A change to an afternoon slot rather than the usual Sunday morning may have helped contribute to a record winning ride in this season’s Sotonia CC hill climb on Dean Hill.
An improvement in the size of the field from recent years was the pleasing effect of a move to an afternoon start, and the weather was favourable, albeit the day was overcast with a brisk breeze, but this may have helped riders on the steeper part of the course.
It was great see a number of riders travelling some distance to take part and it was one of these, 46 year old Robin Taylor, Bristol South CC, from Bath who finished in 1 minute 55 seconds who took an impressive 4 seconds off the course record jointly held by professional rider Red Walters and New Forest’s Phil Brown. Taylor is now bouyed up for the upcoming National hill climb championship which he rides next weekend.
In second place, in an equally impressive 2.00 was another traveller, 20 year old, 3rd year medical student Michael Henderson of Oxford University CC.
While the first woman was 16 year old Skye Martingale in a very creditable 3.21.
There were also some good rides by Sotonia’s youth riders, led by Benji Pike in 2.57.
The full result:
Post. Rider Club Time
1 Robin Taylor Bristol South CC 1.55
2 Michael Henderson Oxford University CC 2.00
3 Gareth Maude North Hants RC 2.25
4 James Peckham Sotonia CC 2.38
5 Tim Cooke Sotonia CC 2.42
6 Mike Marsh Sotonia CC 2.45
7 Jon Legg Sotonia CC 2.50
8 Benji Pike Sotonia CC 2.57
9 Cam Hubert Didcot Pheonix CC 2.59
10 Sam Cooke Sotonia CC 3.00
11 Sam Dorkings New Forest CC 3.06
12 Paul Macken Sotonia CC 3.17
13 Skye Martingale Type One Style 3.21
14 Adrian Robinson Sotonia CC 3.26
15 Gemma Herbertson Elevate RT 3.51
16 Darren Pike Sotonia CC 3.53
=17 Marit Davidse Sotonia CC 4.23
=17 Billy Dyer Sotonia CC 4.23
19 Wout Davidse Sotonia CC 4.57
It’s big thanks to timekeepers Mary Corbett and Norman Harvey and organiser was Julian Gee, who was also start timekeeper. Also thanks to Stuart Martingale for the action pictures.
