The first Scottish Cycling Hill Climb following a return to competition took place on Sunday 4 October at the Stow Triple Hill Climb and showed riders in exceptional form despite the lockdown period.
The Stow Triple takes place as a stage race which is a rare format for a hill climb and cumulates in 3 separate climbs over the course of a single day. Riders individual times on each of the stages are added together in a General Classification. Using 3 different styles of climb, including previous Scottish National Hill Climb Championships, the overall winner is a rider who can show climbing prowess on steep 19% gradients, undulating ramps and steady all out power climbs. This event was certainly not for the faint hearted!
The event was organised by Cameron Balfour and extremely well supported by the riders, volunteers and local community of Stow. Organisation and COVID-19 mitigation measures were to an extrememly high standards to keep participants safe and we grateful to event organisers for taking an innovative approach.
Event organiser, Cameron, has submitted this report
A massive well done to everyone who came and took part on what was looking to be a pretty grim day. Alas, the sun came out and I’m almost certain (emphasis on almost) that I even got a little bit of a tan.
It was great to see us have 55 riders on the start sheet which is more than double our numbers from last year – thank you! What was even better to see was the number of those being Youth riders (over half the field)!
Some seriously impressive rides across the categories on Sunday with Cameron Richardson (RC Cumbernauld & Kilsyth) narrowly taking the win by just 12 seconds over Logan Maclean (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) in 2nd and Simon Archer (Team Andrew Allan Architecture) rounding off the podium in 3rd.
In the senior womens category we saw the crown taken by Becky Storie (Watts Up Performance) and also placing 15th overall across the entire field! 2nd and 3rd places respectively were taken by Beth Morrow (Edinburgh RC) and Kate Richardson – both Junior riders putting in some strong competition alongside the seniors.
In repeat fashion from 2019 Border’s local Callum Dickson (Kelso Wheelers) gave the senior guys a good run for their money. Callum has just stepped up into first year Junior and took the honours in the junior category, also placing 5th overall. Luis Urquhart-Dixon (Trainsharp Development Squad) took second in Junior and also 12th overall – another cracking ride!
We were seriously impressed and slightly taken a-back by some of the times the Youth Riders were producing. 3 Youth riders featured in the top 10 overall – Finn McHenry (East Kilbride RC) 6th, Elijah Kwon (Edinburgh RC) 9th and Elliot Rowe (Deeside Thistle) who is only a Youth B placing in 10th.
Our Youth A podium was Finn McHenry (East Kilbride RC) taking the honours, followed by Elijah Kwon (Edinburgh RC) in 2nd – just 21 seconds behind. Rounding off the podium we had Fellow East Kilbride RC Rory Spencer in 3rd. Hats off to all the Youth A’s!
Finally, our Youth B category... Personally, although extremely tough to call with so many great rides over the course of the day. I have to say ride of the day goes to our Youth B winner and 10th overall Elliot Rowe (Deeside Thistle). In 2nd position we saw Ahron Dick (Edinburgh RC) followed by team mate James Sweeney (Edinburgh RC) both putting in great rides over the 3 stages. In the Youth B girls category we saw really solid rides across the stages from Erin Boothman (East Kilbride RC) who was giving many of the guys a run for their money!
Again, thanks to everyone for coming along and keeping everything within the guidelines of these weird times we’re currently living.
See you next you year for Stow Triple 2021...
