Report/Results: Scottish Hill Climb Champs

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Arthur Doyle & Kerry McPhee crowned Scottish hill climb champions on the ‘Kirk’ on Saturday in the Stirling BC promotion

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Scottish Hill Climb Championships

Eddie Addis reports (thanks!)
As the storm clouds grew over the Wallace Monument the anticipation grew ahead of Up the Kirk 2013 which had the honour of hosting the Scottish Hill Climb Championships. The volunteers of the host club (Stirling Bike Club) got the course set up as a few nervous riders did some last minute reccies and stressed about gear ratios and tyre pressures.

As the seniors started to warm up and the tension grew, the heavens opened and what can only be described as a torrent of rain lashed the already greasy course, making conditions anything but easy.

All those calculations over gear ratios and tyre pressures went straight out the window and last minute fumbling with track pumps became a common sight around the start area as tyre pressure were dropped to compensate for the steady flow of water that was now running down the hill.

Thank fully the rain soaked riders enthusiasm for the race didn’t seem to be dampened by the conditions and at 10.31, Trefor Baker or Glenmarnock Wheelers set the time by which all that followed would be judged.

With two of the favourites to take the title of Mens Scottish Hill Climb Champion 2013, last year’s King of the Kirk, Steven Lawley and David Griffiths, being away on international duty, the start sheet looked to indicate the title was there for the taking.

The early benchmark time was set by Ross Cunningham from Glasgow Green Cycle Club who hit 5 minutes dead. This time then stood for almost an hour until local rider from Squadra Porcini, Prasad Prasad, who is normally seen setting the hill alight wearing trainers without a bike, smashed through the 5 minute barrier with a time of 4.53s.

As he was riding on a day licence. he wasn’t eligible for the champs but still set a time to raise the eyebrows of the big hitters that were set to follow. As the rain soaked riders huddled round the results tent trying to maintain body heat with coffee and cake from the impressive selection of home baking that was on offer, times were relayed down from the top of the hill.

Rider after rider tried but failed to top the time of Prasad, until Arthur Doyle of Dooleys Cycles put to good use his huge power and years of experience to propel his bike to the top of the Kirk in an amazing time of 4.45s. With almost 20 riders still to go after Arthur, would anyone have the legs to deny him being crowned King of the Kirk?

The closest of all the challengers was Euan Pope of Glasgow Road club who was the only one of the remaining riders, and one of only 3 on the day, to go under the 5 minute barrier. King Arthur was crowned and took the title of Scottish Men’s Hill Climb Champion 2013. Euan Pope, Glasgow RC, scooped a well-deserved Silver and the Bronze went to Glasgow Greens Ross Cunningham.

The women’s race was contested by a smaller field but that didn’t make for any less drama. The second rider off set a blistering time, local rider Kerry McPhee riding for local shop based team, Rock and Road Cycles. Being a triathlete might have been an advantage to Kerry as the rain continued to fall and swimming might have proved to be a better was to complete the course.

Thankfully she didn’t need her wetsuit and finished in an impressive time of 5.41s. Despite valiant efforts to beat her time, the closest challenger was Granite City’s Julie Erskine who came within two seconds of Kerry but and had to settle for silver on this occasion. The bronze medal was lifted by Lynsey Curran who just missed on going under the 6 minute barrier.

Last year’s Ladies champion Jen Taylor of Equipe Velo Ecosse was last to go and the only rider capable of denying Kerry of her first Scottish ladies Hillclimb Champion title. Jen put up a brave defence of her title but in the end just fell short of getting on the podium after a long hard season and finished in 4th place.

An impressive debut by Kerry McPhee, Rock and Road Cycles saw her take her 1st Gold medal in this discipline and be crowned Queen of the Kirk 2013, not sure we’d bet against her adding to the medal collection in future years.

The team prize was scooped by Equipe Velo Ecosse, with Andrew Nicell, Rob Wilkins and Richard McDonald the three riders who’s combined times gave them the victory.

Photos: click here

RESULTS
Senior Ladies
1 Kerry MacPhee Rock And Road Cycles 5:41
2 Julie Erskine Granite City RT 5:43
3 Lynsey Curran Glasgow Couriers 6:01
4 Jennifer Taylor Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers 6:06
5 Toni McIntosh Ayr Roads Cycling Club 6:07
6 Brenda Callander Stirling Bike Club 6:35
7 Anne Chisholm Perth United Cycling Club 7:17
8 Peggy Series Edinburgh RC 7:27
9 Fabienne Meadows Stirling Bike Club 8:09
10 Pauline Taylor Glasgow Glenmarnock Wheelers 8:20
11 Vyvian Bryce West Lothian Clarion CC 9:40

Junior Men
1 Lewis Grieve Spokes Racing Team 5:08
2 Brandon Somerville Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 6:31

Senior Men
1 Arthur Doyle www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk 4:45
2 Prasad Prasad Squadra Porcini 4:53
3 Euan Pope Glasgow Road Club 4:57
4 Ross Cunningham Glasgow Green Cycle Club 5:00
5 Craig Hardie www.Hardie-Bikes.com 5:01
6 Robin Wilkins Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers 5:05
6 Johnny Graham Team Right Move Windows 5:05
6 Jack King Cormorant RT 5:05
6= Jack Taylor Dumfries CC 5:05
10 Alan Dean Edinburgh RC 5:08
11 John Glass West Lothian Clarion CC 5:09
12 Team Richard McDonald Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers 5:11
13 Gary Maher Ayr Roads Cycling Club 5:15
14 Stuart Stirland Edinburgh RC 5:18
15 Andrew McGhee Glasgow Couriers 5:20
16 Barry McGuire Perth United Cycling Club 5:20
17 James Cusick Glasgow Couriers 5:21
18 Anton Aro 5:21
19 Lewis Duff Glasgow Couriers 5:26
20 Joseph McMillan Team Right Move Windows 5:26
21 Scott Stewart Musselburgh RCC 5:26
22 Walter Hamilton 5:26
23 Andrew Nicell Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers 5:28
24 Josiah King Cormorant RT 5:29
25 John Dunlop Loudoun RC 5:30
26 Andrew Underwood Glasgow Whls 5:30
27 Tom Fernie Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers 5:33
28 Terence McMahon Glasgow Ivy CC 5:39
29 Gavin Shirley www.Dooleys-Cycles.co.uk 5:41
30 Craig Moffat Falkirk Bike Club 5:46
31 Scott Johnston Icarus Racing 5:47
32 Graeme Cook Stirling Bike Club 5:47
33 Mark Baugh Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers 5:49
34 Alan MacDonald 5:50
35 Douglas Barrett Kinross CC 5:52
36 Mark Munro Cairngorm CC 5:52
37 Tim Caine Berwick Wheelers CC 5:53
38 Nigel Holl Stirling Bike Club 5:54
39 Paul Gareze Lomond Roads CC 5:56
40 Euan Lindsay www.Hardie-Bikes.com 6:01
41 Ian Fraser Glasgow Nightingale CC 6:13
42 Robert Marshall www.Hardie-Bikes.com 6:25
43 John Watters 6:33
44 David MacDonald 6:38
45 David Stephen Stirling Bike Club 6:39
46 John Thow Glasgow Ivy CC 6:40
47 Steven Robertson East Kilbride Road Club 6:41
48 Ryan Bunyan Dunfermline CC 6:46
49 Trefor Baker Glasgow Glenmarnock Wheelers 7:21
50 Neil McLeod Stirling Bike Club 7:22
51 John Newton Pearson Cycling Club 7:25
52 William Stephen Glasgow Couriers 7:44
53 Andrew Cook 8:00
54 John Griffiths 8:08

Team: Equipe Velo Ecosse/Montpeliers
Andrew Nicell, Richard McDonald, Robin Wilkins

YOUTH

The youth race started proceedings with the first rider off at 9.01am, Perth United’s Jake Swan. As the youngest rider in the race, having just turned 8 years old, he did himself and his club proud to set the initial time to beat.

The times continued to get faster and faster, and more impressive as minutes ticked by with the quickest times more than rivalling and putting to shame many of the times set by the seniors later in the day.

The fastest overall time for both male and female riders were unsurprisingly set by the Youth A riders with Mark McGuire, Perth United setting the fastest overall time with a blistering 3.02, the fastest female on the day was Keira Johnston from Glasgow Riderz, setting an equally impressive benchmark of 4.08.

Thankfully the threatening grey skies kept hold of their wet payload until the youth had finished showing why they are the future of our sport and impressing those who had made the effort to come along and show support.

Youth A Girls
1 Keira Johnston Glasgow Riderz 4:08.000
2 Erika Allen Team Thomsons Cycles 4:38.000
3 Philippa Samphier Stirling Bike Club 5:12.000

Youth A Boys
1 Mark McGuire Perth United Cycling Club 3:02.000
2 Harry Johnston Team Thomsons Cycles 3:08.000
3 Jordan Stronach Ythan CC 3:20.000
4 Rian Hill Classic Racing Team 3:20.000
5 Kieran Robbins East Sutherland Wheelers 3:28.000
6 Andy Brown Stirling Bike Club 3:29.000
7 Danny Hedley Discovery Junior Cycling Club 3:36.000
8 Matthew Peters Perth United Cycling Club 3:43.000
9 Lewis Mulholland Johnstone Wheelers CC 3:49.000
10 Robert Tree Deeside Thistle CC 3:52.000
11 Calum Johnston Glasgow Riderz 4:08.000
12 Ewan Mathieson Glasgow Riderz 4:08.000
13 Charlie Swan Perth United Cycling Club 4:15.000
14 Luke Whittle Discovery Junior Cycling Club 4:31.000
15 Alistair Merry Discovery Junior Cycling Club 4:37.000

Youth B Girls
1 Jenny Holl Stirling Bike Club 4:15.000
2 Katie Allen Team Thomsons Cycles 5:11.000
3 Rhona Callander Wallace Warriors 5:11.000
4 Erica Oxley West Lothian Clarion CC 8:12.000

Youth B Boys
1 Stephen Dent Nevis Cycles Racing Team 3:25.000
2 Sean Flynn Edinburgh RC 3:37.000
3 Alexander MacRae Glasgow Riderz 3:39.000
4 Logan Dow Stirling Bike Club 3:43.000
5 Robbie McLaren Dunfermline CC 3:45.000
6 Calum Shackley Glasgow Riderz 3:48.000
7 Jonathon Hilbourne Glasgow Riderz 3:58.000
8 Lewis Goodlad Ythan CC 4:13.000
9 Andrew Merry Discovery Junior Cycling Club 4:23.000
10 Lewis Stewart Glasgow Riderz 4:32.000
11 Matthew Running Glasgow Riderz 4:35.000
12 Innes Johnston Glasgow Riderz 4:42.000

Youth C Boys
1 Anna Shackley Glasgow Riderz 4:49.000
2 Abby Stewart Glasgow Riderz 5:18.000
3 Rhona Samphier Stirling Bike Club 5:52.000
4 Alison Bryce West Lothian Clarion CC 6:07.000

Youth C Boys
1 Jamie Johnston Team Thomsons Cycles 3:50.000
2 Alfred George Discovery Junior Cycling Club 3:54.000
3 Rory McGuire Perth United Cycling Club 4:03.000
4 Alexander Dent Nevis Cycles Racing Team 4:30.000
5 Sandy Holl Stirling Bike Club 4:36.000
6 Oscar Onley Kelso Wheelers 4:42.000
7 Sorley Johnston Glasgow Riderz 5:08.000
8 Alexander Ball West Lothian Clarion CC 5:13.000
9 Andrew Oxley West Lothian Clarion CC 6:16.000

Youth D Boys
1 Callum Reid Stirling Bike Club 4:29.000
2 Murray Lawson Edinburgh RC 5:27.000
3 Rory Thiel Discovery Junior Cycling Club 6:44.000

Youth E Boys
1 Jake Swan Perth United Cycling Club 10:28.000

 

 

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