The Simon Brien Residential UAC Craigantlet Hill Climb was host to the second round of the Millers Oils ANICC Hill Climb Championship which provided great excitement and thrilling drives from our local entrants.
Running alongside two rounds of the British Hillclimb Championship, Tim Woodside from Dunadry in his Pilbeam MP82 was the fastest local driver up the hill, gaining maximum NI Championship points, with a run of 48.71s, just over 4 seconds adrift from the event winner and 12th place overall, well done Tim!
Graham Thompson was only 1.19 seconds slower than Woodside in his GTR Turbo in 14th place overall, Steven Robb from Nutts Corner in his Jedi Mk4 was just 2.95s behind and was only 0.18s ahead of Ian Lancashire in the Subaru Impreza he shares with his brother Mark, such was the intensity of the competition despite the continual precipitation.
Not surprisingly no Hill Records were broken this year, due to the weather.
Clerk of The Course, Wilson Carson, on behalf of the UAC, took the opportunity in his drivers briefing to thank our title sponsor Simon Brien Residential and all our other associated sponsors, volunteers, residents, marshals, competitors and spectators for their continued support for one of the oldest Hill Climbs in the UK. 2023 will see the event celebrate its 110th Anniversary.
A few minor excursions into the scenery resulted in dented pride and some modified car bodies, but thankfully, with no one injured, the event safely finish at 18:30.
The Club were delighted to see two additional women drivers featuring on the ‘Hill’ for the first time; Ruth Nugent from Co. Meath in her Mini Cooper and Amy Hawthorne from Belfast driving her Renault Clio.
The Ulster Automobile Club congratulates all winners and once again would like to thank all the residents for their continued support and forbearance without which this annual spectacle would not be possible.
Words: BILL SWANN/UAC | Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY
