Leek Cyclists' Club
Cycling Since 1876
Hill Climb Championship - Sunday 11th November 2007
Whilst the running of a sporting event on this solemn day may seem disrespectful to some, it is the cyclists way of remembering those who, after two wars, were never again able to take up the challenge of a sporting event for pleasure. It is well known that the Leek Club lost none of it's members during the 1939-45 fracas and it is also believed that the same is true of the 1914-1918 war; all riders who joined up to fight for King and Country returned home safely afterwards.
An unfortunate clash with the start of the Roaches Fell Race (which always takes place on the Sunday nearest Remembrance day) meant that the start line moved slightly up the hill and away from the busy Meerbrook Village Hall, HQ of the fell runners. This shortening of the course made no difference to the climb itself as the "real" Gun Hill doesn't start until the first quarter mile has been covered.
After a degree of light-hearted banter between the runners and cyclists about whose event was going to be the toughest, the first rider was called to the mark and sent on her way by starting timekeeper Kevin Sharrock. Note the "her"; as the first rider to take up the challenge of the 1.2 mile ascent of Gun Hill was ladies champion Ruth Goreham.
Within a dozen minutes all 12 riders were grinding their way up the 14% gradient to the summit of Gun to greet the finishing timekeepers Kelvin Milward and George Ainsworth. The final results of the mornings efforts were as follows:
Rich Whalley 6-45 (1st Club Rider)
Andy Prince 6-47
Jon White 7-40 (2nd Club Rider)
Jon Green 7-46 (3rd Club Rider)
Barry Riley 7-54
Jonathan Middleton 8-07
Kieran Meharg 8-11
James Lawton 8-35
Ruth Goreham 8-38 (1st Lady)
Peter Mycock 8-52
Mark Holden 9-18
Marc Briand 9-40 (1st with a bad chest)
Copyright 2007 Leek Cyclists' Club and others as acknowledged. All Rights Reserved.