Laura, Dave,Stan,Lauren,Sue & Nick
Club Sorcerers Dave Grogan and Rick Clough, tired of riding competitively up Cragg have recruited, and in the case of Rick, created three new brooms/apprentices, Laura, Lauren & Stan.
The Yorkshire Road Club Hill climb has long been a favourite of club members, not only does it take in 3 Cragg’s a week, Dave’s favourite route but when held in October the event offers, wind, rain, hail, fog and is hosted by the aptly names Phil Hurt.
The move to August is a strange one, especially as when riding out, Cragg appeared to be shrouded in an October like mist. The upside of the change in fixture is that it allows members to ride the Halifax Wheelers event on Ripponden bank in October.
My new obsession with social media meant that club support was out in full, shouting support on the first section was Dai Larner and family, moving to the Robin Hood pub, Nigel and Mandy had a gaggle of supporters including, Tony, Rob, Jo and Andy. At the bus terminus, or should I say Clough corner, was Dave, Rick and the Clough family. Once out onto the moor, Ben Stead and Paul Whatmough were shouting out encouraging words. Ahead of the event Laura had hoped to make her HC debut, “…discreet…”
Lauren had been encouraged by the fact the last time I rode the event, I could not resist the temptation of the chip van on the Dusty Millers car park ahead of the event, this time it was a large slab of Carrot Cake I thought might assist my performance.
To the event, we all enjoyed a gentle tailwind across the lower section, even I was on for a course record, according to my Wahoo. It’s past the school that things start to get more difficult and my minute man had already sailed past me. Resisting the urge to give it full gas is always difficult past Clough corner, was this wasted energy, probably.
We all regrouped at the top, before a rain soaked descent to HQ, was this really August.
The results were,
- 1st Male Alastair Ribbands Manchester Wheelers 16:02
- 1st Female Joanna Blackburn Team Bottrill 17:17
- 1st Juvenile Stan Clough ABC Centreville 20:09
- 3rd Female Laura Tring ABC Centreville 21:06
- 5th Female Lauren Cichy ABC Centreville 22:14
- 27th Overall Nick Holmes ABC Centreville 24:41
Thanks to the Yorkshire Road club for hosting a great event and for Laura, Stan and Lauren for stepping up, more pictures below.
