FROME’S second Cobble Wobble has been declared a resounding success with over 1,000 people gathering to watch the hundreds of cyclists wobble their way up Catherine Hill on Saturday the 19th of September.
Event organiser Andrew Denham describes how the event was created. “The event started last year to commemorate the sixth stage of the Tour of Britain, which passed through Frome,” he said. “As a keen cyclist I wanted to do something to remember this.
“The support was amazing”, Andrew continued, “I am overwhelmed by the turn out, it was a huge success.”
This year the Cobble Wobble was fully booked with 200 entrants ready to take on the uphill challenge.
Competitors tackled the wobble in all manners of fancy dress including Vikings, animals and the Big Bird character from Sesame Street.
Chris Akrigg, who is considered one of the best all-round mountain bikers, won the overall King of The Cobbles race, where all the winners from each category then race against each other.
Alice Shuttleworth was the fastest woman and Mike Smith clinched the over 50s category. Kim Smith won the 18-49 category. The under 14s category was won by Jack Sowden, with Jamie Richardson-Paige winning the under 18s competition.
Andrew said, “The event gives the residents of Frome a chance to be a bit imaginative, a bit silly with their costumes and have a great time doing so. It’s simple, nothing complex just start at the bottom of the hill and get to the top.
“We had Olympic sprinter Jason Gardener in the crowd and he was laughing and joking enjoying the cobble wobble. The atmosphere was carnival-like, lots of colours, lots of people laughing and just an amazing day. In going forward for next year I want to encourage everyone to come in any fancy dress they please and just have fun.
“I would like to thank the Black Canon Collective, Frome Town Council who are fully behind the event, St John’s Ambulance, Frome Carnival committee and the Frome Rotary Club. Without all of their support this would not have been possible.”
