[VC Walcot] 2009 Club Hill Climb Championship

[Chalk, Laurie]

Hi All,
 
Another year, another successful event in the bag. Those competing will
have awoken to a very chilly, clear but dry morning the kind of weather
you'd expect and hope for when competing in a hill climb in mid October.
We enjoyed our customary pre-event warm-up at Kindling coffee, I don't
think the girls there had banked on doing 10+ double espressos before
9-30am, followed by signing-on and event briefing. Only an hour earlier
the day's racing had been thrown wide open after the withdrawal of
reigning champ Pete Giddings. With good recent form on the local
cyclo-cross circuit Pete was hot favourite to take the title again but
had to concede that he had not recovered from his recent cold and sore
throat. He could only hope that he would be able to hang on to the hill
records he set last year.
 
Firsts rider off was Martin Ellacot at 9-50am, in almost his first VC
Walcot outing since joining the club recently. Three other recent club
arrivals also took to the start and even though it was their first club
hill climb they were to push the more seasoned members all the way.
Despite increased traffic compared to last year the Forefield Rise climb
benefited from us running our first Open hill climb two weeks ago as we
had the luxury of some warning signs at either end of the climb and the
use of a spotter on the bottom corner ensured the safe path of riders up
the 20% climb. If you've not ridden this climb before it is unrelenting
and only gets steeper the further up you go, making the times set
yesterday all the more impressive. After his 2nd place overall last year
and 4th in the Open event two weeks ago Tavis rode strongly completing
the climb in 33.1secs to take a slender 2secs lead over Jim into the
main climb up Shaft Road. With only 3secs separating the top 5 it meant
that whoever dominated the 2nd climb with take the overall title. Pete's
course record of 26.8 remained intact for another year. 
 
And so it was onwards and initially upwards to Shaft Road via the gentle
Ralph Allen Drive, the perfect warm-up for Shaft Road. Riders set off in
the same start positions as before meaning that the result wouldn't be
clear until the final rider had crossed the line. In warmer and sunnier
conditions than when we started it was going to take a time close to the
course record to ensure the title. Tavis once again put in a Champion's
performance to dominate the field clocking 2mins 40secs and a clear
22secs ahead of 2nd placed overall rider Jim. Thomas Marshall should get
a mention at this point. Riding as a club guest on the day he would've
have been 2nd overall after managing 2mins 51secs on Shaft Road. Perhaps
wearing the green of VC Walcot in the future might make him go even
faster? Roy Slide emerged from the chasing pack to post 3mins 5secs and
take 3rd overall by 8secs from Stuart. Riders placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th
were all riding in their first club event just showing the strength of
the those that have joined the club this year. Tavis also came within
2secs of Pete's course record 2mins 38secs. Something to build on for
next year........
 
There then followed the usual sprint for position at the coffee shop
which I think James Lamb won with myself and James Ford in hot pursuit.
Pete had recovered enough to enjoy the coffee delights of our usual
haunt, the Chelsea Road Cafe, and also to hand over the Chainring
trophy. Tavis has also earned the right to wear the limited edition
white jersey in all future club events or when the mood takes him. If
you want one then you'd better get training as Barry and Tavis won't be
giving up their respective club titles easily next year!
 
Thanks to Low, Jon and Caroline for helping with starting, signage and
spotting duties and thanks to everybody who turned up and made it
another great year of hill climbing action for VC Walcot. Full results
are posted below:
 
Start Pos	 Name	 Timing 1	 Rank	 Start Pos	 Timing
2	 Rank	 Total Acc. Time	 Club Overall Rank	 Time
Diff.(+)	
12	 Tavis	 Walker	 00:33.1	 1	 12	 02:40.0
1	 03:13.1	     1	 00:00.0	
7	 Jim 	 Cartridge	 00:35.2	 3	 7	 03:02.0
2	 03:37.2	     2	 00:24.1	
5	 Roy	 Slide	 00:35.0	 2	 5	 03:05.0
3	 03:40.0	     3	 00:26.9	
3	 Stuart	 Matthewman	 00:39.4	 6	 3	 03:12.0
5	 03:51.4	     4   	 00:38.3	
10	 James	 Ford	 00:40.5	 7	 10	 03:11.0
4	 03:51.5	     5	 00:38.4	
11	 Rick	 Hewes	 00:36.3	 4	 11	 03:22.0
6	 03:58.3	     6	 00:45.2	
8	 James	 Lamb	 00:36.8	 5	 8	 03:34.0
7	 04:10.8	     7	 00:57.7	
6	 Mark	 Smith	 00:40.7	 8	 6	 03:48.0
8	 04:28.7	     8	 01:15.6	
1	 Martin 	 Ellacot	 00:45.5	 9	 1
04:58.0	 9	 05:43.5	     9	 02:30.4	
2	 Tom	 Marshall	 00:34.4	 Guest	 2	 02:51.0
Guest	 03:25.4	     Guest	 00:12.3	
4	 David 	 Bland	 00:45.8	 Guest	 4	 04:03.0
Guest	 04:48.8	     Guest	 01:35.7	
9	 Graham	 Clarke	 00:39.2	 Withdrew After 1st Climb	
 
n.b Times for 1st climb rounded up/down to nearest tenth of a second.
2nd climb rounded up/down to nearest second.
 
See you all soon, hopefully on a club run.
 
Cheers,
 
Laurie Chalk
Business Improvement Project Manager
 
SunChemical Ltd
Midsomer Norton Site
Norton Hill 
Bath BA3 4RT
 
Mobile: +44 7748 335810
Office: +44 1761 408588
Fax: +44 1761 408628
Email: laurie.chalk at sunchemical.com
<mailto:laurie.chalk at sunchemical.com> 
Web: www.sunchemical.com <http://www.sunchemical.com/> 
 
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