Huddersfield Star Wheelers Hill Climb Results

Hill Climb

The 42nd running of the Huddersfield Star Wheelers Granville Sydney Memorial Hill Climb was held on Saturday 10th October. The weather was set fair for this prestigious event and with a field of 96 riders coming from all over the country, as well as Switzerland and Guernsey, it was set to be a tight and very competitive affair. Back to defend his title was Dan Evans, the present national hill climb champion from Colwyn in Wales. He was to be challenged by three ex national champions in the guise of Tejvan Pettinger, Matt Clinton and five times national champion, Jim Henderson.

It turned out be a tight affair with Dan retaining his title in a time of 4mins 11 seconds for the 1540 yard course up the climb from Jackson Bridge to Tinker’s Monument at Cumberworth. In fact, the main challenge came from two other competitors instead of the ex national champions who all performed excellently. In second place was Adam Kenway (Belper, Derbyshire) just 4 seconds slower than Dan, followed just 2 seconds adrift by Joseph Clark, also from Belper. Perhaps one of the best performances came from a junior racer in the form of Tim Home who finished sixth overall with a stunning time of 4mins 27secs. Tejvan and Matt had to settle for 4th & 5th places respectively. Jim Henderson, fresh out of retirement, finished 8th overall and won the Veterans prize in a time of 4mins 28secs.

Two other prizes were scooped up by travelling riders in the form of a father and daughter from Guernsey. Heather Despres won the Junior Ladies prize with a time of 6mins 5secs with her father Nick winning the Men’s Vet 50+ category with a time of 5mins 2secs.

The Ladies prize was won by Lou Bates of Nottingham in a time of 5mins 29 secs. Nathan Allatt of Castleford won the male Juvenile prize and Ruby Boyes of Huddersfield Star Wheelers took the Juvenile female prize.

This race was a precursor to the National Hill Climb Championship which is to be held on the same hill on Sunday 25th October at 10.30 where there will be 240 competitors taking part, many of these riders having taken part in the Huddersfield Star Wheelers event.

Full results can be found at http://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/event/1195

Report written by Richard Facey.