Aftera thrilling race up Long Hill in Derbyshire, Gunnar Gronlund on a Trigon bike beat Richard Handley (KoM in Majora this year) and former champion Matt Clinton…
RST-Trigon rider Gunnar Gronlund (above)Â won the British Hill Climb Championship today on Long Hill in Derbyshire. After a rainy and cold start to the day, the weather soon cleared to leave sunny skies to shine on the riders battling the headwind up the 4.4 mile long climb.
The photo album ….
There was much discussion leading up to the Championship whether it would be a climbers race or a time trialists course? With ‘Hutch’ in 6th place, that question was answered with prolific Hill Climb winner Gunnar Gronlund winning from the Richard Handley and former Hill Climb Champion Matt Clinton.
Gunnar Gronlund spent a lot of the season with Twenty3C Orbea before joining RST-Trigon and they spoilt him for choice of bikes for the race before he settled on a Trigon RC29 with a pair of Lighweight wheels and aero bars. Still without a contract for 2012, Gunnar managed to hold off the challenge of the other hill climbers to win and he was one pleased rider on the podium back at Waley Bridge. Also pleased was Rob Hayles (interview here) who had his last race, finishing 14th and just under a minute off the time of Gronlund.
There to see him off were stars such as Russell Downing to name one that we spoke to as well as Team Sky’s Rod Ellingworth, Sarah and Barney Storey and Rob’s family. It was a great send off which he spoke about on twitter, saying “Well I didn’t medal. But I loved nearly every 13:46 of it. Crowd was amazing. Gave me goose bumps. A minute off Gunnar Gronlund who won a great race 2day. Home now, and full of cake and fizz. Building up to curry and beers tonight.”
PHOTO REPORT
Top 3, Richard Handley, Gunnar Gronlund and Matt Clinton
Champion for 2011, Gunnar Gronlund, a rider looking for a contract in 2012 to stay in Britain and race.
First woman, Lyn Hamel Herbalife/Wheelbase with David Harmon on the podium
Team award … Ingear Trainsharp L-R: Peter Tadros, Michael Hutchinson and Conall Yates
A fixed wheel with disc and Lightweight front wheel for Nige Wood
Eurosport’s David Harmon kept the crowd halfway up the climb informed of who was leading…
Mike Cuming from Twenty3C-Orbea. Mike goes to Rapha Condor Sharp in 2012, a move he is really looking forward to.
Robert Gough , winner of the Catford CC hill climb recently.
The course record holder prior to the event Tejvan Pettinger.
Bronze medallist Mat Clinton
Farewell ‘Killer’, Rob Hayles (Endura Racing) on his way to 14th in the race in his last race … never say never eh Rob…
Former Junior RR Champion George Atkins who has been invited back into the GB Academy. He finished 4th.
Richard Handley in full flight on his Raleigh …
Dave Clarke of Endura Racing. He was saying afterwards he couldn’t work out why he could get the power out today and was dissapointed with the ride
Peter Tadros, fixed gear, climbers wheels, and he finished 9th.
Another of the bikes in use today… from fixed wheels old school to this….
Traffic was bad. One example was a rider being held up by a truck (semi) held up up riders not in the race riding up two abreast on the climb. Bring back closed road hill climbs and the atmosphere and crowd!
An example of one of the more mature bikes
RESULTS
1 Gunnar Gronlund Rst Racing Team – Trigon    12:49.0 M
2 Richard Handley Team Raleigh    12:56.1 M
3 Matt Clinton Mike Vaughan Cycles    12:57.5 M
4 George Atkins Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers    12:58.9 M
5 Tejvan Pettinger Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team    13:02.4 M
6 Michael Hutchinson In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp R.T    13:07.0 M
7 James William Tucker South Pennine Rc    13:10.9 M
8 Mike Cumming Twenty 3 C – Orbea    13:15.8 M
9 Peter Tadros In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp R.T    13:19.5 M A
10 David Clarke Endura Racing    13:22.5 M
11 Rob English Arctic – Premier Rt    13:32.2 M
12 Dan Evans Rhos On Sea    13:42.5 M
13 Luke Clarke Team Milton Keynes    13:43.4 M
14 Rob Hayles Endura Racing    13:46.3 M
15 Danny Axford Arctic-Premier Rt    13:47.6 M
16 Mark Lovatt Planet X R.T    13:50.3 M A
17 Robin Wilkins Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers    13:51.2 M
18 Conall Yates In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp R.T    13:53.1 M
19 Will Mangar In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp R.T    13:55.6 M
20 Ian Stott Blackburn & District Ctc    13:56.6 M
21 Josh Teasdale Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp    13:58.1 J
22 John Storms Kingston Wheelers    13:59.5 M A
23 Chris Lawless Maxgear Rt    14:00.1 J
24 Paul Jones Bristol South Cc    14:11.8 M
25 David Crawley Activcycles Corbridge    14:12.1 M
26 Jonathan Schubert Ystwyth Cc    14:12.6 M
27 James Dobbin Adeo Cadence Rt    14:12.8 M
28 Edward Addis Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers    14:14.4 M
29 Neil Skellern Congleton Cc    14:15.1 M B
30 Ryan Mullen Planet X R.T    14:16.5 J
31 Rob Watkinson Doncaster Wheelers – Don Valley Cycles    14:17.3 M
32 Matthew Pilkington Progressive Cycle Coaching Development Squad    14:20.6 M
33 Adam Yates Maxgear Rt    14:26.1 M
34 Carl Helliwell Blackburn & District Ctc    14:26.5 M
35 Danny Lowthorpe Rutland Cc    14:26.8 M
36 Carl Saint Yorkshire Road Club    14:26.9 M B
37 Tony Kiss Stratford Cc    14:29.1 M
38 Sam Ward Otley Cycle Club    14:32.1 M
39 Hugh Carthy Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp    14:33.8 J
40 Chris Myhill Peak Road Club    14:35.1 M B
41 Finlay Young Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers    14:35.3 M
42 Tom Yeatman Zappi Cycling Club    14:35.8 M
43 Stewart Gregory Nottingham Clarion    14:38.2 M B
44 Fergus Roberts Hambleton Rc    14:38.2 J
45 Peter Greenwood Clayton Velo    14:39.2 M E
46 Chris Baines Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles    14:40.0 M
47 Neil Blessitt Severn Rc    14:42.7 M C
48 Ryan Ballard Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp    14:42.9 M
49 John Findley Southport Cc    14:44.4 M
50 Chris Edmondson Blackburn & District Ctc    14:47.6 M
51 Simon Rushton Phoenix Cc Aintree    14:50.2 M
52 Thomas Marshall Adeo Cadence Rt    14:50.8 M
53 Ben Lane Gs Metro    14:53.9 M A
54 Paul Thirling Westbrook Cycles    15:00.2 M
55 Robert Gough Adeo Cadence Rt    15:01.9 M
56 Rob Weare Leamington C & Ac    15:03.6 M C
57 Stuart Murfin Ashfield Rc    15:04.7 M
58 Harry Shackleton Maccelsfield Wheelers    15:05.0 J
59 John Brown Manchester Wheelers    15:05.1 M A
60 Andrew Askwith Bridington Cycling Club    15:08.0 M B
61 John O’callaghan Barrow Central Wheelers    15:16.5 M A
62 Ashley Proctor Sheffrec Cc    15:18.9 J
63 Josh Ferguson Coveryourcar.Co.Uk Rt    15:20.2 J
64 Stuart Stirland Edinburgh Rc    15:20.4 M
65 Nicolas Latimer Rutland Cc    15:21.2 M
66 Andrew Pearson Huddersfield Road Club    15:21.3 M
67 Richard Lilleker Cleveland Wheelers Cc    15:23.5 M
68 Andrew Leigh Manchester Wheelers    15:26.1 J
69 George Goodwin Mike Vaughan Cycles    15:26.4 J
70 Tony Greenhalgh Maxgear Rt    15:27.7 M
71 Andy Tinsley Maxgear Rt    15:32.7 M A
72 Steve Fidler Team Elite    15:33.1 M
73 Rex Facey 1st Chard Wheelers    15:37.6 M B
74 Lyn Hamel Herbalife/Wheelbase    15:38.6 W
75 Daniel Thorogood Ystwyth Cc    15:41.3 M B
76 Timothy Hastie Rugby Rcc    15:42.6 M
77 Christopher Danby Drighlington Bc    15:43.3 M
78 Daniel Warwick Activcycles Corbridge    15:43.7 M
79 Glyndwr Griffiths Bristol South Cc    15:46.8 M
80 Rob Jackson Inverse/Cyclaim Rt    15:49.5 M B
81 Mark Tickle Leigh Premier    15:50.4 M
82 Gez Taylor Clevedon & District Rc    15:50.7 M B
83 Marc Allen Swindon Road Club    15:51.3 M B
84 Stuart Baker Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles    15:51.4 M
85 Wayne Greenhalgh Maxgear Rt    15:54.6 M A
86 Rebecca Slack The Altitude Centre    15:59.6 W A
87 William Staveley Clifton Cc    16:05.2 J
88 Steve Hargreaves Warrington Road Club    16:05.8 M B
89 Edward Palfreeman 45 Road Club    16:07.6 J
90 Kurtis Rowe Yeovil Cc    16:10.0 J
91 Carl Mustill Ferryhill Wheelers Mountain High Rt    16:10.7 M A
92 Ben Hetherington Ferryhill Wheelers Mountain High Rt    16:11.7 J
93 Jack Reed Team Qoroz    16:13.4 J
94 Daniel Watts Royal Air Force Cc    16:16.7 M
95 Tom Clark Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles    16:18.5 M
96 Nathan Veall Clifton Cc    16:18.7 J
97 Jonathan Lloyd Westmead Team 88    16:19.9 M A
98 Paul Brierley Huddersfield Rc    16:25.5 M A
99 Sarah Byrne Abergavenny Rc    16:28.4 W
100 Jane Kilmartin Cult Racing    16:29.1 W A
101 Philip Astfalck Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp    16:31.1 M C
102 Dave Fearon Weaver Valley    16:32.2 M B
103 Liam O’toole Sheffrec Cc    16:32.6 J
104 Nige Wood Wills Wheels    16:33.8 M B
105 Imran Mughal Ystwyth Cc    16:35.7 M
106 Bronwen Ewing Rye & District Wheelers    16:39.1 W B
107 Shaun Walsh Yeovil Cycling Club    16:39.6 M E
108 Andrew Grace Crewe Clarion Wheelers    16:41.8 M D
109 Robert Gallagher Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles    16:42.6 M
110 Alex Deck Planet X R.T    16:45.1 W A
111 Carlo Berton Border City Wheelers    16:46.5 M B
112 Mike Adams Mapperley Cc    16:47.2 M A
113 Kyle Watts Tyneside Vagabonds    16:50.1 J
114 Jack Fearon Weaver Valley    16:55.5 J
115 Daniel Gee Ashfield Rc    16:56.8 M
116 Dougi Hall Border City Wheelers    16:58.8 M B
117 Sam Mansfield Manchester Wheelers    17:03.9 J
118 Andy Ward Leicester Forest Cc    17:08.5 M A
119 Richie Case Tyneside Vagabonds    17:09.1 M B
120 Jacob Peatfield Bolton Hot Wheels Cc    17:09.5 J
121 Diane Lee Zepnat Rt    17:12.9 W
122 Richard Birkin Nottingham Clarion    17:13.9 M B
123 Ian Shapiro Stockport Clarion Cc    17:23.0 M
124 Anne Plant Herbalife/Wheelbase    17:26.4 W D
125 Eve Dixon Maxgear Rt    17:30.4 Wj
126 Hannah Walker Motorpoint Pro Cycling Team    17:42.1 W
127 Helen Eborall Velo Club Rutland    17:43.6 W
128 Mike Cotgreave Westmead Team 88    17:52.4 M F
129 Jonathan Baines Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles    17:52.5 M
130 James Risk Sportcity Velo    17:54.1 J
131 Dawn Sherrin Gs Metro    17:56.8 W B
132 Connor Fearon Weaver Valley    17:56.9 J
133 Sarah Hartley Blackburn & District Ctc    18:14.4 W
134 Mick Ives Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp    18:17.3 M G
135 Nicola Soden Maxgear Rt    18:27.6 W
136 Peter Middlehurst Crewe Clarion Wheelers    18:34.5 M E
137 James Carter Witham Wheelers Cc    18:37.0 J
138 Steve Roper Barnsley Road Club    18:39.6 M A
139 Thomas Colton Matlock Cc    19:04.8 J
140 John Bettison Lvrc    19:21.8 M G
141 Karen Brooks Lincoln Wheelers Cc    19:23.9 W C
142 Ken Roberts Preston Wheelers    19:25.5 M E
143 Benedikte Joergensen Glossop Kinder Velo    19:33.1 W
144 Josh Bee Stratford Cc    19:38.7 J
145 Robbie Harcourt Nova Cc    19:56.3 M B
146 Jenny Spurrett Blackburn & District Ctc    21:16.4 W
147 Sarah Blackburn Pbscience.Com    21:33.0 W A
148 Joanne Harcourt Nova Cc    22:16.2 W A
149 Jess Watts Tyneside Vagabonds    23:07.0 Wj
RIDERS START SHEET
1   Jonathan Baines   Buxton Cc/Sett Valley Cycles   11:01
2   Joanne Harcourt   Nova Cc   11:02
3   Kurtis Rowe   Yeovil Cc   11:03
4   John O’callaghan   Barrow Central Wheelers   11:04
5   Daniel Gee   Ashfield Rc   11:05
6   Connor Fearon   Weaver Valley   11:06
7   Nige Wood   Wills Wheels   11:07
8   Robert Gallagher   Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles   11:08
9   Dave Fearon   Weaver Valley   11:09
10   Rob Watkinson   Doncaster Wheelers – Don Valley Cycles   11:10
11   James Carter   Witham Wheelers Cc   11:11
12   Robbie Harcourt   Nova Cc   11:12
13   Tom Clark   Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles   11:13
14   Jonathan Schubert   Ystwyth Cc   11:14
15   John Findley   Southport Cc   11:15
16   Jenny Spurrett   Blackburn & District Ctc   11:16
17   Jess Watts   Tyneside Vagabonds   11:17
18   Benedikte Joergensen   Glossop Kinder Velo   11:18
19   Neil Souter   Gs Metro   11:19
20   Stewart Gregory   Nottingham Clarion   11:20
21   Stuart Baker   Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles   11:21
22   Richie Case   Tyneside Vagabonds   11:22
23   Daniel Watts   Royal Air Force Cc   11:23
24   Jane Kilmartin   Cult Racing   11:24
25   Ken Roberts   Preston Wheelers   11:25
26   Diane Lee   Zepnat Rt   11:26
27   Tom Yeatman   Zappi Cycling Club   11:27
28   Kyle Watts   Tyneside Vagabonds   11:28
29   Stuart Stirland   Edinburgh Rc   11:29
30   Ben Lane   Gs Metro   11:30
31   Dougi Hall   Border City Wheelers   11:31
32   Thomas Colton   Matlock Cc   11:32
33   Ian Shapiro   Stockport Clarion Cc   11:33
34   David Crawley   Activcycles Corbridge   11:34
35   Karen Brooks   Lincoln Wheelers Cc   11:35
36   Edward Palfreeman   45 Road Club   11:36
37   Christopher Danby   Drighlington Bc   11:37
38   Carl Mustill   Ferryhill Wheelers Mountain High Rt   11:38
39   Helen Eborall   Velo Club Rutland   11:39
40   Rob Yeatman   Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp   11:40
41   Paul Thirling   Westbrook Cycles   11:41
42   Gez Taylor   Clevedon & District Rc   11:42
43   Bronwen Ewing   Rye & District Wheelers   11:43
44   Shaun Walsh   Yeovil Cycling Club   11:44
45   Nathan Veall   Clifton Cc   11:45
46   Andrew Pearson   Huddersfield Road Club   11:46
47   Philip Astfalck   Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp   11:47
48   Dawn Sherrin   Gs Metro   11:48
49   Steve Hargreaves   Warrington Road Club   11:49
50   Neil Blessitt   Severn Rc   11:50
51   Jack Reed   Team Qoroz   11:51
52   Tony Kiss   Stratford Cc   11:52
53   Sarah Blackburn   Pbscience.Com   11:53
54   Steve Roper   Barnsley Road Club   11:54
55   William Staveley   Clifton Cc   11:55
56   Sam Ward   Otley Cycle Club   11:56
57   Anne Plant   Herbalife/Wheelbase   11:57
58   Andrew Leigh   Manchester Wheelers   11:58
59   Carlo Berton   Border City Wheelers   11:59
60   Jacob Peatfield   Bolton Hot Wheels Cc   12:00
61   Richard Birkin   Nottingham Clarion   12:01
62   Peter Middlehurst   Crewe Clarion Wheelers   12:02
63   Andy Ward   Leicester Forest Cc   12:03
64   Mike Adams   Mapperley Cc   12:04
65   Nicola Soden   Maxgear Rt   12:05
66   Ben Hetherington   Ferryhill Wheelers Mountain High Rt   12:06
67   Daniel Thorogood   Ystwyth Cc   12:07
68   Richard Lilleker   Cleveland Wheelers Cc   12:08
69   Rex Facey   1st Chard Wheelers   12:09
70   Rebecca Slack   The Altitude Centre   12:10
71   Fergus Roberts   Hambleton Rc   12:11
72   Mick Ives   Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp   12:12
73   Nicolas Latimer   Rutland Cc   12:13
74   Mike Cotgreave   Westmead Team 88   12:14
75   Melissa Bury   Maxgear Rt   12:15
76   James Risk   Sportcity Velo   12:16
77   John Bettison   Lvrc   12:17
78   Hugh Carthy   Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp   12:18
79   Carl Saint   Yorkshire Road Club   12:19
80   Eve Dixon   Maxgear Rt   12:20
81   Josh Bee   Stratford Cc   12:21
82   Jonathan Lloyd   Westmead Team 88   12:22
83   Thomas Marshall   Adeo Cadence Rt   12:23
84   Steve Fidler   Team Elite   12:24
85   Sarah Byrne   Abergavenny Rc   12:25
86   Jack Fearon   Weaver Valley   12:26
87   Rob Jackson   Inverse/Cyclaim Rt   12:27
88   Danny Lowthorpe   Rutland Cc   12:28
89   Andrew Grace   Crewe Clarion Wheelers   12:29
90   Alex Deck   Planet X R.T   12:30
91   George Goodwin   Mike Vaughan Cycles   12:31
92   Rob Weare   Leamington C & Ac   12:32
93   Stuart Murfin   Ashfield Rc   12:33
94   John Brown   Manchester Wheelers   12:34
95   Hannah Walker   Motorpoint Pro Cycling Team   12:35
96   Liam O’toole   Sheffrec Cc   12:36
97   Andrew Askwith   Bridington Cycling Club   12:37
98   Tony Parker   North Hampshire Rc   12:38
99   Paul Brierley   Huddersfield Rc   12:39
100   Lyn Hamel   Herbalife/Wheelbase   12:40
101   Tony Greenhalgh   Maxgear Rt   12:41
102   Ryan Ballard   Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp   12:42
103   Mark Tickle   Leigh Premier   12:43
104   Sam Mansfield   Manchester Wheelers   12:44
105   Chris Baines   Buxton Cc – Sett Valley Cycles   12:45
106   Chris Edmondson   Blackburn & District Ctc   12:46
107   Paul Jones   Bristol South Cc   12:47
108   Josh Teasdale   Team Jewson – Mi Racing – Thule – Cnp   12:48
109   Simon Rushton   Phoenix Cc Aintree   12:49
110   Rob English   Arctic – Premier Rt   12:50
111   Neil Skellern   Congleton Cc   12:51
112   Conall Yates   In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp R.T   12:52
113   Luke Clarke   Team Milton Keynes   12:53
114   Robin Wilkins   Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers   12:54
115   Mark Lovatt   Planet X R.T   12:55
116   Ian Stott   Blackburn & District Ctc   12:56
117   James William Tucker   South Pennine Rc   12:57
118   Ashley Proctor   Sheffrec Cc   12:58
119   Finlay Young   Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers   12:59
120   Peter Tadros   In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp R.T   13:00
121   Josh Ferguson   Coveryourcar.Co.Uk Rt   13:01
122   James Dobbin   Adeo Cadence Rt   13:02
123   Harry Shackleton   Maccelsfield Wheelers   13:03
124   Chris Myhill   Peak Road Club   13:04
125   David Clarke   Endura Racing   13:05
126   Adam Yates   Maxgear Rt   13:06
127   Richard Handley   Team Raleigh   13:07
128   James Coleman   Witham Wheelers Cc   13:08
129   John Storms   Kingston Wheelers   13:09
130   Gunnar Gronlund   Rst Racing Team – Trigon   13:10
131   Andy Tinsley   Maxgear Rt   13:11
132   George Atkins   Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers   13:12
133   Danny Axford   Arctic-Premier Rt   13:13
134   Michael Hutchinson   In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp R.T   13:14
135   Rob Hayles   Endura Racing   13:15
136   Wayne Greenhalgh   Maxgear Rt   13:16
137   Ryan Mullen   Planet X R.T   13:17
138   Will Mangar   In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp R.T   13:18
139   Peter Greenwood   Clayton Velo   13:19
140   Tejvan Pettinger   Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team   13:20
141   Matthew Pilkington   Progressive Cycle Coaching Development Squad   13:21
142   Chris Lawless   Maxgear Rt   13:22
143   Dan Evans   Rhos On Sea   13:23
144   Glyndwr Griffiths   Bristol South Cc   13:24
145   Mike Cumming   Twenty 3 C – Orbea   13:25
146   Edward Addis   Velo Ecosse-Montpeliers   13:26
147   Robert Gough   Adeo Cadence Rt   13:27
148   Carl Helliwell   Blackburn & District Ctc   13:28
149   Alistair Kay   Herbalife/Wheelbase   13:29
150   Matt Clinton   Mike Vaughan Cycles   13:30
Reserves
151   Marc Allen   Swindon Road Club
152   Timothy Hastie   Rugby Rcc
153   Alexander Royle   Scienceinsport.Com
154   Sarah Hartley   Blackburn & District Ctc
155   Imran Mughal   Ystwyth Cc
156   Daniel Warwick   Activcycles Corbridge
157   Clive Upton   Hambleton Rc
158   Paul Armstrong   Sheffrec Cc
159   John Cornfield   Born To Bike – Bridgetown Cycles
160   Ben Amesbury   Fibrax Wrexham
161   Trevor Pain   North Hampshire Rc
162   Charles Carraz   Seamons Cc
163   Chris Sharp   Matlock Cc
164   Simon Lees   Stone Wheelers
165   Matthew Plant   Rugby Rcc
