The national hill climb championship in 2006 was held on Peak hill, Sidmouth in Devon.
James Dobbin (Arctic Shorter Rochford RT) won the championship in a time of 4.44. A big winning margin over 2nd place, David Clark Nippo KFS 5.07. 3rd was 2004 national champion Jonathan Dayus (Arctic Shorter Rochford RT)
1st women was Ann Bowditch 6.41, Science in Sport. Lyn Hamel was 2nd women. (7.02) 3rd Jane Kilmartin 7.05 (London Phoenix)
The best junior was Luke Rowe 5.42 Glendene CC-Bike Trax (17th overall) who just finished ahead of Alex Dowsett 18th overall (5.44). It goes without saying that both juniors went on to even greater things than 17th /18th in the national hill climb championship. James Gullen (Scarborough Paragon was 62nd) (2nd in 2013). There was a very young Hugh Carthy in 89th place (4th in 2013).
My race
It was my second national hill climb championship and I finished 7th, which was a good result after little racing or training throughout the season. In 2006, I did a couple of time trials, and two hill climbs. They were Streatley HC (Reading CC) ,and Brighton Mitre hill climb – where I won the second leg on Shoreham in a time of 7.21.
I remember it was a good day. Warm, sunny, dry. I think I paced it relatively well, going quite well on the steep second half. In those days, I never rode a climb before racing, it was a question of starting off and hoping for the best.
My two memories of the national event was Danny Axford’s chain fell off during race (he was going pretty well that year)
I went down to Devon with Andy Sherwood and he said he was dehydrated before the race because it was hot. He was going to give it a miss, but I persuaded him to have a go anyway. He later said he really enjoyed it.
I’m posting this page because:
- The old CTT results page is now a broken link. But, I found old results page using Internet Way back machine.
- I think I blogged about the 2006 national hill climb, but on another site, which is now no longer in existence. It’s interesting how tenuous internet/ computer technology is. Nine years later and it’s actually hard to find info on 2006 national hill climb. As a boss of Google said, if you want to archive something make sure you print it out on paper.
Peak Hill
- Distance – 0.9 miles
- average gradient: 10%
- Height gain: 528ft / 160m
- Course record: 4.44 (James Dobbin, 2006)
The climb starts from the seafront, with the ocean quite close. The first 100 yards is a very gentle gradient, before getting steeper and then even steeper as you take a right hand. At this point, it reaches a max of 20% before final 100 yards to finish.
Sid Valley promote an annual hill climb on Peak Hill in October.
Veloviewer
Strava
What the riders said (from Cycling Weekly)
2006 Results (rescued from Internet way back machine (link)
| Pos | Rider | Club | Time |
|
1
|
James Dobbin
|
Arctic Shorter Rochford RT
|
04:44.0
|
|
2
|
David Clarke
|
Nippo KFS
|
05:07.3
|
|
3
|
Jonathan Dayus
|
Arctic Shorter Rochford RT
|
05:07.7
|
|
4
|
Jim Henderson
|
Southport CC
|
05:10.7
|
|
5
|
Daniel Shand
|
West Pennine RC
|
05:12.3
|
|
6
|
Matt Clinton
|
mikevaughan.co.uk
|
05:14.8
|
|
7
|
Richard Pettinger
|
Sri Chinmoy CT
|
05:18.2
|
|
8
|
Bill Bell
|
Gemini BC
|
05:19.8
|
|
9
|
Ian Stott
|
Blackburn & Dist CTC
|
05:24.2
|
|
10
|
Mark Lovatt
|
Planet X RT
|
05:27.4
|
|
11
|
Rafael Radziej
|
Team Economic Energy
|
05:29.6
|
|
12
|
Mike Harrison
|
Sigmasport RT
|
05:31.4
|
|
13
|
Carl Helliwell
|
Blackburn & Dist CTC
|
05:33.5
|
|
14
|
Robert Adams
|
Bristol South CC
|
05:33.7
|
|
15
|
Nick Dawes
|
Farnborough & Camb
|
05:41.0
|
|
16
|
Robert Gough
|
Chippenham & Dist Whs
|
05:42.2
|
|
17
|
Luke Rowe
|
Glendene CC-Bike Trax
|
05:42.9
|
|
18
|
Alex Dowsett
|
Glendene CC-Bike Trax
|
05:44.4
|
|
19
|
Andrew Peat
|
Solihull CC
|
05:46.5
|
|
20
|
Chris Myhill
|
API-Metrow
|
05:48.0
|
|
21
|
Martin Bawden
|
Cyclelogic.co.uk
|
05:48.5
|
|
22
|
James Ward
|
Cambridge CC
|
05:48.5
|
|
23
|
James McLaughlin
|
Guernsey Velo Club
|
05:49.1
|
|
24
|
Sam Clark
|
Buxton CC
|
05:50.9
|
|
25
|
Ishmael Burdeau
|
www.agiskoviner.com
|
05:51.3
|
|
26
|
Pete Vincent
|
North Devon Wheelers
|
05:52.7
|
|
27
|
Jules Birks
|
CS Dynamo (Exmouth)
|
05:53.0
|
|
28
|
Stuart Hall
|
Alltrax
|
05:53.8
|
|
29
|
Gareth Williams
|
Holyhead CC
|
05:55.5
|
|
30
|
Adam Pinder
|
Blackburn & Dist CTC
|
05:55.6
|
|
31
|
John Storms
|
Tri Cyclists One Life RT
|
05:56.1
|
|
32
|
Chris Edmondson
|
Blackburn & Dist CTC
|
05:57.4
|
|
33
|
Max Bienkowski
|
Ashurst BC
|
05:59.7
|
|
34
|
Derek Smetham
|
Dursley CC
|
05:59.8
|
|
35
|
Scott Chalmers
|
Leisure Lakes RT
|
06:01.0
|
|
36
|
Douglas Dewey
|
Team Tor 2000
|
06:01.7
|
|
37
|
Lewis Cowley
|
Plan B RT
|
06:02.1
|
|
38
|
Philip Borrett
|
Sid Valley CC
|
06:02.7
|
|
39
|
Paul O’Mahoney
|
Ghyllside Cycles
|
06:04.3
|
|
40
|
Stephen Nunn
|
Arctic Shorter Rochford RT
|
06:05.5
|
|
41
|
Adam Holmes
|
Mid-Devon CC
|
06:06.3
|
|
42
|
John Ealing
|
Rossendale RC
|
06:06.9
|
|
43
|
Stewart House
|
Arctic Shorter Rochford RT
|
06:07.9
|
|
44
|
Marc Allen
|
Swindon RC
|
06:10.5
|
|
45
|
Paul Moss
|
Coventry RC
|
06:10.7
|
|
46
|
Daniel Stevens
|
Liverpool Century
|
06:12.3
|
|
47
|
Jake Durant
|
Mid-Devon CC
|
06:12.5
|
|
48
|
Carlo Berton
|
Border City Whs CC
|
06:12.8
|
|
49
|
Dave Candy
|
North Road CC
|
06:14.9
|
|
50
|
Matthew Smith
|
Gemini BC
|
06:16.2
|
|
51
|
Daniel Gee
|
Ashfield RC
|
06:17.8
|
|
52
|
Andrew Peters
|
Mid-Devon CC
|
06:18.5
|
|
53
|
James Cocker
|
Team Economic Energy
|
06:19.2
|
|
54
|
Paul Murphy
|
Tyneside Vagabonds
|
06:19.8
|
|
55
|
Ben Green
|
Manchester Wheelers
|
06:20.8
|
|
56
|
Simon Aske
|
Mid-Devon CC
|
06:23.4
|
|
57
|
Richard Birkin
|
Ashfield RC
|
06:25.1
|
|
58
|
Ian Phillips
|
CS Dynamo (Exmouth)
|
06:25.3
|
|
59
|
Jonah Rice
|
Exeter Wheelers
|
06:26.9
|
|
60
|
Sean Childs
|
RN & RMCA
|
06:32.2
|
|
61
|
Mark Plowright
|
Beeston RC
|
06:33.0
|
|
62
|
James Gullen
|
Scarborough Paragon CC
|
06:33.1
|
|
63
|
Glenn Borrett
|
Sid Valley CC
|
06:33.5
|
|
64
|
James Jackson
|
Sid Valley CC
|
06:35.8
|
|
65
|
Leigh Pinchen
|
Somerset RC
|
06:37.5
|
|
66
|
John O’Brien
|
De Laune CC
|
06:37.6
|
|
67
|
Andrew Sherwood
|
Farnborough & Camb
|
06:38.6
|
|
68
|
Nick Denning
|
Exeter Wheelers
|
06:41.4
|
|
69
|
Ann Bowditch
|
Scienceinsport.com
|
06:41.9
|
|
70
|
James King
|
De Laune CC
|
06:44.9
|
|
71
|
Neil Tubbs
|
Sid Valley CC
|
06:48.2
|
|
72
|
Mark Heath
|
www.echelon-cycles.co.uk
|
06:50.6
|
|
73
|
Chris Hunt
|
Sid Valley CC
|
06:55.0
|
|
74
|
Martin Fullard
|
Sid Valley CC
|
06:55.0
|
|
75
|
Ivan Pope
|
Gillingham & Dist Whs
|
06:55.1
|
|
76
|
David Wilkinson
|
Exeter Wheelers
|
06:55.7
|
|
77
|
Nigel Orpin
|
CS Dynamo (Exmouth)
|
06:56.0
|
|
78
|
Chris Rennie
|
Bikechain-Ricci
|
07:00.1
|
|
79
|
Sean Carthy
|
Scienceinsport.com
|
07:01.7
|
|
80
|
Lynn Hamel
|
Kent Valley RC
|
07:02.1
|
|
81
|
Paul Brierley
|
Huddersfield RC-Salamander
|
07:04.4
|
|
82
|
Jane Kilmartin
|
London Phoenix
|
07:05.4
|
|
83
|
Karl Hodson
|
Sid Valley CC
|
07:05.5
|
|
84
|
Gregory Sparks
|
Sid Valley CC
|
07:05.7
|
|
85
|
Phil Ward
|
CS Dynamo (Exmouth)
|
07:09.2
|
|
86
|
Iain Hounsell
|
Somerset RC
|
07:11.0
|
|
87
|
Michael Ives
|
MI Racing
|
07:12.9
|
|
88
|
Mike Hudspith
|
Godric CC
|
07:14.2
|
|
89
|
Hugh Carthy
|
Scienceinsport.com
|
07:14.6
|
|
90
|
Graham Brett
|
St Austell Wheelers
|
07:15.9
|
|
91
|
Avril Swan
|
Wheels in Wheels CC
|
07:18.3
|
|
92
|
Cherie Pridham
|
Merlin Development Squad
|
07:25.5
|
|
93
|
Ross MacDonald
|
North Devon Wheelers
|
07:26.0
|
|
94
|
Nigel Winchester
|
Sid Valley CC
|
07:26.3
|
|
95
|
Mike Westmorland
|
Border City Whs CC
|
07:30.0
|
|
96
|
Colin Tyrer
|
Sid Valley CC
|
07:30.5
|
|
97
|
Trevor Pain
|
North Hampshire RC
|
07:34.4
|
|
98
|
Dean Ward
|
1st Chard Wheelers
|
07:35.9
|
|
99
|
Simon Foster
|
North Notts Olympic RC
|
07:36.0
|
|
100
|
Mark Gorman
|
RN & RMCA
|
07:36.2
|
|
101
|
Zak Birks
|
CS Dynamo (Exmouth)
|
07:39.1
|
|
102
|
Deborah Percival
|
34th Nomads
|
07:47.8
|
|
103
|
Chris Barretto
|
Plymouth Corinthian CC
|
07:49.1
|
|
104
|
Colin Bennett
|
Sid Valley CC
|
07:51.9
|
|
105
|
Mitch Pope
|
Gillingham & Dist Whs
|
07:52.6
|
|
106
|
Ken Roberts
|
Lancaster CC
|
07:55.3
|
|
107
|
Alexandra Zebedee
|
Solihull CC
|
07:55.9
|
|
108
|
Mark Sanders
|
Mid-Devon CC
|
08:02.3
|
|
109
|
Rob Scott
|
Plymouth Corinthian CC
|
08:03.0
|
|
110
|
Ray Retter
|
North Devon Wheelers
|
08:05.1
|
|
111
|
Jacqueline Rice
|
Okehampton CC
|
08:16.2
|
|
112
|
David Francis
|
Camel Valley C & TC
|
08:22.8
|
|
113
|
Ian Kellaway
|
Coventry CC
|
08:23.4
|
|
114
|
David Hamilton
|
Mid-Devon CC
|
08:27.0
|
|
115
|
Richard Brain
|
Sid Valley CC
|
08:28.8
|
|
116
|
David Moran
|
1st Chard Wheelers
|
08:33.5
|
|
117
|
Peter Greenhalgh
|
45 Road Club
|
08:45.4
|
|
118
|
Stace Birks
|
CS Dynamo (Exmouth)
|
08:55.5
|
|
119
|
Leigh Taylor
|
www.agiskoviner.com
|
08:57.0
|
|
120
|
Phillip Bennett
|
Sid Valley CC
|
09:05.6
|
|
121
|
Richard Tate
|
Sid Valley CC
|
09:06.7
|
|
122
|
Chris Eccles
|
Sid Valley CC
|
09:15.9
|
|
123
|
Gerald Woodley
|
Sid Valley CC
|
09:38.5
|
|
124
|
Chloe Birks
|
CS Dynamo (Exmouth)
|
10:12.7
|
|
125
|
Arthur Vince
|
Yeovil CC
|
10:33.0
|
|
126
|
Lesley Ward
|
CS Dynamo (Exmouth)
|
11:01.8
|
|
127
|
Catherine Ostler
|
Willesden CC
|
11:03.5
|
From Cycling Weekly
Related
Let my ride back then be a lesson to prospective hill climbers everywhere.
I did have perhaps my best hill climbing form that year, I had trained specifically, recced the course etc. I had also borrowed a special light bike. Since everything was going well and I thought I had a chance of a medal I think I got a little obsessive about the “marginal gains” and in the week prior to the event I removed the big chainring, front derailleur from the bike and shortened the chain.
This was an error.
Although I tested the new drive-chain set up on a number of local climbs, in the event itself a seemly innocuous bump in the road was enough to unship the chain which then wrapped itself neatly around my right crank.
I learnt the hard way:
1. Always ride with some sort of chain catcher
2. Never alter your bike just before a (target) event – make sure you’ve tried everything out in anger beforehand.
3. Completing the course at a very slightly slower speed is infinitely better than only managing part of the course at a faster speed.
One thing the team got right was to enter 4 riders although only 3 count for the team award.
And Stewart House won an unexpected but deserved team medal. (I remember trying to get the message to him that now he really did need to try hard!)
The following year I was a lot more conservative with my equipment and got that team medal!
Keep up the blog posts Tejvan, even if they bring back some uncomfortable memories for some readers.
🙂
Also I should note what a fantastic ride James did that day. It must be one of the most convincing wins in the history of the championship.
Luke Rowe and Alex Dowsett in 17th and 18th!
Just came across this, amazing! Great to remember that day in 2006, although we will never know where Danny would have fitted in relative to Jon Dayus and Dave Clarke. Although I’d prepared obsessively for the Nat HC that year, I also had one of those days when you just feel super strong, I remember getting to the corner where it got steeper and just wanting to ride harder and harder. When I crossed the line, I had to wait a while as it was about 20 mins till the likes of Clarke, Dayus and Henderson had finished due to their later start times. I remember being congratulated by Jim Henderson afterwards, Jim was very gracious as I knew he badly wanted a 6th National HC win. Those years riding with Arctic were amazing and I have so many great memories! We first made an appearance on the Nat HC scene when we took the team prize in 2003 at Halifax against all the expectations of Blackburn winning it. The following year in 2004 in Northumberland, team mate Jon Dayus won and I was 2nd and I think that few people even knew who we were; it was great being the underdogs to start with! When I think of HCs, I also think of our late team mate Peter Bissell who was part of our winning team in 2007 and sadly died that winter. He was reigning National U23 road race champion having won it aged 20, I felt very proud to dedicate my 2006 Nat HC win to his life and achievements, at the CTT awards in spring 2008.
Over 14 years later and I remember it like it was yesterday. James really nailed it that day. I stopped at the finish to watch him come into view from the steepest part at an impressive speed. I chatted with him after he finished and noticed how fast he recovered (just a few minutes, I was hyperventilating for about 15 minutes).
It was the hardest HC I ever rode. Although it was my best finish in the national HC, like Tejvan I didn’t really prepare for it and I messed it up. I had ridden the climb once about 2 months previously at a steady pace after almost 40 lumpy miles riding there from Torbay. I remember starting well, hitting the first steep part and thinking “I’m OK with this” then turning the corner and thinking “this is not good” and I was seriously thinking of stopping when someone shouted “100 metres to go” and that got me to the finish.
Interesting to see Luke Rowe and Alex Dowsett on the list who are still currently riding at the highest pro level.
Good result for you Tejvan and thanks to Sid Valley, it was a great event.