R6 BBR Hill Climb Series: Oswestry Paragon CC Mount Road Climb

Tomos Hales took a fine win in Round 6 of the BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series – and a first time rider made an immediate impression with both Female and Junior wins as Evelyn Charles took comfortable wins in both categories on a tough course. Oswestry Paragon’s Mount Road climb is undoubtedly one of the hardest in the Series, at 1.65 miles long and rearing to a constant 17% for the final half mile with no respite. Hales doubled his Series lead to 20 points with an excellent effort of 6 minutes 22 seconds to see off a challenge from the rapidly improving Jack Young, back in 6:45, with this runner-up spot easily his best performance of the Series.

Hales much prefers the shorter distances, but rose to the challenge – literally – on the climb towards The Old Racecourse. With an initial effort required in the first third, and a flat, even briefly downhill middle section it’s about how much you can save for that final brick wall, as Hales explained: “One of the tougher hill climbs of the Series; however this year we did get a slight tail wind up there. I just wanted to hold a good pace on the second kick up to the never-ending finish – thanks to Oswestry for hosting; and well done to Jack Young for a storming time up there”.

Young has ridden every climb of the Series so far, and was the only other rider under seven minutes on roads local to him as he pushed Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Andrew Wakefield into third in 7:24. Young stated: “I was shocked that I was second, I wasn’t expecting it at all it so it came as a nice surprise; a big thanks to the marshals and time keepers for making it happen”.

Wakefield knocked over 27 seconds off his 2024 as he gets used to the unique challenge this climb presents, but his post-race comments graphically show how getting the pacing right is a tricky decision – get it wrong and you can be in all manner of trouble: “A hard one to pace with the steepest section coming at the end, but happy to improve on my time from last year, albeit definitely aided by the tailwind”.  

But ride of the event came from 12 year-old Evelyn Charles, riding her first ever hill climb having just reached the minimum age allowed to compete on open roads a few days before. Charles took to it like a duck to water, storming up the climb in 9:27 to take 8^th spot overall and win both Female and Junior categories; the first by exactly 30 seconds from Sorrell Williams; the second by an amazing 1:39 from Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ team mate Florence Parkinson showing potential for a great future at this discipline. She commented: “The Oswestry Hill Climb was my first hill climb, having just turned 12 at the beginning of September. It was great testing my climbing against others. I enjoy trying new cycling based challenges and look forward to my next hill climb”.

In the Veterans category Neil Coles took his third win from three events to move up to second in the standings thanks to his 8:01 climb, taking 5^th spot overall and having narrowed the gap to Oswestry Paragon team mate Peter Fletcher, also 30 seconds back. Coles is surprising himself with his form on a road he clearly dislikes: “Although it’s my club’s climb I always avoid it on rides. A bad clip in panicked me, and I rode to hard all the way to the wall of road last climb, then to suffer badly to the finish. Pleased I had a good enough time for maximum Veterans points”.

Full:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors:

Cumulative standings after six rounds

Overall:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors: