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Northumberland | 2.4 miles | MH24 | Allendale
It was a 100% turnout for the 31 strong field in the Allen Valley Velo Hill Climb out of Allendale on Sunday morning.
The 2.5 mile climb starts at the Thornley Gate crossroads on the western outskirts of the town and heads south, climbing steadily up onto the moors.
The bottom section of the climb was quite sheltered, but as soon as the riders got beyond the tree line, they were met with a brutal block headway as they rode towards the finish line. Spinning an easier gear and inching towards the finish line seemed to be the order of the day, particularly for the lighter weight riders.
Affectionately known as “Grandad Watts” amongst his friends and fellow riders, veteran rider Colin Atkinson of Muckle CC who started as scratch rider, was delighted to take the win in 11:02.0, a mere 1 second outside of the course record.
Colin said after the event: “The pressure was on today with being last rider off, so I’m very pleased to have got that top spot. I’ve only ever won one open hill climb before, and that was back in 2019 on the Silverhills climb. The wind today made it so tough, especially when it turned into what felt like a block head-wind. I’m pleased the way my season is going – great training sessions by my coach Pete Hawkins of Upshift Velo who keeps things interesting and I’m getting the results. The guys at my Club Muckle CC push each other every week in our hill sessions. Roll on the remaining hill climbs in the calendar, especially Nationals in Wales”.
Topping the positions for the females was Sarah Wilkinson of Blaydon CC in 13:06.7, a mere .7 of a second outside of the course record which she set in this event in 2021. Sarah is also down to ride in this year’s Nationals, and having already scoped out the Old Shoe course in a recce recently, she readily admits it’s going to be a tough one!
Euan Dinning of Gosforth CC took the win for the Junior riders today, in doing so, he claimed a new Junior course record in a time of 12:01.0, taking 2:17 off the previous best.
| Position | Name | Machine | Classification | Age Group | Actual Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 11:02.0 | |
| 2nd | Road Bike | Male | Senior | 11:08.1 | |
| 3rd | Road Bike | Male | Espoir | 11:57.8 | |
| 4th | Road Bike | Male | Junior | 12:01.0 | |
| 5th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 12:18.3 | |
| 6th | Road Bike | Male | Senior | 12:23.1 | |
| 7th | Road Bike | Male | Junior | 12:24.7 | |
| 8th | Road Bike | Female | Veteran | 13:06.7 | |
| 9th | Road Bike | Male | Junior | 13:16.0 | |
| 10th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 13:16.2 | |
| 11th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 13:24.1 | |
| 12th | Road Bike | Female | Senior | 13:39.0 | |
| 13th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 13:43.5 | |
| 14th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 13:46.0 | |
| 15th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 13:53.8 | |
| 16th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 14:00.5 | |
| 17th | Road Bike | Male | Senior | 14:04.0 | |
| 18th | Road Bike | Female | Senior | 14:09.4 | |
| 19th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 14:10.2 | |
| 20th | Road Bike | Male | Senior | 14:19.7 | |
| 21st | Road Bike | Male | Junior | 14:27.1 | |
| 22nd | Road Bike | Female | Veteran | 14:36.6 | |
| 23rd | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 15:16.9 | |
| 24th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 15:31.4 | |
| 25th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 15:35.4 | |
| 26th | Road Bike | Male | Senior | 15:41.1 | |
| 27th | Road Bike | Female | Veteran | 15:51.2 | |
| 28th | Road Bike | Male | Senior | 16:09.9 | |
| 29th | Road Bike | Male | Senior | 16:40.2 | |
| 30th | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 18:01.7 | |
| 31st | Road Bike | Male | Veteran | 19:17.5 |
| Pos | Name | Actual Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Colin AtkinsonMuckle Cycle Club | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 11:02.0 |
| 2nd | Lee AgerMuckle Cycle Club | Male | Senior | Road Bike | 11:08.1 |
| 3rd | James CorfieldGS Metro | Male | Espoir | Road Bike | 11:57.8 |
| 4th | Euan DinningGosforth RC | Male | Junior | Road Bike | 12:01.0 |
| 5th | Noel StoddartBlaydon CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 12:18.3 |
| 6th | Julian MacBrideTeam Kirkley Cycles | Male | Senior | Road Bike | 12:23.1 |
| 7th | Charlie ThewRacing Metro 15 | Male | Junior | Road Bike | 12:24.7 |
| 8th | Sarah WilkinsonBlaydon CC | Female | Veteran | Road Bike | 13:06.7 |
| 9th | Owen HaggertyNorth Tyneside Riders CC | Male | Junior | Road Bike | 13:16.0 |
| 10th | Stephen BoxallHoughton CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 13:16.2 |
| 11th | Neil WilkinsonBlaydon CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 13:24.1 |
| 12th | Joanne ReaTeam Kirkley Cycles | Female | Senior | Road Bike | 13:39.0 |
| 13th | Andrew SmithMuckle Cycle Club | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 13:43.5 |
| 14th | Paul HagueGosforth RC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 13:46.0 |
| 15th | Mark WhaleyBlaydon CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 13:53.8 |
| 16th | Tim BurdonAllen Valley Velo | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 14:00.5 |
| 17th | Clive AllanAllen Valley Velo | Male | Senior | Road Bike | 14:04.0 |
| 18th | Ellen PowellDurham City Velo | Female | Senior | Road Bike | 14:09.4 |
| 19th | Jeff HaywoodTyne & Wear Fire & Rescue Service CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 14:10.2 |
| 20th | Christopher BeatyAllen Valley Velo | Male | Senior | Road Bike | 14:19.7 |
| 21st | Gabriel MarshallAllen Valley Velo | Male | Junior | Road Bike | 14:27.1 |
| 22nd | Melanie HallNorth Tyneside Riders CC | Female | Veteran | Road Bike | 14:36.6 |
| 23rd | David LaveryNorth Tyneside Riders CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 15:16.9 |
| 24th | Michael TrowBlaydon CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 15:31.4 |
| 25th | Malcolm WestAllen Valley Velo | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 15:35.4 |
| 26th | Iain SandersonAllen Valley Velo | Male | Senior | Road Bike | 15:41.1 |
| 27th | Angela McGurkBlaydon CC | Female | Veteran | Road Bike | 15:51.2 |
| 28th | Craig BellAllen Valley Velo | Male | Senior | Road Bike | 16:09.9 |
| 29th | Lea StephensonAllen Valley Velo | Male | Senior | Road Bike | 16:40.2 |
| 30th | Thomas BanksNorth Tyneside Riders CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 18:01.7 |
| 31st | Ray BellDerwentside CC | Male | Veteran | Road Bike | 19:17.5 |
| Position | Name | Actual Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sarah WilkinsonBlaydon CC | Veteran | 13:06.7 |
| 2nd | Joanne ReaTeam Kirkley Cycles | Senior | 13:39.0 |
| 3rd | Ellen PowellDurham City Velo | Senior | 14:09.4 |
| Pos | Name | Actual Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sarah WilkinsonBlaydon CC | Veteran | 13:06.7 |
| 2nd | Joanne ReaTeam Kirkley Cycles | Senior | 13:39.0 |
| 3rd | Ellen PowellDurham City Velo | Senior | 14:09.4 |
| Position | Name | Actual Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Colin AtkinsonMuckle Cycle Club | Veteran | 11:02.0 |
| 2nd | Lee AgerMuckle Cycle Club | Senior | 11:08.1 |
| 3rd | James CorfieldGS Metro | Espoir | 11:57.8 |
| Pos | Name | Actual Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Colin AtkinsonMuckle Cycle Club | Veteran | 11:02.0 |
| 2nd | Lee AgerMuckle Cycle Club | Senior | 11:08.1 |
| 3rd | James CorfieldGS Metro | Espoir | 11:57.8 |
| Position | Name | Actual Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Muckle Cycle ClubColin Atkinson | Lee Ager | Andrew Smith | 0:35:53 |
| 2nd | Blaydon CCNoel Stoddart | Sarah Wilkinson | Neil Wilkinson | 0:38:49 |
| 3rd | Allen Valley VeloTim Burdon | Clive Allan | Christopher Beaty | 0:42:24 |
| Pos | Name | Actual Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Muckle Cycle ClubColin Atkinson | Lee Ager | Andrew Smith | 0:35:53 |
| 2nd | Blaydon CCNoel Stoddart | Sarah Wilkinson | Neil Wilkinson | 0:38:49 |
| 3rd | Allen Valley VeloTim Burdon | Clive Allan | Christopher Beaty | 0:42:24 |