Hafren CC Pentre’r Beirdd Hill Climb.

 

In a memorable hill climb season littered with course records the fourth in five events saw a record tumble massively again as Kirk Vickers set out to prove a point in Hafren CC’s Pentre’r Beirdd climb, Round 5 of The Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series. Starting 21st from a good field of 24 riders, Vickers flew up the tough climb in 3 minutes 26 seconds to slice an almost unbelievable 20 seconds off Dan Watts’ old benchmark of 3:46, set in the previous years’ event.

Vickers had a short, anxious wait at the top of the steep 0.8 mile climb to confirm the win due to the presence of David Scott, starting two minutes behind him and in form good enough to set records himself. However Scott finished three seconds off the pace despite beating the old record by 17 seconds, seeing Vickers claim two records in 24 hours. Vickers stated: “I had unfinished business here after last year. I’m very happy to win and get the course record, it was nail biting stuff waiting for the result as David put in a superb ride to get a close second place“. Vickers extended his score to 98 points as a result of his efforts, just two points off the maximum possible in this best 5 from 9 Series and is within touching distance of retailing his Hill Climb Championship.

It was a close battle for third with two riders split by a single second. Hafren’s own Tyler Brennan took that third place with a fine effort of 3:45 to edge out Oswestry Paragon’s James Davies – although Brennan’s ride wasn’t without its issues as he explained: “Perfect conditions for a hill climb. Not my best form, and with a dropped chain on the start of the final straight I didn’t get the time I was wanting. All in all a great event, thanks to the organisers. Well done everyone“.

Brennan nearly wasn’t the best placed rider from the promoting club thanks to an audacious challenge from Junior winner Sam Holwill, who took fifth spot Overall with a strong 3:50. Holwill not only moved into the sole lead of the Junior Series after pushing out Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ James Satoor by two seconds, he moved into the Silver medal position Overall too in a format that suits young riders well due to their weight advantage. A delighted Holwill commented: “A home victory in Round 5. I was really pleased to be the best Junior and 5th overall, thanks to Hafren CC for organising“.

Satoor meanwhile now occupies the Silver medal position in the Junior’s Championship and moved into the Bronze medal position in the Overall standings thanks to his 3:52 effort. He enjoyed his evening out, stating: “It was another great night at the Hafren hill climb. I was pleased with my ride, but I was just a couple of seconds short of the Junior win! Thanks to the organisers for putting on another great event“.

The tight battles aren’t just limited to the Junior Championship with an excellent tussle for honours taking place in the Veteran’s Championship too between Mark Hammond and Ian Coupland. Coupland won the first three events but Hammond has come back strongly, taking victory in the last two. This time his 4:07 climb beat Coupland by a narrow four seconds, with Hammond thrilled with his effort: “I was really pleased with the win on this short steep climb. I felt that I paced it well, and it was nice to make the Veteran’s competition a little more interesting by edging out Ian for a change“!

Meanwhile Coupland had given his all in an attempt to take the win, as his comments revealed: “My fastest time on this climb so I have to be pleased with that. Well done to Mark, game on in the Veteran’s category. Another course record, chapeau Kirk. Thank you to Hafren“.

The all too rare sight of 2016 Women’s Hill Climb Champion Rebecca Richardson was a welcome addition to the field – thanks to living nearby. Richardson stormed up the climb in 4:06 to take 8th spot Overall and move up into the lead of the Women’s Series too. She stated: “I loved been able to potter down the road from home to an event, it only happens once a year! Thanks to all marshals at Hafren CC“.

Result:

Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Points
1 Kirk Vickers SCCA Private Member S 3:26 20
2 David Scott 3C Payment Services S 3:29
3 Tyler Brennan Hafren CC S 3:45 18
4 James Davies Oswestry Paragon CC S 3:46 16
5 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 3:50 14
6 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 3:52 12
7 Jack Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 4:04 10
8 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC W 4:06 8
9 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 4:07 6
10 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 4:10 4
11 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 4:11 2
12 Luke Philpott Mid Shropshire Wheelers S 4:24 2
13 Cameron Coley-Smith Stourbridge CC S 4:28
14 Simon Barkley Oswestry Olympians Tri V 4:38
15 Fred Meredith Hafren CC J 4:42 2
16 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 4:47 2
17 Conrad Taylor Hafren CC S 4:50 2
18 Trevor Richards Hafren CC V 5:01 2
19 Ben McKay Unattached ? 5:20
20 Jason Arnold Hafren CC V 5:34 2
21 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 5:35 2
22 Lee Morgan Unattached ? 5:38
23 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 6:14 2
24 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 6:37 2

Veterans Result:

Vets Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Vets Points
1 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 4:07 20
2 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 4:11 18
3 Simon Barkley Oswestry Olympians Tri V 4:38
4 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 4:47 16
5 Trevor Richards Hafren CC V 5:01 14
6 Jason Arnold Hafren CC V 5:34 12
7 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 5:35 10
8 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 6:37 8

Juniors Result:

Junior Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Junior Points
1 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 3:50 20
2 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 3:52 18
3 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 4:10 16
4 Fred Meredith Hafren CC J 4:42 14
5 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 6:14 12

Women’s Result:

Women’s Pos’n Name Club Cat Time Women’s Points
1 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC W 4:06 20
2 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 6:37 18

Cumulative standings after five rounds 

Overall Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Kirk Vickers SCCA Private Member S 98
2 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 60
3 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 56
4 Sam Morris Revolutions Racing S 52
5 James Davies Oswestry Paragon CC S 40
6 Tyler Brennan Hafren CC S 36
7 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 32
8 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 30
9 Jack Morris Oswestry Paragon CC S 24
10 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 22

Veterans Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Mark Hammond Paramount CRT V 92
2 Ian Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 78
3 Neil Coles Oswestry Paragon CC V 70
4 Jason Harland Revolutions Racing V 28
=5 Andy Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 24
=5 Darrell Walsh Oswestry Paragon CC V 24
7 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 20
=8 Dave Allen Bridgnorth CC V 18
=8 Richard Kay North Shropshire Wheelers V 18
=10 Paul Lancaster Ludlow CC V 14
=10 Simon Evans Mid Shropshire Wheelers V 14
=10 Trevor Richards Hafren CC V 14

Junior Top 10:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Sam Holwill Hafren CC J 78
2 James Satoor Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 76
3 Lewis Page Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 62
4 Charlie Price Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 42
5 Lucy Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 30
6 Jack Young Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 18
7 Ronnie Tse Mid Shropshire Wheelers J 16
=8 Fred Meredith Hafren CC J 14
=8 Robbie Disney Ludlow CC J 14
=10 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 12
=10 Henry Fleming Wrekinsport CC J 12

Women’s standings:

Position Name Club Cat Best 5
1 Rebecca Richardson Hafren CC W 40
=2 Liz Breeze Oswestry Paragon CC WV 38
=2 Lucy Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 38
4 Hannah Lancaster Ludlow CC WJ 20
5 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers WJ 16

 

  • Round 6 of the Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series takes place at 10am on 7th October – and it’s the brand new 1.15 mile climb of Ironbridge bypass promoted by Nova Raiders, so a guaranteed course record is in store.