Current GB National Hill Climb Andrew Feather, the pre-race favourite for the annual Exeter Wheelers Hill Climb, duly delivered on a soggy morning for riders, supporters and organisers alike, as he splashed his way through the down-running surface water and up Stoke Woods hill in 4 minutes 23.77 seconds. He was, however, pushed close by Devon roadman George Kimber, who was just a week ago crowned winner of the 5-race Lloyds Bank National Road Series. Today George was only 8 seconds slower than Feather at 4 minutes 31.87 seconds for the 1.2 mile climb. Mid-Devon CC provided the third-placed rider, with young George Watch just three seconds slower than Kimber, on 4 minutes 34.1 seconds.

Highest placed Exeter Wheeler was Tristan Kelsall-Spurr, his 5 minutes 1.68 seconds putting him in 6^th place.

Fastest woman was Oxford University CC’s Katrina Tse, with south-west rider Claire Pile (05/03) 18 seconds behind, 6 mins 25.6 versus 6 mins 43.8. Rounding off the podium places in the women’s category at 7 minutes 17.8 seconds was Rachel Goward of the University of Exeter Cycling Club, whilst Rachel’s club mates Libby Bruten and Jodeci Pugsley were 4^th and 5^th in the women’s rankings.

Today’s weather was  . . . . very wet, and many riders noted that they went slower than last year. At sign on time the rain of early morning has dissipated somewhat, it just felt steamy, but unfortunately the rain returned a few minutes before the 10am start, and soon was coming ‘chats et chiens’ as they say at Le Tour de France. It became a challenge for competitors to stay ‘warmed up’ in such conditions. In addition everyone riding was carrying extra weight as clothes and shoes soaked up the warm autumn rain. EWCC’s Dave Wilkinson noted “my shoes now weigh more than my wheels !”. 

Last year Dave had a lot of bad luck with illness, which didn’t so much disrupt as wipe out his racing for 2023. His luck now, however, looks to be changing – today it wasn’t his body but his bike that fell ill, as he punctured a few minutes before his start time. Oh dear, having to wrestle a ‘tub’ off the rim, and wrestle a new one on, in the rain . . . . then more stress . . . .  “I need a valve key so I can move my valve extender across to the new tub “ … someone kind obliged, Dave persevered, he was given a later start time and managed to get to the top of the hill without his hastily-fitted new tub rolling off. Chapeau, and the non-existent ‘Combativity Prize’ to you Dave. The only way is up etc.

Exeter Wheeler Jon Hare bucked the trend for going slower in the rain, and fresh from a strong performance in a Bristol cyclo-cross race the day before went 4 seconds faster this year than last, 6 minutes 12  versus 6 minutes 16.

EWCC’s Gideon Aroussi took the vets 50+ prize for the 2^nd time in a row, 5 minutes 40 seconds, whilst fellow ‘Wheeler Benedict Leger only missed out on the 60+ vet prize by four seconds, 6.16 versus the 6.12 of Tavy Wheeler Tony Symons.

There were 6 DNS and 1 DNF.

It’s nice that we had the presence of the National Hill Climb Champion at our hill climb, and let’s remember that Andrew Feather used to be an Exeter Wheeler; it was in our club colours that he made it up to be an Elite Category road racer. Speaking with the friendly chap that Andrew is afterwards, he told me how much he likes our race –  “Nice hill, nice event”  – before going on to speak fondly of his years living in Exeter. Andrew now lives in Bath. I asked if he races outside of the hill climb season and he replied “Not really, no, I allow myself to put on a little weight during the winter months, then when the summer comes I slim back down, which I don’t find hard to do. Hill climbs fit well with my life because I don’t have to do long miles, just plenty of hard intervals”. I am sure all EWCC members will wish our ex-club mate all the best in defending his title at the National Hill Climb this year, which will be on a short sharp hill on the edge of the North Pennines at the end of October.

Finally, a mention to Exeter University CC, whose members always provide a strong vocal presence at the EWCC hill climb, cheering on not only their club mates but indeed all riders as they pass the car park towards the top of the hill, though their presence was a little ‘dampened’ today. EUCC are running an Open Hill Climb on Mamhead Hill on Sunday 20^th of October – a hill well known to EWCC riders – entry via CTT at https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/27385

Finally Finally, thank you to all EWCC members who ran the event – organiser Andrew Whittemore aided by his wife Thuza, timekeeping/start/finish team of Didier Lebatteux, Ken Evans, Sally Hutter, Mike Rose and Pete Bishop, Ann Owens for photography. Also, Janet and the Hilltop riding school for providing the venue, The Secret Garden for providing refreshments ‐  https://www.facebook.com/secretgardenexe/ and not forgetting Exeter Brewery for providing some bottles of their excellent Avocet organic ale https://theexeterbrewery.co.uk/ for prizes.

Results:

Exeter Wheelers riders had a successful outing last weekend, four of them travelling up to Ilton in Somerset for the Team Tor closed circuit stage races.

Andrew Whittemore, Finlay Webb, Joe Sheppard and Tristan Kelsall-Spurr, arrived at RAF Merryfield in good weather and optimistic spirits.

Joe, Andrew and Tristan were riding as an Exeter Wheeler’s team in the cat 3/4 Whitelake Tor event, whilst Fin was part of a mixed clubs team in the category 1/2/3 Kalas cup.

The three man EWCC team in the White Lake event; Andrew Whittemore, Joe Sheppard and Tristan Kelsall-Spurr.

In the Whitelake, stage one was an individual time trial, involving one 5km lap of the largely flat airfield circuit. The still air made for some fast times. Tristan, who has been winning plenty of ‘fastest road bike’ prizes in SW time trials this year took full advantage of the day’s ‘Road Bikes only’ ruling to run out fastest rider, on 6 minutes 40 seconds. Four seconds slower and in 4^th place Andrew was showing that after a period away from a full racing calendar he was getting back into form. New Exeter Wheeler recruit Joe Sheppard, another rider whose fitness is on the rise, completed the teams times with a 19^th spot from the three dozen riders competing. All this meant that Tristan was GC leader and the team were in second place, close behind the Okehampton team of Lloyd Copp, Callum Orchard and Jonathan Hobbs.

Given that the Exeter Wheelers riders and the Okehampton CC riders knew each other well, this led to some friendly but earnest banter . . . who would come out on top in the end?

The second stage was a team time trial, with three laps of the circuit to complete, a total distance of around 15km. Sadly, things went less well here for our riders, with some pacing issues leading to the team dropping down the table a few notches, and them also losing Tristan’s GC top-spot; this went to young Callum Orchard, 19, with his Okehampton CC team increasing their lead at the top of the table.

Joe Sheppard leads the team through in the I.T.T.

The third and final stage was the cut and thrust of a bunched start circuit race. Shortly before the start, the heavens opened, making for wet and potentially hazardous racing. Tristan, Andrew and Joe felt that with OKCC likely to be riding a more cautious race, concentrating on simply retaining their leadership in the team stakes on the wet surface, it would make sense to go on the offensive in committed fashion. Andrew’s experience of road racing, and his pure power, were soon much in evidence, and early on he was able to get off the front and gap the rest of the field. With Andrew out in front, Tristan repeatedly tried to bridge across to him, but alas the OKCC trio were wise to that and closed him down each and every time, preventing the EWCC riders from forming a break. Everything came back together, and our riders were assessing their options . . . . at Andrew’s behest, Joe kept the pace high, and put in some disrupting attacks, and then, with one lap remaining Andrew hit out strongly again, and this time the move stuck; Andrew stayed away and took a much-deserved first place.

Wet wet wet – the circuit race

A first in two of the three races, and a strong showing in the team table – promising stuff, and we look forward to these three Wheelers giving us more to cheer about in SW road racing next year. And not to be outdone by her husband, Andrew’s wife Thuza made her race debut, riding in the Come and Try It Beginners race – hopefully Thuza will catch the bug….

Thuza Whittemore’s first race…..

Up a notch in the race category standards, young Fin Webb had a tougher time of things, as to be expected with the stronger riders he was competing against, and of course Fin had no EWCC team mates to join him in battle in the Kalas cup event. Fin will be looking forward to British National Para-Cycling action on the weekend of the 14^th of September, when he’ll be competing in his category in the time trial up at Smeatharpe and again next day in the circuit races down at the Torbay Velopark. We wish him the best of luck.

This weekend the British Cycling Open Masters National Road Race Championships take place in the Westcountry, for the second year running. There are a total of 10 EWCC riders entered for the various races on what will be a tough 60 mile course for each competitor. Race HQ is at Hatherleigh Community Centre, and the route is two laps of a 30 mile loop, heading west on the A3072 from Hatherleigh via Highampton towards Holsworthy, then turning left at Brandis Corner onto the A3079 to pass thorugh Halwill before picking up the A386 to Hatherleigh just west of Okehampton. The course can be seen here https://www.strava.com/routes/3139195931921815770.

Whilst the route doesn’t include the gruesome 1 in 6 that featured twice last year it is nevertheless a tough course, with plenty of long if less steep hills. Riders will be hoping to have gotten the balance between rest and fitness right; recovery from hard training takes longer when you are older and it will be a long hard race.

Saturday morning at 10am sees the 40+ race roll out, with Jon Hare the only EWCC rider on the startsheet. Jon was down to ride last year, but a bad crash resulting in a broken collarbone and elbow at an early summer Westpoint crit put paid to that.

Saturday afternoon at 2pm will be the 50+ event, with five of our riders entered. Last year Gideon Aroussi was on the podium in the 55-59 category, taking a British Cycling bronze medal. Asked if he might possibly be able to better that this year, Gideon agreed that would be a tough ask, but that he was feeling in good form so who knows what might be possible? Winner of the 50+ section in the 2023/4 SWCX Tim Carpenter is another strong and experienced EWCC rider to watch. Craig Lawson has moved into the 50+ range this year, and has been training hard for the race. Ben Zissimos and Graham Turner complete the roster of EWCC riders in the 50+

Sunday at 10am and there is the curious classification that is the 30+ veterans/masters – seems rather young to be masters/vets,  but what the heck it gives our very strong and fast 32 year old Tristan Kelsall-Spurr a chance to shine. Tristan took third in the early season Primavera Road Race back in March (see https://www.middevon.cc/primavera-2024.html)  but getting away early for a second time with his training mates from Okehampton CC Lloyd Copp and Jonathan Hobbs will be much tougher to achieve this time round given it is not a pursuit race and there will be some wise old/young heads alongside them on the start line. We also have Andrew Whittemore in this race, another very strong and fast racer on his day.

Finally, the ‘supervets’ in the 60+ section get their opportunity on the Sunday afternoon, and here we have Paul Cameron, 9^th in his age category last year, plus Pete Bishop lining up for that one. Pete will be hoping for better luck than last year, when he punctured on the badly potholed lanes near Roadford Reservoir.

We wish all out riders the very best of luck.