Welsh Hill Climb Report
Having decided to put an elite team into the Welsh Hill climb, things soon turned Pete Tong, when Will broke his wrist in the Aber & Back. Not a major problem, till work took over for Jerry so then it was down to Cookie and my good self to tackle the climb up from Llangynidr towards Ebbw Vale, a personal favourite of our man Jwooooones.
I was lucky; I still looked good going past them, a very important thing in my opinion. Having finished I returned back down to hecklers corner. Earl of the Forest came through next looking composed, but not at the same speed as the hill whippets. 
Earl likes the hills! Cookie was last of our lot to come through. He did not look good. Eyes bulging pain etched on his face. To top it off, I had to slow the speed of my camera down just to give the effect he was actually moving. Even worse still, the eventual winner was seconds behind him. How does it feel to get passed? Ha, now you know how we all feel. Times were the winner 11:00, Earl 12:04, Cookie 12:05, and myself 15:55. Bear in mind, a lot of those riding were hill whippets, who you never see during the rest of the season. 
Vintage Tankard
Again things had been looking good for a good close battle of the Tankard. Then with some key players being unavailable, doom was on the cards. Closer to time, the team became in flux, I was not even sure we had a full team. Not only the unavailability but also several with illness, things were looking bad from my point of view. Some wheeling dealing on the phone secured maybe 8 players. Sunday morning came and another had failed his medical. Doomed was booming through my head. James saved the day, dragging “The Animal” Clive to the rescue, out with him. Graham Carter got up from his deathbed, halleluiah we had a team!!!!!!!
Meeting at the Fountain, my job of psyching the team up and everyone else down started in earnest. It was cold, and I didn’t fancy cycling up to the start, so a nice warm car for me it was. Temperatures at Boys Grave were considerably warmer on the top of the hill, as opposed to the bottom. John Linden and Matt deployed Marshals for duties, Coach getting the best spot studying the lines and styles of the riders descending Speech house, and Dave measuring the speed past the Beechenhurst entrance. Julie did Speech House itself, enjoying the smell of the sheep dung. Bart was at Parkend, and Papa Dobbyn (don’t know your name, apols) at Cannop cross.
Having decided to put an elite team into the Welsh Hill climb, things soon turned Pete Tong, when Will broke his wrist in the Aber & Back. Not a major problem, till work took over for Jerry so then it was down to Cookie and my good self to tackle the climb up from Llangynidr towards Ebbw Vale, a personal favourite of our man Jwooooones.
Weather was good to the point of the sun being too hot. The reccy ride gave me a good coating of sweat before I had even turned a wheel in anger! Anyways, what I remembered about the hill from 3 years ago went out of the window. It was steeper than I remembered. At the hairpin, just over a ¼ of a mile to go, the hecklers stood.
I was lucky; I still looked good going past them, a very important thing in my opinion. Having finished I returned back down to hecklers corner. Earl of the Forest came through next looking composed, but not at the same speed as the hill whippets. 
Earl likes the hills! Cookie was last of our lot to come through. He did not look good. Eyes bulging pain etched on his face. To top it off, I had to slow the speed of my camera down just to give the effect he was actually moving. Even worse still, the eventual winner was seconds behind him. How does it feel to get passed? Ha, now you know how we all feel. Times were the winner 11:00, Earl 12:04, Cookie 12:05, and myself 15:55. Bear in mind, a lot of those riding were hill whippets, who you never see during the rest of the season. Vintage Tankard
Again things had been looking good for a good close battle of the Tankard. Then with some key players being unavailable, doom was on the cards. Closer to time, the team became in flux, I was not even sure we had a full team. Not only the unavailability but also several with illness, things were looking bad from my point of view. Some wheeling dealing on the phone secured maybe 8 players. Sunday morning came and another had failed his medical. Doomed was booming through my head. James saved the day, dragging “The Animal” Clive to the rescue, out with him. Graham Carter got up from his deathbed, halleluiah we had a team!!!!!!!
Meeting at the Fountain, my job of psyching the team up and everyone else down started in earnest. It was cold, and I didn’t fancy cycling up to the start, so a nice warm car for me it was. Temperatures at Boys Grave were considerably warmer on the top of the hill, as opposed to the bottom. John Linden and Matt deployed Marshals for duties, Coach getting the best spot studying the lines and styles of the riders descending Speech house, and Dave measuring the speed past the Beechenhurst entrance. Julie did Speech House itself, enjoying the smell of the sheep dung. Bart was at Parkend, and Papa Dobbyn (don’t know your name, apols) at Cannop cross.
Being circuits it was inevitable some rider would be starting as others were starting their second laps. This I think motivates better performances from everyone.
What can I say about the results? For the end of the season there were a lot of really good results, including a few PB’s . Alan “The Annihilator” Cook destroyed the course record making proceedings look like a walk in the park. Earl was the fast man from the Forest team a minute and a half off The Annihilator’s time. Richard Lawton led his compardres for the Phoenix. Bottom line was we lacked sub 50-minute riders meaning we ended up 2nd some 15 and a bit minutes down.
What can I say about the results? For the end of the season there were a lot of really good results, including a few PB’s . Alan “The Annihilator” Cook destroyed the course record making proceedings look like a walk in the park. Earl was the fast man from the Forest team a minute and a half off The Annihilator’s time. Richard Lawton led his compardres for the Phoenix. Bottom line was we lacked sub 50-minute riders meaning we ended up 2nd some 15 and a bit minutes down.
What it really means is the tankard should be nice and clean when we win it next year. Both Cookie and myself got full marks off the hill judges for style and effort hitting 50mph down the bank. It was also nice to see some youngsters out and a couple of ladies. Will tell Mary, Colleen and Julie to start their next years campaign this year……
Just checked the split times, they make very interesting reading. James - explain the last lap!??!
Ross Hill Climb
Good weather conditions this year saw 9 warriors turn up for this legendary event. Every year Siz boy turns up to eye everyone up. Siz held the record (still has the Ross record) for 30 odd years, so he turns up to see if anyone can even come close to his old time. Hill climbs are definitely a specialist event, and we weren’t disappointed this year. Matt in a motor vehicle (pimp wagon) accompanied his troops from the forest, and surprisingly they just about managed to keep up. Will pitched up in his cast looking meaner than a snake, planning to do battle with the hill on his mountain bike. I put him off directly in front of me, thinking it would be a good idea to have someone to chase. Best laid plans never go as intended, he took off like a scolded rabbit, once at the top rueing what could have been had he not broke his wrist and me some ways back wondering why he was already at the finish.
Earl was next up, a miniature powerhouse but looking like it was hurting bad. Bill Reay decided to dress for the occasion wearing his polka dot hill climber’s jersey. I could tell he’d psyched a few out before he’d even got his number on. The man even smiled and called his number out as he went over the line.
Ross Hill ClimbGood weather conditions this year saw 9 warriors turn up for this legendary event. Every year Siz boy turns up to eye everyone up. Siz held the record (still has the Ross record) for 30 odd years, so he turns up to see if anyone can even come close to his old time. Hill climbs are definitely a specialist event, and we weren’t disappointed this year. Matt in a motor vehicle (pimp wagon) accompanied his troops from the forest, and surprisingly they just about managed to keep up. Will pitched up in his cast looking meaner than a snake, planning to do battle with the hill on his mountain bike. I put him off directly in front of me, thinking it would be a good idea to have someone to chase. Best laid plans never go as intended, he took off like a scolded rabbit, once at the top rueing what could have been had he not broke his wrist and me some ways back wondering why he was already at the finish.
Earl was next up, a miniature powerhouse but looking like it was hurting bad. Bill Reay decided to dress for the occasion wearing his polka dot hill climber’s jersey. I could tell he’d psyched a few out before he’d even got his number on. The man even smiled and called his number out as he went over the line.
Forest Man Will Latchem was next off. Not seen much of him this year, but he too made it look like hard work. The Cookmeister was next up, travelling quick but, we knew it was not enough especially as his eyes started to bulge out of his head again. Is this a trait he gives when he’s on the limit?
Young Alistair was next off, I really thought he would fly up the hill, on reaching the finish, he could smile, but not as big a smile as Bills. Breaking himself back into cycling Adam Horswill crossed the line only to be told he was half way. I got half a rye smile for my efforts. I put him off last as my money was on him; Jerry climbed the hill soaring like a hawk (or should that be climbing like a cat?) to win the coveted title of hill climb champion 2009. According to bottom of the hill timekeeper Julie, he went like stink off the line. As he approached the finish, he again accelerated, this was the point he won the event in my humble opinion. He also said it was a hard day, which I had to agree with, especially for the early starters.
Rider of the day was Adam of the Forest for a big improvement in performance since the Vintage Tankard. He will be fast next season if I’m reading the signs right.
AGM
Don’t forget the AGM is on the Monday 19th of this month at the Larruperz in Ross. Please make every effort to attend. It is imperative that the Club has the views of as many members as possible so that together we can make the Club truly unique and successful in the coming years.
Next Sunday there is a trip to the Brechfa Forest Mountain biking. Absolutely awesome stuff, Let either myself or Deano know if you fancy a jolly to that neck of the woods.
Jwooooooones has had his op. Pioneering techniques with seven incisions. He described it as a painful experience, and Amanda really does not like doing the dressings He’s got a few months of doing nothing ahead. Hoping he has a speedy recovery, and will be part of the backbone of our Vintage Tankard win next year.
Paul
Hill Climb
Julie timing at bottom, Audrey & John at the top. Derek Hill pushed off.
AGM
Don’t forget the AGM is on the Monday 19th of this month at the Larruperz in Ross. Please make every effort to attend. It is imperative that the Club has the views of as many members as possible so that together we can make the Club truly unique and successful in the coming years.
Next Sunday there is a trip to the Brechfa Forest Mountain biking. Absolutely awesome stuff, Let either myself or Deano know if you fancy a jolly to that neck of the woods.
Jwooooooones has had his op. Pioneering techniques with seven incisions. He described it as a painful experience, and Amanda really does not like doing the dressings He’s got a few months of doing nothing ahead. Hoping he has a speedy recovery, and will be part of the backbone of our Vintage Tankard win next year.
Paul
Hill Climb
Julie timing at bottom, Audrey & John at the top. Derek Hill pushed off.
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