Last updated 19:50, Thursday, 21 August 2008

THE HAIRPIN bends of the ‘Alpe Rowrah’ hill climb provided a novel challenge to the younger division riders at Rowrah last Wednesday evening.

The zig-zag course, going from the main car park area to the circuit entrance, meant that competitors needed excellent balance and acceleration as well as brute climbing force as they fought their way to the top of the climb.

Only four seconds separated the first three places as King of the Mountains, Rhys Robinson, took a mere 39 seconds to complete the course ahead of Alex Bewley (42sec) and George Cowan (43sec).

Olivia Fearon led the next bunch home with her time of 1min 1sec, just beating Poppy Watson (1.05) and ahead of Rankin sisters Poppy (1.17) and Molly (1.18).

In the 64m flat sprint, George Cowan had the fastest time of the night on his second run, in 13.82sec, just ahead of Alex Bewley (14.24), new rider Enya Bowness (14.27), Rhys Robinson (14.69), Olivia Fearon (14.97) and Molly Rankin (19.24).

In the 500m time trial, Alex Bewley was the only rider to take a new personal best. His time of 2min 18sec (new pb) was just behind fastest rider Rhys Robinson, who took just 2.14 to complete the half-a-kilometre course.

Olivia Fearon led the next group of riders through with her time of 2.42, holding off Poppy Watson (3.21) and Molly Rankin (3.51).

In division one it was a different story, however, as four riders took new pbs for the 1km time trial in this ever-competitive division.

Fletcher Hodgson just managed to keep his position at the top of the division with a time of 2.13, but Brigham’s Alex Hargreaves (fresh from success at Ambleside Sports on the grass-track in the main handicap race) closed the gap with a new pb of 2.18.

Will Hughes from Gosforth took third fastest time with his new pb of 2.24, ahead of returning riders James (2.29) and Lucy Whelan (2.33).

Kristian Cook (2.43) led the remaining riders home, just one second ahead of Stephen Gascoigne (2.44, new pb) and Elsa Whelan (3.16). (Alex’s win in the Ambleside grass-track handicap is something of a family tradition – his uncle, Mike Hargreaves, won the same event back in the 1980s when he was 15!)

In division two it was a similar tale, with Matthew Last and Daniel Rooney both completing the 1km course in 3.16 – and both had new pbs!

Scott Glaister was third fastest in 3.20, while Adam Watson equalled his previous pb with his time of 3.32.

Elsa Whelan then rode her second time trial of the evening, this time as a division three rider, and took just 3.19 to cover her second 1,000m, while Jackson Law had a new pb with his time of 3.29.

The team relay time trial was convincingly won by Alex Hargreaves, Kristain Cook, James Whelan, Ailsa Cowen and Lucy Whelan in 6.18 five laps, 2.5km), ahead of Elsa Whelan, Fletcher Hodgson, Stephen Gascoigne and William Hughes (6.29 – Fletcher Hodgson two laps), while in the Devil-take-the-hindmost, the results were: 1, Fletcher Hodgson, 2, Alex Hargreaves, 3, William Hughes, 4, Lucy Whelan.

A reminder to all riders – Wednesday, August 27, all riders to be at the track at 6pm; no separate session for division one riders that evening.