75 Miles Results (2010 Winning time 3:38.50)

Overall

Over 40

Women’s

The Inaugural Bill Collie Powell Valley Mountain Challenge Award
(Given to the 1st long distance rider who reached the top of Powell Valley Mountain)
(Presented in Memory of Bill Collie)
Winner – Rick Hildebrand

50 Miles Results

Overall

25 Miles Results (2010 Winning Time – 1:20)
Overall

2011 75 Mile Bike Challenge Results

We did not have times for the following riders because of breakdowns or we were unable to get their times at the high school.

Varinka Williams
Daniel Stair
Rebecca Jackson
Jason Cooper
Burl “Beau” Spurlock
Michael Helton
Patrick Deel

2009 25 Mile Results

Phillip Prince finishes first at 8th Annual Benge’s Revenge Challenge

Congratulations to Phillip Prince of Wise, winner of the 2009 Benge’s Revenge Bicycle Challenge. Prince bested the field of 37 cyclists to take 1st place with a course time of 3:37:16, nearly three minutes better than last year’s winning time. With rain immediately preceding the event the determined riders were not to be deterred. The rain ended virtually at the start signal and held off throughout the 75 mile event. Don Fields from Prestonsburg, KY took second place thirty three seconds back. Bill Collie, Wise finished third at 3:38:30. Not only did Prince take the win, he also claimed the award for the 40+ division.

The cyclists left Norton, traveling a figure eight course through Appalachia, Big Stone Gap, and into Lee County before looping back through Keokee, up through the head of Powell Valley, returning to Norton. THEN the ride got interesting! The last two miles was a grueling 11 % grade climb past the legendary Benge’s Rock, with spikes up to 20%. It’s not called “Benge’s REVENGE” for nothing! Simply completing the run to the finish at Flag Rock Park is an achievement not all participants can claim.

A 25 mile course began and ended J.I. Burton High School with a loop through Appalachia, Big Stone Gap, and Powell Valley. Breannan Alderman completed the run in 1:22:34 for 1st Place, followed by David Rose and Bill Tilson.

In its eighth year, Benge’s Revenge was conceived and organized by the late Dink Shakelford and is sponsored annually by the Kiwanis Club of Norton. Monies raised through sponsors and entry fees goes towards Kiwanis children’s charities.

2008 25 Mile Results

Jeremy Keller finishes first at 7th Annual Benge’s Revenge Challenge
Jeremy Keller of Gate City crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 40 minutes, and 36 seconds to finish first in the 75-mile portion of the Seventh Annual Benge’s Revenge Bike Challenge held on Saturday, September 20 in Norton, Virginia. Four riders crossed the line within three minutes of Keller’s time and another eight riders within eleven minutes. In total 25 riders completed the 75-mile portion of the challenge.

Justin Smith of Jenkins, Kentucky finished the 25-mile challenge in 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 26 seconds, 15 minutes ahead of the next participant. In total nine riders completed this portion of the challenge including Randy Mullins and his partner of Big Stone Gap, Virginia on a tandem bike.
Forty-two bicycle enthusiasts began the challenge at about 9:05 A.M. on a clear day, perfect for a pleasant bike outing. Benge’s Revenge is not that outing; it is a grueling 75 mile ride from Norton through Appalachia and Keokee down to Lee County, back to Big Stone Gap, and then through Powell Valley to Norton. The ride concludes with a steep climb of over 1.5 miles to Flag Rock and the finish line. Riders have the option of a 25 mile ride that ends at the base of the final climb.
The late Dink Shackleford organized the first Benge’s Revenge. Members of the Norton Kiwanis Club now organize the race in his memory with proceeds from the challenge supporting Kiwanis programs for youth including scholarships at Mountain Empire Community College and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

In addition to the Kiwanis Club, Hagy and Fawbush Funeral Home, IBON, Miners Exchange Bank, Mosby’s Restaurant, Mountain Sports Limited, New Peoples Bank, Norton Community Hospital, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Norton, South-West Insurance Agency, Vic’s Decorating, Wellmont Health Systems, and Wise Lumber also sponsor the challenge.

All of this year’s participants came from the immediate tri-state area with 16 from Virginia, 15 from Tennessee, and eleven from Kentucky.

Other top finishers in addition to Keller were Dwain Miller, Bristol, VA; Don Fields, Prestonsburg, KY; Jonathan Kinnick, Johnson City, TN; and Phillip Prince, Wise, VA. The first lady finisher was Kim Bishop from Kingsport, TN in 4:36.36.