Preview: Monsal Hill Climb

The 92nd running of this hill climb classic, the HMT ST Hugh’s Hospital Monsal Hill Climb, organised by Sheffrec Cycling Club has a great field with 181 entries including three former winners.

Preview: Monsal Hill Climb

The 92nd running of this hill climb classic, organised Sheffrec Cycling Club has a great field with 181 entries including three former winners.

One of three former winners, Adam Kenway of Brother UK

The senior men’s category is expected to be a very close run race for the podium places. Unsurprisingly with so many riders and the event being one of, if not the most prestigious event on the hill climb calendar, there are a lots of potential winners. This year two times winner and the second fastest rider in the events history, Calum Brown is absent along with last year’s winner, Andy Nichols who is injured. This leaves the door well and truly open. Adam Kenway, Brother UK has won at Monsal before and the ex-national hill climb champion will certainly have one eye on the top step of the podium. Fresh from a win last weekend, Adam is always solid at Monsal and knows how to gauge his effort up the 1 in 6 climb. He will face some strong competition for the top spot on Sunday as there are a couple that could challenge for the podium places.

Gregg Booker, SUMMAT CC is fresh from a win at Hardwick Hall and placed 4th overall last year will be looking to grab a share of the £2,100 prize list. Also on the start sheet is Joe Shillabeer. The Saint Piran rider produced a great ride last year at his first attempt and is back to try and go that bit faster to be up there with the likes of Kenway and Booker. No strangers to Monsal are Josh Coyne and Cameron Biddle who have both posted 1:21 rides in the past so these could also threaten Kenway, Booker and Shilabeer.

The HMT ladies cup is another packed field full of talent. 2021 winner, current double national hill climb champion is back to defend her titles. Bithja took Monsal by storm last year by smahing 5 seconds off the course record and also winning the women’s veteran category. Bithja is the only rider back this year from last year’s top 5 so she is out and out favourite to take the win again on Sunday. Emilie Verroken, Team Lifting Gear Products and Becky Hair, Team Watto will be looking to repeat their rides from last year. Verroken won at Hardwick Hall so she’s on good form. Like the men’s category, there are several riders would could easily podium. Iona Sewell, Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling, Maya Branfoot, Wahoo Endurance Zone p/b Le Col, Erin Avill, Storey Racing are all contenders.

Everyone is in search of a slice from the £2100.00 prize fund. First prize is £200.00 and there is an equal prize for men and women and top 3 prizes for all categories. The big question is, can anyone be a real threat to the 41 year old record set by Elliott in 1981? Calum Brown came close in 2018 with a 1:14.5, just 3 tenths off so it’s a possibility but history has proven it’s a very big ask. The vets race is also looking like a two horse race with defending vets Monsal champion Dan Evans absent, Nicolas Latimer and Darren Kidson have a great opportunity to get their name on the Cope Trophy.

First run in 1930, Monsal Hill Climb has been on the hill climb calendar for an amazing 92 years. This event was first started by a few mates riding out to Monsal Head at the end of the track season and timing each other up the hill, at this time it was an unmade road. How times have changed. The course is a one-in-six and 675 yards long. This year the event has two new partners. HMT St Hugh’s Hospital are joined by Bioracer UK. HMT St Hugh’s Hospital offer private access to a wide range of treatments and consultants, they are a not-for-profit organisation and all of their surpluses support research.

Bioracer UK are the market leader in custom cycling apparel. Obsessed with making riders go faster, every detail is incorporated into producing the fastest cycling kit for every racer, from amateur to professional. Famed for its unique custom design capabilities, supplying innovative and distinct kit designs for clubs and race teams all over the world, including the esteemed INEOS Grenadiers.

Event organiser, Marc Etches commented “This is a great partnership and the support from HMT St Hugh’s Hospital and Bioracer UK has made this prestigious event now even more prestigious. We are excited to be able to offer such a great prize list to all the riders and we will now continue to lead the way in setting the standard hill climb promotion nationally”.

Start List
2 — 11:02 Hugo Reynolds Matlock CC Tandem
2 — 11:02 Jago Reynolds Matlock CC Tandem
3 — 11:03 Eric Perkins Ilkeston Cycle Club SB
4 — 11:04 Alfie Astles Matlock CC SB
5 — 11:05 Yvonne Twelvetree Sheffield Triathlon Club LV
6 — 11:06 David Hayward Matlock CC V50+
7 — 11:07 Rachel Lawley Eat Plants Not Pigs CC L
8 — 11:08 George Anthony Matlock CC SB
9 — 11:09 Harriet Eisner Sheffield Triathlon Club LV
10 — 11:10 Niall Guite Sheffield Youth Cycling Club V50+
11 — 11:11 Janet Kenyon Carlisle Reivers Cycling Club LV
12 — 11:12 Oliver Coefield Sheffield Youth Cycling Club SB
13 — 11:13 Cecilia Ellis Didsbury Cycling Club LV
14 — 11:14 Stanley Perkins Ilkeston Cycle Club SB
15 — 11:15 Patrick O’Connor Calder Clarion V50+
16 — 11:16 Sandra MacKay Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling LV
17 — 11:17 Alan Parsons Bolsover and District CC V50+
18 — 11:18 Jonas Mullington Derby Mercury R C SB
19 — 11:19 Bruce Tether Chorlton Velo V50+
20 — 11:20 Frederick Farr Matlock CC SB
21 — 11:21 Barry McDonald Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling V50+
22 — 11:22 Rick Mason Didsbury Cycling Club V50+
23 — 11:23 Olivia Marriott Derby Mercury R C SG
24 — 11:24 Felix Oliver Sheffield Youth Cycling Club SB
25 — 11:25 Peter Down Tickhill Velo Club V
26 — 11:26 Jude Alcock 7 Hills Cycling Club SB
27 — 11:27 Harley Widdowson Clancy Briggs Cycling Academy SB
28 — 11:28 Alfie Nott Sheffield Youth Cycling Club SB
29 — 11:29 Rob Whittle Shutt Velo Test Team V50+
30 — 11:30 Jon Donnison Cycling Club Hackney V50+
31 — 11:31 Laurie Stobbs Ribble Cycles V
32 — 11:32 Brendan Hirst Rugby Racing Cycling Club V50+
33 — 11:33 Charles Van Adrichem Matlock CC SB
34 — 11:34 George Robb Bedfordshire Road CC SB
35 — 11:35 Sonia Insley Bolsover and District CC LV
36 — 11:36 Benjamin Taylor Sheffield Youth Cycling Club SB
37 — 11:37 Ruby Blanc Sportcity Velo SG
38 — 11:38 Sam Martin Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club SB
39 — 11:39 Roch Morgan Derby Mercury R C SB
40 — 11:40 Alex Taylor Holmes Chapel Velo V
41 — 11:41 Jamie Brough Matlock CC SB
42 — 11:42 Dale Wilkes Mansfield Road Club V
43 — 11:43 Mandy Hibberd Rapha Cycling Club LV
44 — 11:44 James Marshall Fusion Cycling Club Dronfield V
45 — 11:45 Andy Smith Mansfield Road Club V
46 — 11:46 Alastair Merrill VC 10 V50+
47 — 11:47 Ben Cooper myhillcycling.co.uk S
48 — 11:48 Snowdon Brierley Macclesfield Wheelers V50+
49 — 11:49 Justin Smith CC Giro V50+
50 — 11:50 Thomas Lindley Team Sheffield SB
51 — 11:51 Nicola Soden Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling L
52 — 11:52 Caspar Reynolds Matlock CC SB
53 — 11:53 Jonathan Pupius 7 Hills Cycling Club V
54 — 11:54 Anwen Brierley Sportcity Velo SG
55 — 11:55 Mark Conanughton Fusion Cycling Club Dronfield V50+
56 — 11:56 Andrew Askwith Vive Le Velo V50+
57 — 11:57 Dave Preece Didsbury Cycling Club V50+
58 — 11:58 Peter Grant OVB V50+
59 — 11:59 Rebecca Lineker Velo Bavarian L
60 — 12:00 Finley Hudson Matlock CC SB
61 — 12:01 Richard Walker VTTA (North Midlands) V50+
62 — 12:02 Luke Jenkinson The Dead Parrots S
63 — 12:03 Bhima Bowden Macclesfield Wheelers S
64 — 12:04 John Hind Bolsover and District CC V50+
65 — 12:05 Harriet Hernando Maidenhead & District CC L
66 — 12:06 Phillip Oliver Rutland Cycling Club V50+
67 — 12:07 Susil Pallikadavath Leicester Forest CC S
68 — 12:08 Khaled Balabil Holmes Chapel Velo V50+
69 — 12:09 Karl Wooffindin Team Lifting Gear Products S
70 — 12:10 Thomas Turton Macclesfield Wheelers S
71 — 12:11 Nicholas Whittle Holmes Chapel Velo V
72 — 12:12 Conor Cairns Bolsover and District CC V50+
73 — 12:13 Oliver Shead Glossop Kinder Velo Cycling Club S
74 — 12:14 Matt Thompson Team Cystic Fibrosis SB
75 — 12:15 James Storr Newark Castle C C V
76 — 12:16 Chris Ward Leicestershire RC S
77 — 12:17 Tom De Gennaro South Normanton C C S
78 — 12:18 Phillip Evans Beeston Cycling Club S
79 — 12:19 Christopher White South Normanton C C S
80 — 12:20 Daniel Farrand TrueSapien V
81 — 12:21 Nick Burton Newark Castle C C V
82 — 12:22 Matthew Coates OVB S
83 — 12:23 Duncan Edwards North Argyll CC S
84 — 12:24 Stuart Bolton Sheffrec CC V50+
85 — 12:25 George Baker Barrow Central Wheelers S
86 — 12:26 Ewen Ross Velo Bavarian V
87 — 12:27 Lewis Billington Derby Mercury R C SB
88 — 12:28 Thomas Woolf Matlock CC SB
89 — 12:29 Christopher Baines Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles S
90 — 12:30 Harry Hudson Matlock CC SB
91 — 12:31 Konstantinos Somarakis Leicester Forest CC S
92 — 12:32 Chris Kaye Ilkeston Cycle Club V
93 — 12:33 Danny Lake 360VRT V
94 — 12:34 Sam Davey Paramount CRT S
95 — 12:35 Niko Raine myhillcycling.co.uk S
96 — 12:36 Ethan Squires Beeston Cycling Club SB
97 — 12:37 Matthew Larkins Withington Wheelers S
98 — 12:38 Christian Atkinson Macclesfield Wheelers S
99 — 12:39 Will Spalton Withington Wheelers S
100 — 12:40 Thomas Robb Bedfordshire Road RT V50+
101 — 12:41 Steven Prince Ludlow Brewery Race Team V
102 — 12:42 James Westwood SUMMAT CC S
103 — 12:43 Andy Hibberd North Hampshire RC V50+
104 — 12:44 Paul Shardlow Rapha Cycling Club S
105 — 12:45 Tom Smart North Cotswold CC SB
106 — 12:46 Ben Smith Verulam CC V
107 — 12:47 Edward Rees University of Nottingham C C S
108 — 12:48 Matthew Calvert Matlock CC J
109 — 12:49 Ash Miles CC Giro V50+
110 — 12:50 Lewis Smith Sheffield Youth Cycling Club SB
111 — 12:51 Abi Plowman Kendal Cycle Club L
112 — 12:52 Francis Eades Islington Cycling Club S
113 — 12:53 Jacob Bradbury Manchester Wheelers SB
114 — 12:54 Dean Johns RDP V
115 — 12:55 Leo Guilfoyle FTP ( Fulfil The Potential ) Race Team J
116 — 12:56 Jake Wade COBL Cycling Club S
117 — 12:57 Evan Schofield D2D Sheffield RT J
118 — 12:58 Emil Howell Matlock CC J
119 — 12:59 Chris Spencer Congleton CC – MyWindsock S
120 — 13:00 Mark Rowbottom Chesterfield Coureurs CC V
121 — 13:01 Alfie Thompson Leicestershire RC S
122 — 13:02 Tom Damant 7 Hills Cycling Club S
123 — 13:03 Jasper Griffin Kingston Wheelers CC S
124 — 13:04 Daniel Robson University of Nottingham C C S
125 — 13:05 James Sawyers Clifton CC York J
126 — 13:06 Simon Warren Norwood Paragon CC V
127 — 13:07 Tom Llewellyn Mansfield Road Club S
128 — 13:08 Graham Martin Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club V
129 — 13:09 Noah Starbuck Sleaford Wheelers Cycling Club SB
130 — 13:10 Benjamin Jordan Velo Bavarian S
131 — 13:11 Richard Stoodley TrueSapien V50+
132 — 13:12 Josh Stringfellow Mansfield Road Club S
133 — 13:13 Scott Palmer Bridgnorth Cycling Club V
134 — 13:14 George Stephen Cero/Cycledivision J
135 — 13:15 Neale Jackson Sheffrec CC V
136 — 13:16 Oliver Humphreys National Clarion CC V
137 — 13:17 Archie Wright Loughborough Students Cycling Club S
138 — 13:18 Joseph Molyneaux Congleton CC – MyWindsock S
139 — 13:19 Darren Miller Fusion Cycling Club Dronfield V
140 — 13:20 Maia Howell Matlock CC SG
141 — 13:21 Cameron Walker Cambridge University CC S
142 — 13:22 Dan Letherbarrow Cheltenham & County Cycling Club S
143 — 13:23 Tom Yiangou Athlon CC S
144 — 13:24 Luke Allen Sheffrec CC S
145 — 13:25 Sam Marshall Trash Mile S
146 — 13:26 Gavin Alcock 7 Hills Cycling Club V
147 — 13:27 Ryan Oldam Reading CC S
148 — 13:28 Frances Owen Wahoo Endurance Zone p/b Le Col L
149 — 13:29 Isaac Oliver Sheffield Youth Cycling Club SB
150 — 13:30 Dan Taylor Leicester Forest CC S
151 — 13:31 Lilja Raine JRC Interflon Race Team LJ
152 — 13:32 Nick Munro Royal Air Force Cycling Association S
153 — 13:33 Gemma Sargent Saint Piran LV
154 — 13:34 Jack Hartley Team Sheffield S
155 — 13:35 Tom Andrews Team Lifting Gear Products S
156 — 13:36 Erin Avill Storey Racing L
157 — 13:37 James Byatt Ilkeston Cycle Club S
158 — 13:38 Maya Branfoot Wahoo Endurance Zone p/b Le Col L
159 — 13:39 James McKay Cycling Sheffield S
160 — 13:40 Charlie Openshaw Team Lifting Gear Products V
161 — 13:41 Iona Sewell Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling L
162 — 13:42 James King OVB S
163 — 13:43 Conrad Williams Bath Cycling Club V
164 — 13:44 Amy Loftus JRC Interflon Race Team LJ
165 — 13:45 Ewan Mackie Cycling Sheffield S
166 — 13:46 William Jeffery Saint Piran S
167 — 13:47 Nicholas Latimer Team Lifting Gear Products V
168 — 13:48 Ryan Williams Beeston Cycling Club J
169 — 13:49 Tobi Ng Team PB Performance S
170 — 13:50 Emilie Verroken Team Lifting Gear Products LV
171 — 13:51 James Hartley Cycling Sheffield S
172 — 13:52 Tom Parsons Team Jewson – MI Racing ~Poly Pipe~McCann S
173 — 13:53 Becky Hair Team Watto L
174 — 13:54 Darren Kidson Onyx RT V
175 — 13:55 Joe Shillabeer Saint Piran S
176 — 13:56 Gregg Booker SUMMAT CC S
177 — 13:57 George Wood Cycling Sheffield S
178 — 13:58 Cameron Biddle Bikestrong-KTM S
179 — 13:59 Josh Coyne Bpm Coaching S
180 — 14:00 Adam Kenway Team Brother UK S
181 — 14:01 Bithja Jones Pankhurst Cycles LV