Yesterday, the usually peaceful Long Lane near Arkesden, was awoken by sound of cowbells at 8am as 18 intrepid riders took on the Arkesden Hill Climb Championship. A mixture of riders from Walden Velo and neighbouring clubs powered up the 1.2km climb, setting some great times. David Low won the Junior race, whilst Ariane Lismer secured the women's championship ahead of reigning champion Genieveve Rogers who had to settle for second place this year. The men's race saw a close fought battle, with Colin Peden narrowly securing the win by less than two seconds from Ben Proctor. Last years champion, Josh Meyland, took home third, but with only 10 seconds separating 3rd to 9th place we anticipate a close fought race again next year. This year also saw the introduction of a category for gravel/off-road bikes, with Matt Davis taking the win ahead of Benoit Bely. We hope that this category will grow in future years, making the hill climb more inclusive for different types of riders.
We thank all the volunteers who make this event happen, as well as the spectators who created an exuberant atmosphere at the top of the climb. Check out the full results and a gallery of photos below.
