Jersey switch paves way for Guernsey’s national hill climb

Organisers of Jersey’s British Hill Climb, which takes place at Bouley Bay each year in mid-week before Le Val des Terres, have shifted their event a day earlier to Tuesday 15 July.

This has cleared the way for the British Hillclimb Championship racers to travel on the Wednesday afternoon boat and enjoy a short holiday before Guernsey’s hosting on Saturday 19 July.

Concerns had previously been raised that the Brittany Ferries summer timetable, which offers only a Wednesday sailing between the islands, would be unsuitable to support this highlight of Guernsey’s motorsport calendar.

Guernsey Motorcycle and Car Club president Ian Le Page has welcomed the decision from their Jersey counterparts.

‘It’s great that we can still have the hill climb, because it was looking like we might not be able to have it,’ he said.

‘It’s good that Jersey have got that ability to move their hill climb – and we are grateful for them to do that.

‘It’s more difficult for us to move it around, with it being a main road. At least in Jersey, Bouley Bay doesn’t really go anywhere.’

Le Page admitted to the uncertainty that previously surrounded their event.

It had been set out as the ninth of 14 destinations in the championship, but only last month the popular HillClimb UK page had highlighted the lack of viable crossings between the islands.

He is now hopeful they can have a visiting contingent to match those of recent years – in which the UK’s Alex Summers and Wallace Menzies have both managed to lower the existing hill record.

‘Everybody was holding on to see what was happening and how they can get to the Channel Islands,’ Le Page said.

‘I can see no reason, now that things are sorted, why we won’t have the same amount of competitors over. If you are in the Championship, you do not want to leave the Channel Islands out, as it’s quite a lot of points.

‘They do enjoy it. They love the Channel Islands and think it’s great – it’s very different.’