Cragg Vale Hill Climb

Olivia French (Stolen Goat Race Team) battled against wet conditions to win the women’s event by over three minutes in the Yorkshire Road Club hill climb on Cragg Vale, while Andy Cunningham (Ilkley CC) added another open victory to his collection.

French, aged 23, also won the Cheshire Maverick CC climb the previous day, and celebrated a double weekend by clocking a winning time of 20 minutes and 48 seconds over the 4.8 miles long climb.

Starting outside Mytholmroyd the climb has an average gradient of 3.4% as it heads past Cragg Vale to finish at the junction with Halifax Road, outside Blackstone Edge Reservoir.

French, from Wilmslow in Cheshire, finished runner-up in last weekend’s Border City Wheelers event on Hartside Pass and went one better this weekend.

Angela Hannon-Flaherty (Seacroft Wheelers) led the charge behind finishing second woman in 24-18 and Beth Grogan (Selby CC) was third (25-29).

“It was good apart from the weather, which was really grim,” said French. “It seemed to rain from when I got my bike out of the car until it went back into the car afterwards.

“It was a really good event and nice long climb. The steepest part was at the bottom through the village, but as it flattened out the headwind was so strong.

“The steeper section was more sheltered and the flatter was exposed. I really enjoyed the hill climb season last year so I’ve been looking forward to the hill climb season this time.”

In the open event 35-year-old Cunningham posted a winning time of 17-27 for his seventh open victory of the season.

Cunningham also won the Border City Wheelers event on Hartside Pass last weekend and tasted victory again this time out.

Tom Selby (Royal Navy Cycling) was the only other rider to break the 18-minute mark finishing second in 17-53 and Laurence Fryer-Taylor (Macclesfield Wheelers) was third (18-07).

Scratch rider and National Hill Climb Champion, Andrew Feather, was a non-starter.

“I’m really happy with my ride again,” said Cunningham.

“I had Hartside last week as a benchmark so I just aimed to execute a similar ride. I’ve done this ride in much better conditions to say the least!

“Fair play to everyone who rode that today and thanks to Phil Hurt (organiser) and all the marshals.

“I’m riding Halifax Imps just down the road next Saturday, so fingers crossed for some slightly kinder conditions.”

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Results
1 Andy Cunningham (Ilkley CC)               17.27
2 Tom Selby (Royal Navy Cycling)          17.53
3 Laurence Fryer-Taylor (Macclesfield Wheelers)           18.07

Women
1 Olivia French (Stolen Goat Race Team)            20.48
2 Angela Hannon-Flaherty (Seacroft Whs)        24.18
3 Beth Grogan (Selby CC)           25.29