Prospect Hill Hill Climb

Host club rider Grace Inglis posted a new course record in the Muckle CC event on Prospect Hill, while Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products) won the men’s event.

Despite cold conditions 27-year-old Inglis carved 20 seconds off the previous course record posting a new course benchmark of four minutes and 33 seconds.

The 1.55-kilometre climb starts outside the Northumberland village of Corbridge before climbing at an average gradient of 7.5%.

Storm Babet had done its best to litter the switch-back climb with storm debris, but not to be deterred, Muckle CC members were out in force pre-race with yard brushes to tidy and make safe the course before the first rider left the start line.

Despite light winds with temperatures hovering around the three degrees Celsius it was doubtful whether any course records would fall.

However, Inglis stepped up to the mark in her first open hill climb for over three years taking the women’s win and placing 18th overall.

Previous course record holder Hannah Farran (Team Boompods) had to settle for second on this occasion finishing 25 seconds back in 4-58.

Completing the women’s podium was veteran rider Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC) who stopped the clock in 5-06.

Quickest juvenile girl was Katy Otterson (North Shields Polytechnic Club) who posted a time of 5-46.

Wynne-Cattanach posted a winning time in the men’s event of 3-35, which was 11 seconds slower than Tom Bell’s course record time of 3-24.

Alexander Storey (GS Metro) finished second overall in 3-49 which was just two tenths of a second faster than quickest veteran John Bowman (Muckle Cycle Club).

“I’ve been doing hill climbs for a few years now, so it’s nice to come and try a few different events to ensure things don’t get too repetitive,” said Wynne-Cattanach.

“This one looked like it would be good fun and if the rumours going around that it might be nationals for next year are true, it was a good opportunity to come and recce it.

“I’ve had an eye on the weather all week, particularly the wind forecast – earlier in the week it said there would be a massive tailwind but because of all of the corners it was going to alternate with crosswinds – in the end, it was pretty still today.”

When asked about his preferred distance of climb? Wynne-Cattanach added: “I can stay focused on a ride between two and a half to four minutes – anything longer, my mind starts to wander and I start to think of other things!”

Quickest junior boy was Charlie Thew (Racing Metro 15) in 4-28, while fastest juvenile was Mason Bulfin (Manilla Cycling) who stopped the clock in 4-52.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

Results

1 Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products) 3.35                      
2 Alexander Storey (GS Metro)   3.49.1                  
3 John Bowman (Muckle Cycle Club)         3.49.3
4 Adam Pinder (Muckle Cycle Club)          3.57                      
5 Lee Ager (Muckle Cycle Club) 4.01                        
6 Daniel Keegan (Cestria C.C)       4.03
Veteran: John Bowman  (Muckle Cycle Club)         3.49.3
Junior: Charlie Thew (Racing Metro 15)  4.28
Juvenile: Mason Bulfin (Manilla Cycling) 4.52      

Women
1 Grace Inglis (Muckle Cycle Club)             4.33
2 Hannah Farran (Team Boompods)         4.58
3 Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC)  5.06
Veteran: Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC)    5.06
Juvenile: Katy Otterson (North Shields Polytechnic Club)  5.46