastic ride from a mega-strong Ben Pierce on a fast course”. Scott pushed out a challenge from Solihull CC’s James Pearce by just over 16 seconds ahead of a good 22-strong field.

In the BBR Veteran’s Championship Paramount’s Chris Riley extended his lead at the top of the standings to 22 points after taking the win in 7:27.92 – good enough for sixth spot Overall. Riley just pushed out a challenge from James Kenningham if Fibrax-Wrexham by a narrow 1.27 seconds with a huge personal best, showing how much he has improved his climbing abilities this season. He reflected on the fantastic level of competition amongst the over-40’s this year: “There’s such a strong field of Veteran riders this year with few chances to beat the best. I was lucky enough on Mount Road to knock 25 seconds off my personal best and all the strong men didn’t turn out – thanks Oswestry Paragon”.

In the BBR Women’s Series there’s a new leader as Paramount’s Hayley Wells got her first experience of the fearsome Mount Road as she took victory by over a minute from Oswetry’s Vikki Jones in a great time of 8:10.48. Wells displaced team mate Becky Griffiths at the head of the table with this ride and was pleasec to take the win, commenting: “First time on the Oswestry hill climb. We were blessed with glorious sunshine for the event which always makes cycling enjoyable! I was pleased to have taken maximum points – thanks as always to organisers”.

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Ben Pierce Bridgnorth CC S 05:47.15 20
2 David Scott Mule CC S 05:55.56 18
3 James Pearce Solihull CC S 06:11.85 .
4 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 06:28.94 16
5 Troy Rimell Mule CC S 06:40.13 14
6 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 07:27.92 12
7 James Kenningham Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 07:29.19 .
8 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC S 07:53.20 10
9 Daniel Lipson Mule CC V 07:53.94 8
10 Jan Kardasz Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 08:04.82 .
11 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 08:07.82 6
12 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 08:10.48 4
13 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 08:36.53 2
14 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V 08:43.13 2
15 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV 09:12.44 2
16 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 09:55.66 2
17 Sally Cunliffe Velotik RT WV 10:00.94 .
18 Claire Blackwell-Smyth Paramount CRT WV 10:15.82 2
19 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V 10:27.64 2
20 Stephen Davies Oswestry Paragon CC V 10:33.02 2
21 David Allen Jones Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 12:30.39 .
22 Alun Owen Oswestry Paragon CC V 18:15.79 2

Veterans on Actual:

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Vets Points
1 Christopher Riley Paramount CRT V 07:27.92 20
2 James Kenningham Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 07:29.19 .
3 Daniel Lipson Mule CC V 07:53.94 18
4 Jan Kardasz Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 08:04.82 .
5 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 08:07.82 16
6 Adam Riley Oswestry Paragon CC V 08:36.53 14
7 Clive Bourne Oswestry Paragon CC V 08:43.13 12
8 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV 09:12.44 10
9 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 09:55.66 8
10 Sally Cunliffe Velotik RT WV 10:00.94 .
11 Claire Blackwell-Smyth Paramount CRT WV 10:15.82 6
12 Colin Wells Paramount CRT V 10:27.64 4
13 Stephen Davies Oswestry Paragon CC V 10:33.02 2
14 David Allen Jones Fibrax-Wrexham RC V 12:30.39 .
15 Alun Owen Oswestry Paragon CC V 18:15.79 2

Women’s:

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 08:10.48 20
2 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV 09:12.44 18
3 Sally Cunliffe Velotik RT WV 10:00.94 .
4 Claire Blackwell-Smyth Paramount CRT WV 10:15.82 16

Cumulative standings after five rounds

Overall Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 6
1 Tomos Hales Wrekinsport CC S 86
2 Dave Scott Mule CC S 58
3 Steven Prince Ludlow Brewery RT V 52
4 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 48
5 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V 44
6 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 28
7 Troy Rimell Mule CC S 26
=8 Jack Young Oswestry Paragon CC S 22
=8 John Woodward Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 22
=10 Ben Pierce Bridgnorth CC S 20
=10 Kirk Vickers Holohan Coaching RT S 20

Veterans Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 6
1 Chris Riley Paramount CRT V 82
2 Steven Prince Ludlow Brewery RT V 60
3 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 54
3 Scott Palmer Aerologic RT V 54
5 John Woodward Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 36
6 Andy Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 28
7 Claire Blackwell-Smyth Paramount CRT WV 22
7 Neil Wilson Paramount CRT V 22
9 Ian Townsend Paramount CRT V 20
10 Daniel Lipson Mule CC V 18
10 Simon Romei Paramount CRT V 18

Women’s standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 6
1 Hayley Wells Paramount CRT W 90
2 Becky Griffiths Paramount CRT W 78
3 Claire Blackwell-Smyth Paramount CRT WV 64
4 Sara Willhoit Paramount CRT W 20
5 Vikki Jones Oswestry Paragon CC WV 18
6 Victoria Doran Wrekinsport CC WV 14

Junior standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 6
1 Ben Southgate Wrekinsport CC J 80
=2 Chester Romei Paramount CRT J 18
=2 Noah White Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
=2 Will Hyde Newport Shropshire CC J 18
4 Jude White Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 16