Ben in the National Championship
The National Hillclimb marks the end of the season on the road. Ben Norbury represented the club in the in the event on Oct 25th, at Jackson Bridge in West Yorkshire. His time of 5mins 20.7 seconds was only just over a min down on the winner (Richard Bussell of TST Sport/Aerocoach) 4:15.7.
It was a great effort on a very tough climb, which started up an 18-20% pitch, leveled off a bit, then was consistently 10 – 15% all the way to the top, averaging 11%. Simon Warren’s 100 greatest climbs rates it a 7 out of 10 for difficulty, but in the author’s own words “they are all 10 out of 10 when you race up them!”
Ben and other club members have been active this hill climb season. In September, Ben was 11th in the Weaver Valley Cat and Fiddle climb in a time of 20:48.5 whilst Mark finished in 26:08.5. They were joined by Kelvin Milward 28:08.6 and Edgar Reynolds 32:50.5.
Mark Allen Killer Mile
Ben was a fine third to multiple national champion Jim Henderson, in the Withington Wheelers Peaslow climb on October 4th. In Lyme R.C.’s Killer Mile hill climb on Mow Cop on Oct 11th . Ben finished in 5:17.7 for 11th and Mark in 6:07.09.
Ben has also, had top 10 finishes in the Glossop Kinder RC climb of Snake Pass and Buxton CC’s Longhill climb this season. He was 11th again in Chesterfield Couriers, Beeley Moor climb near Bakewell, the weekend before the Championship.
Photos of most of these events can be seen in Ken Norbury’s albums HERE