Clay Bank Hill Climb

Nick Munro set a personal best on his way to winning the Cleveland Wheelers hill climb up Clay Bank on Sunday morning, with Hannah Farran taking victory in the women’s event in North Yorkshire.

Royal Air Force Cycling Association rider Munro edged a competitive field in 3-19 to seal his PB with 17-year-old Toby Simpson setting 3-36 (Manilla Cycling) and narrowly beating Team Bikestop Tyrekey 3FS rider Tom Harcourt who finished in 3-38.

In the women’s event Farran (Team Boompods) set 4-14 with Hannah Bayes (Saint Piran) second in 4-29 and junior Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Wheelers) securing the final podium place in 5-22.

Elsewhere, Paul Brown took the Veteran’s 40 category in 4-00, the Veteran’s 50 category saw Mark Snape of Fietsen Tempo win in 4-08, with Hilton Armstrong the fastest Veteran 60 in 4-29 and the Veteran 70 group had Colin Moore, riding for the promoting club, finishing top in 5-40.

This event, run on the THC33 course, starts around 300 yards north of West Wood farm and the course follows this road straight up to finish just before the car park at the top of Clay Bank with riders enjoying little wind and favourable conditions throughout.

On the course the total distance is 0.88 miles, climbing about 300 feet with an average gradient of about 8% with a maximum of just over 16%.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by James Ayles.

Results:

Men:

1. Nick Munro (Royal Air Force Cycling Association)          03.19

2. Toby Simpson (Manilla Cycling)             03.36

3. Tom Harcourt (Team Bikestop Tyrekey 3FS)     03.38

4. Paul Brown (Fietsen Tempo)  04.00

5. Mark Pinder (AIMS Cycling)     04.08

6. Mark Snape (Fietsen Tempo) 04.08

Women:

1. Hannah Farran (Team Boompods)       04.14

2. Hannah Bayes (Saint Piran)     04.29

3. Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Wheelers) 05.22