One of Scotland’s toughest climbs – Glen Quaich – played host to the Scottish National Hill Championships with Louis Moore (Vanelli-Project GO) and Sharon Bird (Peebles CC) taking the national titles.
A biblical downpour in the early morning looked to cause havoc with the day’s racing, however around half an hour before the first rider started the sun broke through the clouds and the rain relented.
The climb of Glen Quaich from the Kenmore side is just over 5km in length averaging a gradient of just over 8%, however roadworks meant that the route ignored the first 300m of the climb – making the climb 4.8km with an average gradient of 7.7%.
The Senior Women’s was one of the most open categories to predict a winner. Natalie Stevenson (Glasgow Ivy CC) was one of the pre-race favourites, with a strong time of 19:10 it was going to take a strong ride from any of the field to beat that. Only Sharon Bird (Peebles CC) was able to fly up the Single Track Road quicker with a time of 18:56 seconds. Bird finished in second place at the last National Hill Climb Championships in 2019 and was able to go one better this time.
The first section of the climb in the woodland was very steep with pitches over 20% in places, while the exposed final kilometre in the heather was where time could be made up for those who had not gone too hard too early.
The Senior Men’s field was filled with quality with Team Scotland’s Charlie Aldridge (Scott Racing) in action in his native Perthshire with recently crowned student champion Louis Moore (Vanelli Project GO) also in top form, while Gregor McArthur (The Cycling Academy) was aiming to take on his fellow Edinburgh University students.
Matiss Robertson (RT23) produced an excellent time of 15:32 to throw himself into contention, which would good enough to claim a bronze medal while Aldridge’s time of 15:21 was good enough to leapfrog Robertson. However, Moore was King of the Mountain – a blistering time of 15:05 to claim the National Title.
The junior saw a tight battle between three riders who set off in line of stern. Reuben Oakley (Rotor RT), and the Cycling Academy duo of Finn Mason and Sam Chisholm all set off a minute apart. It was Mason who managed to ascend the Glen quickest, with a time of 16:01, twenty seconds faster than Chisholm while Oakley came home in 16:50. The Cycling Academy also claimed the Team prize for the Junior Men’s.
One of the early starters Colin McGourty (East Kilbride RC) was the strongest of the Youths who were the first off – a strong time of 17:04 over the climb would only be bested by a handful of riders over the day. Ruan Voster (West Lothian Clarion) and Sam Barbour (SteppingStanes Youth CC) came home as second and third in the youth category.
The podiums were presented by 13-time National Hill Climb Champion Sandy Gilchrist, with the National Champions taking home a plush Rainbow Trout and Trout fillet courtesy of Kames Fish Farm of Oban. A very good prize for those who finished in top plaice.
A massive thank you to all the marshals and volunteers for putting in a massive effort on a very cold and wet Saturday morning, and to Aaron Johnson for his efforts in organising the event.
