R8 BBR Hill Climb Series: Newport Shropshire CC Station Road, Ironbridge Hill Climb

The first four medals of the BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series were sealed in the penultimate Round 8 – Newport Shropshire CC’s Station Road, Ironbridge climb – and for once the reigning Champion didn’t get his own way on the day but still recaptured the title. Dave Scott was named Shropshire Hill Climb Champion for the third year running, but just missed out on victory on the morning by a single second to a newly signed Dave Scott Coaching team mate James Pearce. Pearce charged up the three-quarter mile climb towards Broseley in 3 minutes 26 seconds, coping well with the sting of the tough, 120º bend ramping viciously just after the start. Pearce took the win from Scott by a single second for his new club, and was delighted with a victory, stating: “Happy to win on a short course against Dave; great organisation and nice to get a 1-2”.

Scott hasn’t travelled to this course in eight years and was seven seconds down on his winning effort of that day; but found out that if you don’t treat the initial bend with respect you can pay for it later: “My first time racing the Newport climb since 2017, so not one I know as well. I went out far too hard up the first steep pitch and regretted it for the second half of the climb. Definitely one to do again next year and improve on! Well done to James and all the other riders. Very happy to retain the title for a third year, especially as I was made to really battle for it this year with several of the wins by less than two seconds! Looking forward to finishing the County series strongly with The Burway event which I am helping organise”.

Two of the key riders pushing Scott to the limit were Tomos Hales, who finished third on the morning in 3:44; and Kirk Vickers, who was fourth a further three seconds back. Hales and Vickers are now split by just two points going into the decider on the 20% slopes of The Burway, with the Wrekinsport rider echoing Scott’s feeling about the acute corner: “This is a hard hill climb to tackle with the tight corner into a steep first section. I managed to pace it rather well, but should have gone harder earlier. Thanks for Newport for hosting and congratulations James for the win. Well done to Dave for the overall win already”.

The BBR Female Series was also sealed with Claire Blackwell-Smyth taking Gold after putting herself in an unbeatable position. Blackwell-Smyth finished female runner-up on the morning in 5:58, behind Newport Junior Fay Jackson in 5:39, one better than her 2024 Silver medal. The Paramount rider has plugged away doggedly with two wins and three runner-up spots in the competition, posting some personal bests along the way, but lamenting more females didn’t give her a better run for her money: “I’m really pleased to have won the Gold medal in the BBR Hill Climb Series this year. Although there wasn’t much competition from other ladies I gave each event my best effort and came out with a few personal bests. Overall the Series was great fun, and very well organised. Thank you to all the organisers for their time and effort”. Jackson also took the County Junior win behind visiting rider Lucus McCann who stopped the watch on 5:14. She stated: “A great event that I thoroughly enjoyed despite the unfortunate traffic at the first bend meaning I had to stop. Great to do something different from my usual track sprinting. Thank you to the organisers“

Gold and Silver were also settled in the BBR Veterans Series – but like Scott the medallists did not have it all their own way thanks to an interloper. Making his first appearance in a hill climb since 2016, and on the same course, Paramount’s Stuart Proctor had finished 7^th Veteran on that day but showed he still has form with a win in 4:40. He commented: “My last hill climb nine years ago was Station Road, so it seemed very apt to return back to it again from a few years away fell running (with the same community vibe and ridiculous climbs). I’d definitely forgotten how brutal it was, but the cool and still conditions and wonderful support made it a blast! I was amazed to take 1st Veterans spot though; hopefully it will be good preparation for The Burway at the end of the month. Lovely to see so many familiar faces too, like coming home – thanks to Newport for the great organisation and marshals”.

Veteran’s Runner-Up Peter Fletcher finally beat club mate Neil Coles to make it 2-1 in straight head-to-heads after crossing the line in 5:08. However this wasn’t enough to stop Coles, who finished three seconds behind in 4^th, from sealing the Gold medal, consigning Fletcher to Silver. Fletcher was generous in his post-climb comments, stating: “Well, the end of 2025 is near, and I’ve got to say subsequent to my first real year of hill climbing, I’m pleased to come in second. Congratulations to Neil, who obviously pipped me to the post – well done Neil. Thank you to all the organisers, timekeepers, marshals, for once the understanding car drivers and especially to BBR Opticians. Our autumnal fun simply wouldn’t be possible without you all – onwards and more aptly upwards towards 2026”.

2024 Bronze medallist Coles was feeling jaded from having raced the previous afternoon’s Round 7, but had also tired himself out with a long detour home to check out the fearsome Burway, the finale of the Series. This double hit clearly affected his performance, but not enough to stop him taking the Championship: “My legs heavy from the Propel CC hill climb and a Burway reconnoitre. I was only a disappointing 4th in the Veterans on Station Road, well done guys. From Bronze to Gold, every climb has made the victory sweeter – cheers Newport CC”.

Full:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors:

Cumulative standings after eight rounds

Overall:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors: