R8 BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series: Ludlow CC Wigmore Road Climb

Two championships were resolved following Round 8 of the BBR Opticians Hill Climb Series as Ed Copeland took Gold on his local climb and Bryn Nelson sealed the Junior title. Copeland led from the front on Ludlow CC’s Wigmore Road Hill Climb, the longest on the County calendar at 1.95 miles and 5.4% average gradient, playing right to his strengths. The Ludlow Brewery RT rider knocked over 20 seconds off his 2025 effort despite a tough headwind, showing just how much he has improved after crossing the line in 7 minutes 19.6 seconds; over a minute and a quarter ahead of the nearest competition in an excellent season.

Copeland started with how the climb had gone, stating: “My home climb; one I know like the back of my hand. With a horrible headwind it was a tough climb for everyone. This climb is all about pacing with a steep-ish start, and then a steady gradient to the finish. At just under two miles long it’s my preferred playground. I felt like I paced this well, and was very pleased with my time. I am very pleased to win my home climb and if I could only win one hill climb this would be it. With this being my first full BBR Hill Climb Series season I never imagined that I would be the Series winner. Being my first time at most of the events, everyone has been very friendly and helpful. I’d just like to thank everyone who is involved in making these events happen – its great work, and very appreciated by everyone”.

Copeland isn’t the only rider to have improved significantly since 2025, as Jack Young took the runner-up spot on the evening in 8:35.4. The long-time Series leader was slightly slower by four seconds over his 2025 ride, showing the difficulty battling into the headwind, and still holds the Silver medal position by a 32 point margin. Young acknowledged that Copeland had the better of the climb, but was still satisfied with his effort, commenting: “That was a good one, I was a bit slower than last year, but I was pretty high powered. I was happy with being second because Ed was really fast up that one. It’s a nice climb”.

If there has been one welcome feature of Junior competition over recent years it has been the sight of the youngest competitors being introduced to the hill climb discipline and flourishing. For the second year in a row a 12 year old has won the BBR Junior Series through dogged perseverance, with Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Bryn Nelson taking the Junior win on the evening in 9:18.8 ahead of team mate Taliesin Goh in 9:46.9. Nelson has won five of the six races he has entered in his maiden season, with just one second place exactly matching Copeland’s record in the Overall with 118 from a maximum 120. The Gold is well deserved, and living locally one Nelson knows well, as he revealed: “I love this climb because it’s local to me and quite gradual: you can get into a good rhythm. I hadn’t realised I’d won the Series as there are still a few events to go, so this was a real surprise – I’m thrilled. I’m really thankful to all the organisers of each event; there’s a great atmosphere. It’s been good to get to know lots of other cyclists at the events too”.

Already crowned BBR Veterans Champion in Round 7, Stuart Proctor was at it again with another Veterans win in 8:54.3; with another Ludlow Brewery RT rider, Chris Edwards pushed into the Veterans runner-up spot with 9:07.0. This performance was enough to place Proctor third overall in a discipline balanced much more towards younger riders, showing the quality of his climb. He was happy with his effort, stating: “The longest event of the Series, and of course, we were treated to extra fun and games by quite a stiff headwind, which was being nicely barrelled down through the trees towards us! I think I managed to get my pace just about right, and could see my minute man being pulled in, but didn’t feel that I had the power to breach the gap on the night. A great event; and the usual banter on the start line always makes the Ludlow CC hill climb and time trial races a really fun and chill experience. I was chuffed to get third overall and first Veteran”.

Full:

Veterans on Actual:

Juniors:

Cumulative standings after eight rounds

Overall:

Veterans on Actual:

Females:

Juniors: