CLUB HILL CLIMB

30 OCTOBER 2011

Club Hill Climb Smithills.

I was appreciative of the extra hour that the ending of British Summer Time (falling off my seat laughing at that one) gave us.

I was up early anyway to hunt down the things I would require for the event of the day, the Club Hill Climb Championship taking place on Smithills Deane.

Eventually three pens were found, well I have found some don't always write when you want them to, three old digital watches with stop watch facility, and a notebook for recording times and little stories worthy of mention.

The morning was a little misty but very mild as I ambled over to the start on Smithills, as usual I was the first one there. As I parked my bike by the start area I was startled by a noise two yards away and to my astonishment a small roe deer clambered through the fence, ran across the road, couldn't find a way over the fence so ran up the road away from me, a beautiful little thing. To and fro across the road it ran, a car approached and I waved him down, I think he had already seen the deer in the road and slowed down. The deer then came back down the road and managed to find a suitable gap opposite me and clambered through, what a start to our club hill climb event.

Rodney was the first to show, he was in his car, and as no one else had yet arrived he went off for a cup of tea somewhere.

One by one members arrived and one by one they disappeared up the road to witness the finish at the top, members intending to ride were sparse but by the time we were ready to start we had more than last year, seven riders for a few minutes of pain!

Looking round I realised that I had no one to time the starters and no one to push the riders off, jeeze, what a pickle, the suggestion that I should set the riders off, ride to the top to record their finishing time seemed at least a bit inappropriate.

The solution was, ride to the top, ask for volunteers to ride back down, start them off then ride back up again after, not much enthusiasm for that one, however two club stalwarts agreed, Paul Hackin and Pete Lane, it was nothing for Paul really, he had been up very early riding the hills of Belmont for hours prior to the event, getting some miles in before going off to work later.

Dave Bisset was off number one, a brave volunteer, usually no one wants that number. As the few spectators and myself peered down the road the first rider appeared but as the rider got nearer it was obviously not Dave our number one. Nick Hall, Bury clarion was first one over the line in a time less than two minutes, any time less than two minutes is a very good time.

Next up was Brian Gore, a little over the three minute mark but a very good ride. All eyes were straining to see Dave but he was still not yet in sight, Bernard, a possible winner appeared, he also appeared to be struggling and the last hump as he approached the line seemed to finish him off, he was out of contention.

Still we peered down the hill for Dave, still he did not appear, young Hirin was next up and seemed to be struggling, again the last hump at the finish telling the tale of tired legs. Hirin was riding a single speed bike and as it turned out, despite his appearance of struggling, did a very good time.

It was now that Dave appeared putting in a tremendous finishing effort to cross the line, he wasn't even out of breath.

Next up was young new club aspirant Nick on his brand new Orbea bike and for a first time at hill climbing recorded a very creditable time.

An extra rider had appeared after I left the start area, Peter Moore told me he was expecting to start, so he came up as last man, Mark Ainsworth take a bow, you did it.

Well we have a new club champion for 2011, Brian Gore , although second on time to Nick Hall he was the quickest Bolton member up the hill.

In third was our other guest rider, Hiri on his single speed, I take my hat off to him for that.

So our annual uphill fun event, well for those who chose to spectate, gave us a new champion, what about the times you ask, well for some it's about supporting the clubs events and traditions, the old saying 'it's the taking part that counts' really rings true.

So we had a winner and a second, Nick Hall and Brian Gore, who had also ridden the fearsome Rake hill climb a couple of weeks before and on the times they recorded there the result went to form, Nick Hall had been quicker of the two then though today the margin was a little closer. We must not forget the third rider, Hiri, we want his subs off him for next year, a very creditable third spot on a single speed bike, had he chosen the right gear? Only he knows that. Dave Bisset narrowly beat Mark Ainsworth into last place, but as ever Dave is a winner when we need support.

The event over we then did the more laid back event, the social ride over Belmont to the Bon Appetite for a well earned breakfast and a pot of tea. A good nattering session here proved that the hill climb had not taken every ones breath, entertaining gossip ensued. Suitably satisfied it was time to move on and a nice ride back through the lanes to Rivington was decided on.

As we started up Gregson Lane the sun began to poke through and before long it was shining bright and strong making the ride through the lanes extremely pleasant despite the rising wind.

Back Lane at Limbrick proved to be the only real challenge on the way back, the steep hill that Bernard declared 'a short one' seems incredibly long when your off the back as Clive and I were. 'Well wait at the top' Bernard also declared, but it was two miles on before I could ask him 'have we got to the top yet'.

Sweat was absolutely flushing out of me after the chase to catch up, Bernard denied he was responsible with a grin.

We reached the barn shortly after and I could not resist the tasty looking scones packed with jam and cream, along with the pot of tea it proved to be so, mmm.

We sat outside in the nice afternoon sun again nattering and gossiping, meeting as well others we knew offering new topics to chew over.

I arrived home so early I could not believe we had been out on a Sunday ride, a ride that had thrown up much interest. The biggest point of interest that I really could have done with more info on was the chap in the car who stopped on the finish line to ask what we were doing.

When I told him, he said that he had broken the club record back in 1949 when the hill was started from the bottom and not half way up. Mr Frank Percival was his name, not having time to talk he carried on his way, I think a bit of interesting research lies ahead.

Report by Tony Bowles