News: Wight Mountain CRT Hill Climb Champs

Over 40 riders stepped up to the mark and pushed their bodies to the limit last Sunday when they competed in the Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Hill Climbs Championship

News: Wight Mountain CRT Hill Climb Champs

Wightlink-Wight Mountain Cycle Race Team Hill Climbs Championship – Sunday, 2nd October 2022

Over 40 riders stepped up to the mark and pushed their bodies to the limit last Sunday when they competed in the Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Hill Climbs Championship – Bob and Holly Stockton entered again on a tandem to try to beat their time from last year and Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT rider, Nick Earley pulled out an impressive performance on his MTB. The riders took on two challenging mile climbs in the heavy rain, the punchy ascent of Lynch Lane and the gruelling Brook Shute climb which snakes up from the Military Road; the Overall Winners in the Men’s and Women’s categories would be the riders with the best combined times.

Over £600 in cash from entry fees and vouchers supplied by Wightlink, Wight Mountain, Nopinz and Chessell Pottery Café up for grabs there was an extra incentive to dig deep on the day and the competitors didn’t disappoint despite the adverse weather.

Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT rider Kev Chant powered up Lynch Lane in 2 minutes 58 seconds taking the lead over Michael Hoare (Reflex/NAUT Cycling) and James Spencer (NAUT Cycling) who finished in 3.08 and 3.09 respectively, giving him a cushion of 10 seconds leading into the second climb. The WLWM rider pulled out a blistering time of 3.28 on Brook Shute which was enough to secure the Overall Winner title and the top prize of £100 cash and a £50 Nopinz voucher; James Spencer came home in 3.45 giving him a combined time of 6.54 taking 2nd place, by just 1 second over Michael Hoare who had to settle for 3rd place on the day.

In the Overall Women’s category, Nadia Lele (NAUT Cycling) took a convincing win and the top prize of £100 and a £50 Wightlink voucher, finishing with a combined time of 9.21. Elizabeth Steward (Wight Tri), who was competing in her first Hill Climb, took 2nd place with a combined time of 10.45 and team mate, Jessica Newell, came home in 3rd place with a time of 11.15. James Spencer and Michael Hoare also picked up some extra prizes in the Non-WLWM category which certainly made it a profitable 7 minutes and helped soothe the pain!

In the Vet 50+ category, Craig Wilson (Wight Tri) took the top spot in a time of 8.14, followed by Russ Mellor (Wight Tri) who was pleased to pick up one of his own trophies for the first time this season. Steve Taylor (NAUT Cycling), who has competed in every round of the Series, finished his season on a high by winning the ‘Supervets’ 60+ category in 8.33 with Graham Orchard (NAUT Cycling) close behind in 2nd place and Steve Dines (Wight Tri) picking up 3rd.

The Junior riders were absolutely brilliant on the day and it was great to see some of the youngsters competing for the first time and putting in a fantastic performance in such awful conditions. Lottie Van Der Helstraete (IOW Triathlon Club), competing for the last time in the Series as a Junior, took the top spot in 10.55. Phoebe Heng (IOW Triathlon Club) and 12-year-old Annabelle Steward (IOW Triathlon Club) finished in 2nd and 3rd place respectively with just 2 seconds between them.

Ewan Cook (Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT) was on exceptional form, taking the Junior Men’s title in a combined time of 7.03 and finishing 4th Overall in the event. Billy Williams (NAUT Cycling) took 2nd place and a top 10 Overall place with Benjamin Van Der Helstraete (IOW Triathlon Club) picking up 3rd place.

Organisers, Jerry and Julie Cooper, say:‘We’ve had an absolutely brilliant season and it’s sad to see it come to an end, but it’s great to see so many of the Island’s cyclists and triathletes supporting the events and we’re looking forward to what 2023 will bring – we’ve got a few ideas we’re exploring and are hoping for bigger and better things next year. We really couldn’t do this without our sponsors who have been more than generous with prizes and the volunteers who turn up come rain or shine to help out at the events. Last, but not least, we’re really lucky to have Russ Mellor (aka CutLaserCut) as one of our sponsors who provides us with the stylish trophies’

proud supporters of Mountbatten and raised £2,200 through donations from the entry fees and the Grand Raffle held in September.

1 CHANT Kev WLWM 2.58 3.28 6.26
2 SPENCER James NAUT Cycling 3.09 3.45 6.54
3 HOARE Michael Reflex/NAUT Cycling 3.08 3.47 6.55
1 COOK Ewan WLWM 3.10 3.53 7.03 J
HOLLEYMAN Adam WLWM 3.14 3.57 7.11
VEAL James WLWM 3.19 3.52 7.11
ORCHARD Charlie WLWM 3.22 4.00 7.22
PETT James WLWM 3.27 4.01 7.28
2 WILLIAMS Billy NAUT Cycling 3.25 4.10 7.35 J
ROGERS James Independent 3.23 4.18 7.41
DIXON Rollo NAUT Cycling 3.37 4.14 7.51
WAITE Stuart WLWM 3.35 4.18 7.53
FORSTER Paul NAUT Cycling 3.34 4.22 7.56
PAUL Alex NAUT Cycling 3.44 4.24 8.08
1 WILSON Craig Wight Tri 3.48 4.26 8.14 V
BADMAN Devon NAUT Cycling 3.48 4.29 8.17
EARLEY Nick WLWM 3.50 4.28 8.18
3 VAN DER HELSTRAETE Benjamin IOW Triathlon Club 3.53 4.39 8.32 J
1 TAYLOR Steve NAUT Cycling 3.53 4.40 8.33 V
MORGAN Henry IOW Triathlon Club 3.53 4.44 8.37 J
TAYLOR Aidan Independent 3.52 4.51 8.43
2 ORCHARD Graham Independent 4.04 4.43 8.47 V
MORGAN Dan IOW Triathlon Club 4.06 4.51 8.57
FOSTER Kev WLWM 4.15 4.44 8.59
HENG James Independent 4.06 5.10 9.16 J
1 LELE Nadia NAUT Cycling 4.18 5.03 9.21
CALMON Martin Wight Tri 4.56 4.52 9.48
HALLETT Logan Independent 4.51 5.05 9.56 J
CAVE Louie NAUT Cycling 4.38 5.31 10.09 J
2 STEWARD Elizabeth Wight Tri 4.55 5.50 10.45
JENKINSON Mark IOW Triathlon Club 5.05 5.48 10.53
1 VAN DER HELSTRAETE Lottie IOW Triathlon Club 5.02 5.53 10.55 J
2 MELLOR Russ Wight Tri 5.11 6.01 11.12 V
3 NEWELL Jessica Wight Tri 5.10 6.05 11.15
JENKINSON Jasper IOW Triathlon Club 5.07 6.14 11.21 J
2 PHOEBE Heng IOW Triathlon Club 5.12 6.16 11.28 J
3 STEWARD Annabelle IOW Triathlon Club 5.24 6.06 11.30 J
ELTON-WALTERS Arielle Wight Tri 5.20 6.10 11.30
3 DINES Steve Wight Tri 5.32 5.59 11.31 V
DUNLOP Liz Wight Tri 5.33 6.24 11.57 V
ELTON-WALTERS Lizzi Wight Tri 5.44 6.31 12.15
STOCKTON Bob & Holly Independent (Tandem) 5.58 6.53 12.51