R7 BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series: Oswestry Paragon CC Mount Road Hill Climb

The first medal in the BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series was claimed as Ludlow Brewery rider Ed Copeland made the long trip to the north of the county to take on the Oswestry Paragon CC Mount Road climb and narrow the gap at the top to just two points. Copeland prefers longer climbs, and this brute rearing up to a relentless 17% in the last half mile is right in his favoured type of over a mile. Copeland stopped the watch on 6 minutes 19.84 seconds up the 1.65 mile climb towards the Old Racecourse and now has four wins and a runner-up spot to thank for his 98 point tally in this best 6 from 11 climbs competition.

Whilst the course was more to his liking, Copeland revealed that he had technical issues blasting into the headwind that hampered progress on an already hard course. He commented: “My first time on a climb once again. It’s definitely a climb of two sections, with a brutal finish which requires good pacing. At 1.6 miles it’s more my territory. I had a slight issue with my Garmin at the start which made it hard to pace, but it started working; and in the flatter mid section I couldn’t change into the big ring. I didn’t feel comfortable at all, and felt like I was fighting the bike the whole time. It wasn’t the best conditions, so I was very surprised to get the win and the time that I did”.

Copeland’s nearest challenge came from a first-time local entrant Jed Friskney of Dave Scott Coaching, the only other rider to beat the seven minute mark with 6:57.96. like Copeland, Friskney revealed that longer climbs are more his style, and he seemed to enjoy the lively atmosphere, which is often a feature of hill climbs, encouraging riders to greater heights both literally and metaphorically: “A home race is always a good feeling, and the longer climbs always suit me more, so I’m very pleased to come away with second against some tough competition. I was very grateful for some excellent support on the final steep section”!

BBR Series leader Jack Young, also riding for Dave Scott Coaching, took third spot in 7:10.65, but saw the lead he has held since Round 2 whittled down to just two points. Young has been a revelation this hill climb season, and had the advantage of this climb being a regular training route: “This one was savage; there was headwind all the way. The middle bit was slow; and I could see the last bit which goes on forever. I was happy with that, I ride this one most rides I do, I’m as used to it as you can get”!    

But the first BBR Series medal came from another Dave Scott Coaching member, Stuart Proctor, who took Veteran’s Gold after finishing in 7:21.02 beating Dave Saunders into the Veterans runner-up spot on the afternoon in 7:26.26. Proctor is just two points off the maximum 120, and also finished a strong 4^th overall. He started with comments on the race itself: “A very different day from my last rainy crack at Mount Road, and a lovely afternoon greeted us for the event. The start was an experience with Rob Jones’ professional starting clock/beeper telling us when to hoof it! I felt good going off, but definitely struggled after the spiteful flattish rest bit in the middle, and onto the final ramp. I was more than happy to get to the finish, and amazed to get a personal best for the course! Thanks to all at Oswestry Paragon; a cracking event as always”. Proctor then turned to winning that Gold, and revealed this was firmly in his sights: “I was mega-chuffed to take Veteran’s Gold too. This has been my number one target for the year all along, having really enjoyed the last couple of events in 2025; although I do seem to have got a bit sidetracked by the Friction Hydraulics time trials as well! But after nearly ten years out of participating it’s been wonderful to be back in the game, catching up with old faces and meeting new ones. Chapeau to the SCCA and the member clubs and folk for holding it all together”!

There’s a new leader in the BBR Female Series as 13 year-old Flo Parkinson stopped the watch on 12:00.38 to take over the lead by the narrowest margin possible – two points. The Mid Shropshire Wheelers was very impressed by the professionalism of the 3D printed clock mentioned by Proctor, but found the pacing of the course tricky once underway: “At 1.65 miles this presented a bit of conundrum from the shorter ones in the earlier rounds, so I tried to adjust my pace and build into it so I wouldn’t blow up mid ride. In hindsight I wish I had attacked it harder from the beginning and just suffered later on as I couldn’t increase the tempo, and was a minute down on last year despite very similar conditions. I have grown in height by about 10cm since then! But the amazing electronic start clock and the supportive marshals made for a very enjoyable afternoon out my bike”!

Parkinson wasn’t the only Junior impressing as her 12 year old team mate Bryn Nelson took over the lead in the Under-18 category – ironically from Parkinson. Nelson found the change of gradient tricky to judge, but did enough to take the win in 8:07.01 ahead of Taliesin Goh in 8:29.06. Nelson commented: “I found this a really difficult event because of the downhill and flat section: I’m not so fast on these, so it was a real surprise to have won”.

Full:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors:

Cumulative standings after seven rounds

Overall:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors: