Mercia Report 21-10-06
DAVID CLARKE EXCELS IN HILL CLIMBS
David Clarke (Team Nippo KFS) is certainly packing in the hill climbs, as he prepares for the National Hill Climb Championship. His other incentive is to retain the trophy for the best overall climber in the series of hill climbs in Yorkshire, that he won last year. His total finishing positions in one weekend were first, equal first, second & fourth in four separate events. His first place was in the Drighlington B.C event timing 2:57 for the 1,000 yard climb held at Batley in West Yorkshire. The joint first was in the Home Valley Wheelers climb over 1,200 yards where he tied with James Dobbin (Arctic Shorter Rochford R.T) in 3:28 at Jackson’s Bridge near Huddersfield. In the Huddersfield Star Wheelers event held earlier in the day over the 1,540 yard climb also at Jackson’s Bridge Clarke was second in 4:26.0 to Dobbins 4:20.3. The previous day, on the 947 yard Rake climb at Ramsbottom, Clarke was 4th in 2:33.0. The winner was southerner Bill Bell (Gemini B.C) in 2:24.6.
The previous weekend David finished in 15th place in the National Trophy (first round) cyclo-cross held at Pitville Park at Cheltenham over 15 miles. Clarke was at a disadvantage as a late entry he had to start at the back of the field instead of being up with the seeded riders. He had just returned from racing in Belgium. The winner was Ian Field (Trek SiS) in 57:56, Clarke timed 1 hour 31 seconds.
Peter Rose, Press Secretary, 01283 536545.
Posted by on Monday, October 30, 2006
