Velo Club Cumbria’s Tuesday night club events concluded with the Whinlatter Hill Climb this week.
A slightly disappointing field of eight riders tackled the steep 1.8 mile course above Braithwaite on a pleasant evening.
The course features steep sections of around 15 per cent gradients interspersed with some false flats where anyone with any energy left can attempt to build up some speed, before a final steep kicker to the finish line at the top of the pass.
The course records of 6:28 for men, set by Tom Bell, and 8:28 for females, set by local professional Henrietta Colborne, were both achieved at the VCC Open event in September 2020.
VCC’s open event this year will take place on October 1 and should feature the best hill climb specialists in the country as well as any amateurs who wish to take part.
David Gleave set the winning benchmark of 8:01 this week, at an average speed of 13.1mph. Gleave was 30 seconds clear of newcomer Dean Newton.
Kieran Hoban was third with a time of 09:13, narrowly beating Richard Shield in fourth. Junior rider Tom Percival set an impressive time of 12:24 competing in his first hill climb.
- David Gleave 08:01
- Dean Newton 08:31
- Kieran Hoban 09:13
- Richard Shield 09:15
- Julian Cook 09:36
- Mike Hodson 10:22
- Willy Armstrong 11:51
- Tom Percival 12:24
