History

First run in 1930, Monsal Hill Climb has been on the hill climb calendar for an amazing 94 years. This event was started by a few mates riding out to Monsal Head at the end of the track season and timing each other up the hill, at this time it was an unmade road.

The event now attracts around 200 local riders from club level to seasoned professionals. 2009 was the first running of the event on a closed road. 2019 saw a record entry of 234 riders!!!

Laurence Dodd riding for Sheffield Phoenix CC set the first sub 1m 30s course record by posting 1m 26.9s time in 1941, this stood for 3 years when C F Belton also riding for Sheffield Phoenix posted a 1m 25s run up the hill. This time would stand for 13 years and was finally broken by a certain Tom Simpson riding for Scala Wheelers with a time of 1m 23.4s.

This time stood for 24 years until local legend Malcolm Elliott came along. Malcolm first won the event in 1980 with a time of 1m 20.6s beating Tommy’s time by over 3 seconds. Malcolm came back to Monsal the following year and set the current course record of 1m 14.2s.

The only other rider to come close in recent years has been Calum Brown with an amazing 1:14.5 set in 2018.

Russell Downing posted a very respectable time of 1:18.3 in 2003, but this was topped in 2016 by Adam Kenway with an amazing 1:16.5. In the same event Lou Bates smashed her own womens record by a staggering 13 seconds to post a time of 1:42.8. Hill climb ace, Bithja Jones, blasted up the climb in 2021 and claimed both the women’s overall and veteran’s records after posting a 1:37.5 on her first attempt. Bithja would go onto be National Hill Climb champion in the same year. She successfully defended her titles in 2022 and again went under 1.40.

Albert Thorpe organised a 60th anniversary event in 1990, he had a host of past winners attending with Malcolm Elliott, by then a top pro in Spain to present the prizes. That year there were 60 entries, this was the biggest disappointment of David Thorpe’s cycling life, he finished 2nd, losing it by less than a second, with a 1:28. It would have been something for the organisers son to win the 60th anniversary event. As a consolation Rotherham Wheelers won the team prize.

Ike Delbridge organised it for 25 years then Albert Thorpe ran the event for about 27 years, Albert then passed the event to his son David who continued to run the hillclimb for 14 more years. Ike was married Albert’s cousin, so this event was in the Thorpe family for best part of 67 years. Ike only ever missed 2 events and was one of the original riders at the first event. After finishing organising Ike took over commentary and the PA equipment. Ike also has every program since he started organising.

David passed on the event to Marc Etches in 2008, during the first year, Marc & David shared the organising, before Marc took over fully in 2009. Under the new organisation, the event grew year on year and in the same year, the road was fully closed to allow for safer racing and better crowd control. The event had become extremely popular with spectators now flooding Monsal Head to watch the action. In 2011, the event partnered with local residents and opened up the field to allow for car parking to accommodate so many riders and spectators. Every year since, all of the car park takings have been donated to Little Longstone Chapel, which everyone is proud to support.

Marc is the Club Secretary of Sheffrec CC and has headed the club for over 25 years. Marc is a British Cycling National Road Commissaire, Chair of British Cycling Yorkshire, Chair of the White Rose Youth League and the event director of the Sheffield Grand Prix. Just for the record all four Monsal hill climb organisers have been previous riders before they organised this prestigious event.

Monsal Hill Climb has had many different sponsors over the years; reality hair, Derbyshire Building Society, Kite Training for 17 years, Pritchard Plumbing, Gurung Training, A4E, JE James Cycles, Science in Sport & Simply Health, Ideal Travel, Lilley Flowers, Langsett Cycles, Velotastic, Big Bobble Hats, Trek Bakewell and HMT Hospitals.

The event is now supported by VeloViewer, True North Cycle Hub, Peak Tri Store, Midpack Art, Skyhook Coaching, 100 Greatest Climbs, Hobbs Cafe, Monsal Head Hotel and Blue Strawberry Elephant.

The schoolboy trophy was donated by Hobb’s Café which stands at the top of the climb many years ago. The Cope Trophy is the old North Midlands prize now presented to the open veteran winner. The Cliff Newell Trophy was donated by Cliff’s great nephew, Richard who now lives locally. Cliff was the first event winner in 1930.

More recently the Doug Bond Team Trophy was donated by Sheffrec Cycling Club in recognition of Doug’s commitment to cycling and particularly, Monsal Hill Climb. Doug was a dear friend to current organiser, Marc Etches, who grew up with Doug’s grandson.

The Dick Aldridge Trophy for the winner was in the past presented by his son who sponsored the event for years as Kite Training, he also did the commentary for 17 years.

Dick Aldridge, Albert Thorpe and Ike Delbridge were the founder members of the North Midlands BCF division as was ex-commentator Doug Bond. Sadly, Doug passed away in July 2020 and will be sorely missed by all. Doug was a good friend to many, particularly, Marc, the current organiser.

Below is a brief history of the event and some pictures of past winners and riders. If you have any information or have any old photographs or results, please contact Marc Etches and we will add to the history archive.