Yorkshire Road Club Hill Climb

It seems that the Gods of Cragg Vale have helped Dave Grogan “Cragg Master and Club Sorcerer” back to fitness. Following Dave’s accident in November 2014 he has been helped back to fitness by the what seems to have been an unusually high number of NE Tail winds on Cragg in 2015 and the day of the Yorkshire Road Club Hill climb was no exception.

A Slightly different team was assembled this year, Hill Climb Specialist Louis Szymanski, Hill Climb Apprentice Aaron Roe, Cragg Master Dave Grogan and yours truly.

Louis, Dave, Nick & Aaron

Louis had his sights set on overall Victory, while Dave after losing out to the club apprentice Hill climber on the West Pennine event was looking to reassert his mastery of the Cragg. I maintained my strategy of riding safe, continuous improvement and avoiding coming last. True to form we had a few renegade riders amongst us, Ray Brown who rode a Cragg for the benefit of Strava and Ken Barnsley representing the Bury Clarion.

Ken Barnsley Bury Clarion

Last years conditions had been appalling, the Gods were angry and a mighty head wind had been blowing, although you would not have thought it the way a couple of riders sailed past me.

This year it was a tail wind and I was hoping that my large surface area would act as a sail and aid my ascent. On top of which I planned to take it steady especially on the steep bit through the village and retain some energy for the finish. Louis made a decision to use a Time Trial bike, Ken Tri Bars while Aaron, Dave and I were on stock road bikes.

For once everything went to plan, no blowing myself apart in the Village because Jon Dance was cheering. Ray Brown and Nigel Roe offered support just past the village and the tailwind allowed me to click smoothly through the gears, even that final straight seemed shorter than usual, perhaps I wasn’t trying hard enough (I was!!)

Dave & Aaron

To the results while Kieran Savage was first overall at 15.18.7 Louis was second at 15.20.5. a fantastic result.The sorcerer evened his score with his apprentice, coming in at 19.48 with his apprentice a respectable 19.53 Dave was 30th, Aaron 31st Ken Barnsley was 32nd at 20.14 making Aaron’s performance even more creditable. I managed to achieve my objectives and avoid being last and even edged Kev Shand from West Pennine I was 35th 21.42 and Kev was 36th 22.01.

Most important of all though we managed to keep our beer in our bottle cages on the Decent back into Littleborough.