Arthurs Seat Hill Climb

Angus Toms (Loose Cannon's Conditioning) set a new open course record on his way to snatching victory by a single second in the Edinburgh Road Club hill climb event on Arthurs Seat, while Natalie Stevenson (Glasgow Ivy CC) was the quickest woman.

Toms, aged 20, stomped to victory in his first open hill climb of the season in a time of two minutes and 38 seconds.

The closed road event saw competitors climb on Queen’s Drive in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.

The CTT Scottish Championship event is 1.2-kilometes long with an average gradient of 5.3%.

Toms was favourite for victory having won the event last year in 2-41 and went even quicker on this occasion to snatch victory and a new open course record (2-38).

A close finish saw Cameron Richie (Edinburgh Road Club) finish second a single second back (2-39) and Kieran Savage (Schils - Doltcini RT) was pushed into third despite posting a time of 2-40.

“The event today was a great one, well organised as always and on a beautiful climb,” said Toms.

“It also happens to be my local training climb so always fun to be able to race there. I’m happy with the ride, a small improvement over last year’s result but it was a close race with Cameron and Kieran behind so I can’t get too complacent.

“I’m racing the Scottish Student Championships and then the Scottish Cycling Hill Climb Championships in the next two weekends, so hopefully I can carry some form into them.”

The women’s event saw veteran rider Stevenson post a winning time of 3-13, which was 10 seconds quicker than her nearest opponent.

Stevenson, aged 40, from Glasgow, also won the Bute Wheelers hill climb event two weeks ago and was in fine form once again.

Sharon Bird (Vanelli-Project GO) finished second woman in 3-23 and quickest junior competitor Isla Easton (Solas Race Team) was also third female overall in (3-34).

“The event was great, it's really nice having a closed road climb, especially for the juniors to be able to ride and Arthur's Seat is a beautiful location,” said Stevenson.

“My ride was okay, I was down on power from what I was aiming for as I went out a bit too hard. But I was really happy with the win.”

In the junior boy’s event Rhys Edwards (trainSharp) was quickest finishing sixth overall in 2-52 ahead of James Burnett (2-58) in second and Oswald Ling in third (3-24).

The veteran men’s category was closely fought with John Glass (West Lothian Clarion) going quickest in 3-07 which was less than a second quicker than Alan Dean (
Edinburgh Road Club) and Ross Taylor a further second back.

The quickest youth boy was Gregor McNaught (Glasgow Riderz) in 3-09 and girl was Boo Williams (Royal Albert Cycling Club) in 4-19.

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

Results
1 Angus Toms (Loose Cannon's Conditioning) 2.38
2 Cameron Richie (Edinburgh Road Club)          2.39
3 Kieran Savage (Schils - Doltcini RT)    2.40
4 Oliver Pemberton (Musselburgh RCC)              2.45
5 Sam Marshall (Trash Mile)      2.52
6 Rhys Edwards (trainSharp)   2.52
7 Bruch Morris (SBRT – Outsider Events)            2.57
8 James Burnett (Edinburgh Road Club)           2.58
9 Stefan Hurst (Ronde Cycling Club)    2.59
10 Sandy Waller (Edinburgh Road Club)             3.03

Junior: Rhys Edwards (trainSharp)        2.52
Veteran: John Glass (West Lothian Clarion)      3.07
Youth:  Gregor McNaught (Glasgow Riderz)      3.09

Women
1 Natalie Stevenson (Glasgow Ivy CC)  3.18
2 Sharon Bird (Vanelli-Project GO)         3.23
3 Isla Easton (Solas Race Team)            3.34
4 Rachel Lawley (Eat Plants Not Pigs CC)           4.55

Junior: Isla Easton (Solas Race Team) 3.34
Youth: Boo Williams (Royal Albert Cycling Club)            4.19