Success on Norwood Edge helped Andy Cunningham to overall victory in the men’s event on the Otley CC two-stage hill climb in Yorkshire on Saturday, while Flora Johnson triumphed on both stages to take the trophy in the women’s event.

Despite finishing third on stage one on Guise Cliff, Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli rider Cunningham produced a dominant ride to win the second stage and, with it, overall victory in 8-37.5 with David Fellows (Solihull CC) the runner-up in 8-47.6 and Ross Howcroft-Jones (High North Performance) taking third place to complete the podium in 8-48.1.

After finishing 11th at the National Hill Climb Championship in 2022 Cunningham has started his 2023 season with third place at the Border City Wheelers CC Hartside Moor hill climb on September 10 followed by finishing runner-up at the GS Metro Hedley on the Hill climb on September 17.

On his victory, Cunningham said: “I’m obviously very happy with the ride. It’s the most local hill climb event to me and I’ve never managed to win it before today. I’ve ridden Norwood edge hundreds of times which definitely played to my advantage.”

Cunningham had to fight back from a third-place finish on the first stage climb of Guise Cliff, where Howcroft-Jones set 3-29.1 to finish ahead of Fellows who clocked 3-29.9, while a time of 3-30.1 saw Cunningham in third.

On securing victory on stage one, Howcroft-Jones said: “It was a tough day managing both climbs, but I felt I’d performed really well on stage one utilising the steeper gradients and finishing fastest on that stage, holding great power to the corner and just all in for the finish.

“Stage two was extremely difficult, especially with the shallower finish for me.

“Unfortunately, I was cut up by a car between me and my minute man as I was catching them, and it really impacted my rhythm and cost me time.

“But to finish third overall I was really chuffed especially in strong and experienced company on the podium. With power numbers today, I’m really happy and hoping it will help with confidence going into Mam Nick next week.”

In the women’s event, Johnson followed up success in 4-57.1 on Guise Cliff on stage one with another winning performance on Norwood Edge.

The Albarosa CC rider finished the second stage in 6-57.3, with Sophie Rotheram (University of Birmingham Cycling Club) second in 7-11.8, while a time of 7-20.4 helped Kendal Cycling Club’s Ruth Dunstan to third spot on stage two.

The same three also completed the overall podium, with Johnson clocking a total time of 11-54.4, Rotheram 12:18.9 and Dunstan in 12:22.1.

On her victory, Johnson said:

Christos Tzelis and Emily Middlebrooke, both from the host club, took the men's and women's junior competition in 9-13.6 and 12-56.5 respectively.

Emily's younger brother Daniel Middlebrooke, also riding for Otley CC, won the juvenile men's competition in 10-34.3 and the veteran categories were won by Vive Le Velo’s Andrew Askwith in 11-32.4 and Joanna Cebrat, the 360cycling rider finishing in 14-04.3.

The first event, on course V8910, saw riders enjoy a calm, dry and mild start on Guise Cliff and led to some very tight times, with four riders within one and a half seconds of winner Howcroft-Jones’ time.

The second event, held on course V897, saw riders complete a 1.7km ascent of Norwood, with drizzle before the start of stage two meaning a greasy surface, especially at the steeper start.

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

 

Stage One Results:

Men:

1. Ross Howcroft-Jones (High North Performance)   3:29.1

2. David Fellows (Solihull CC)          3.29.9

3. Andy Cunningham (Wheelbase-CabTech)  3:30.1

4. Joshua Aiken (Elevate RT) 3:30.5

5. Christos Tzelis (Otley CC) 3:40.5

6. James Sawyers (Clifton CC York)  3:49.5

Women:

1. Flora Johnson (Albarosa CC)         4:57.1

2. Ruth Dunstan (Kendal Cycle Club)            5:01.7

3. Sophie Rotheram (University of Birmingham CC)            5:07.1

4. Molly Savill (Albarosa CC)           5:09.8

5. Ruth Naylor (Albarosa CC)            5:10.7

6. Emily Middlebrooke (Otley CC)    5:12.7

 

Stage Two Results:

Men:

1. Andy Cunningham (Wheelbase CabTech) 05.07.4

2. David Fellows (Solihull CC)          5:17.7

3. Ross Howcroft-Jones (High North Performance)   5:19.0

4. Joshua Aiken (Elevate RT) 5:25.5

5. Christos Tzelis (Otley CC) 5:33.1

6. James Sawyers (Clifton CC York)  5:44.0

Women:

1. Flora Johnson (Albarosa CC)         6:57.3

2. Sophie Rotheram (University of Birmingham CC)            7:11.8

3. Ruth Dunstan (Kendal Cycling Club)        7:20.4

4. Molly Savill (Albarosa CC)           7:21.2

5. Emily Middlebrooke (Otley CC)    7:43.8

6. Ruth Naylor (Albarosa CC)            7:46.2

 

Overall Results:

Men:

1. Andy Cunningham (Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli)             8:37.5

2. David Fellows (Solihull CC)          8:47.6

3. Ross Howcroft-Jones (High North Performance)   8:48.1

4. Joshua Aiken (Elevate RT) 8:56.0

5. Christos Tzelis (Otley CC) 9:13.6

6. James Sawyers (Clifton CC York)  9:33.7

Women:

1. Flora Johnson (Albarosa CC)         11:54.4

2. Sophie Rotheram (University of Birmingham CC)            12:18.9

3. Ruth Dunstan (Kendal Cycling Club)        12:22.1

4. Molly Savill (Albarosa CC)           12:31.0

5. Emily Middlebrooke (Otley CC)    12:56.5

6. Ruth Naylor (Albarosa CC)            12:56.9