Lancaster Cycling Club

The long LCC racing season drew to a close on Sunday with our double-header Open Hill Climb up either side of Quernmore Valley just outside of Lancaster, organised by Bob Muir - the first climb heading west from the River Conder towards Lancaster up Conder Bottoms, & the second east away from Lancaster up the much longer climb to Jubilee Tower on the Forest of Bowland.

We were blessed with a glorious autumnal day - clear skies & warm sunshine. The roads however felt heavy, with - for those who have ridden them before - both climbs more of a slog than usual, & particularly the longer, second one up Jubilee Tower, which was ridden into a stiff breeze.

But what a great event! Riders & their families, along with the enthusiastic team of volunteers who made the event possible, gathered at event HQ, Quernmore's bowling green pavilion, & before, between and after the climbs basked in the sunshine & caught up on news. If you've not tackled these climbs before (or even if you have!) why not make a note now to take part in next year's event? It's not to be missed!

Lake RC's Dave Huck (pictured above, thanks to Ken Roberts) had a good day, climbing both hills fastest. He rode Condor Bottoms in a very quick 1 minute 50 seconds. That was 18 seconds faster than 2nd placed John Findley of High On Bikes, who finished in 2:08. The best-placed LCC rider & 3rd overall was Tom Brook in 2:15. Fastest vet was LCC's John Hatton in 2:34; fastest under 18 Salt Ayre Cog Set's Bobby Horton in 2:38; & fastest woman Holly Carter of Manchester Wheelers in 3:23.

Two hours later the riders who'd already ascended Conder Bottoms were joined by more (with fresher legs!) for Jubilee Tower. Dave Huck of Lakes RC was again fastest, in 8 minutes & 5 seconds. And John Findley of High On Bikes (pictured above, again thanks to Ken Roberts) was again second, this time just 15 seconds slower on the much longer climb, in 8:20. Third, and also the fastest vet, was Richard Bideau of Pendle Forest CC in 8:30. Best placed LCC rider was Tom Brook in 8th, in a time of 9:13. Fastest woman was Mary Wilkinson of Yorkshire Road Club in 9:20; and fastest under 18 was again Bobby Horton of Salt Ayre Cog Set in 10:34. And a special shout out to Kent Valley RC's Peter Knott, who at 79 years young proved that - however hard a pursuit it might be - age needn't be a barrier to hill climbing.

Congratulations to all riders who finished one, the other, or both climbs, & commiserations to those riders who experienced mechanicals and did not finish. And massive thanks to everyone who helped make the event happen.

The combined results of the two climbs determined two trophy winners - Dave Huck's combined time of 9:55 sees him hold the G. M. Brennan Trophy for the next year; and Hollly Carter of Manchester Wheelers combined time of 16:46 sees her hold the Flossie Mitchell Cup for the next year. The Jubilee Tower Hill Climb this year was also the chosen event for the NLTTA hill climb championship and as well as winning both individual events Dave Huck (Lakes Road Club) is also the 2015 NLTTA Hill Climb Champion. Congratulations to him.

Links to really great photos taken of the riders on both climbs by Ken Roberts are here: Conder Bottoms, & Jubilee Tower.

Below there's a message from LCC President & the event organiser Bob Muir:

"I would like to congratulate not just the prizewinners but everyone who entered and rode our events supporting our new venture of two hill climbs out of Quernmore Valley. We will be back next year and if you enjoyed today’s events please tell your club mates and help our event to grow.

I would also like to thank my wife Jann, who was only just starting to recover from a debilitating ‘bug’ she had for the last week, for setting out the event HQ & managing signing on as well as providing copious amounts of tea, coffee, biscuits and a mountain of malt loaf.

Thanks also go to Brian, the stentorious Scot, for manning the results & prize presentation side of things and the timekeeper for both events, Gail Warren, as well as everybody out on the road (Sue, Darren, Peter, John, Dave & Ken all of whom share equal credit for making the event such a success. Hope to see you all again next September but in the meantime you are welcome to enter any of our series of evening club time trials stretching from March to September including both of today’s climbs at mid-summer.

Thanks again,

Bob"

And finally, full results from both hill climbs are available by clicking on 'Read more' below.