2015 Race Results

Wes Sturgill finishes first at 14th Annual Benge’s Revenge Challenge

Thirty-Seven bicycle enthusiasts began the challenge at about 9:00 A.M. on a clear, cool morning, perfect for a pleasant bike outing. Benge’s Revenge isn’t your normal bike outing; it is a grueling 75 mile ride from Norton through Appalachia and Keokee in Lee County, back to Big Stone Gap, and then through Powell Valley to Norton. The 75 mile 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 and 50 mile ride that ends at Legion Park at the base of the final climb.

Wes Sturgill of Wise, VA crossed the finish line in three hours, 37 minutes and 24 seconds to finish first in the 75-mile portion of the 14^th Annual Benge’s Revenge Bike Challenge held on Sunday, Sept. 13 in Norton, Virginia.

In total 18 riders competed in the 75-mile portion of the challenge that ended at the entrance to Flag Rock Recreation Area.  Other top finishers in addition to Sturgill were Second Place – Dan DeJager, Blountville, TN; Third Place – Emmett Crawford, Kingsport, TN; Fourth Place – Tommy Russell, Kingsport, TN ; Fifth Place – Browning Wynn, II, Jonesville, VA

Sybil Smith, Kingsport, TN was the first woman to finish with a time of four hours, 19 minutes and 12 seconds.

Winston Lee of Mayking, KY was the first place finisher of the 50 mile Challenge with a time of two hours, 46 minutes and 43 seconds. Hunter Vance of River, KY was second with a time of two hours, 49 minutes and 13 seconds and Ken Cornett of Gordon, KY was the third place with a time of two  hours, 51 minutes and 49 seconds.

Sherry Cornett was the first female finisher of the 50 mile Challenge with a time of three hours, 17 minutes and 59 seconds. Brandi Stanley of Coeburn, VA was second with a time of three  hours, 53 minutes and 15 seconds and Elsie Bloomer of Big Stone Gap, VA was third place with a time of three  hours, 53 minutes and 30 seconds.

Jeff Fields of  Pound, VA finished first in the 25-mile challenge in one hour, 41 minutes and 59 seconds followed by second place finisher Fred Ramey of Norton, VA with a time of one hour, 44 minutes and 43seconds.

Each year two additional awards are given at the bike challenge.  The Annual Bill Collie Powell Valley Mountain Challenge Award and the Dink Shackleford Most Aggressive Rider Award. This year both awards went to Wes Sturgill of Wise.

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.

The Norton Kiwanis Club would like to thank the following sponsors for their support of the Benge’s Revenge:  A & A Security, Bolwell Financial Services, Cavalier Comics, City of Norton Police Department, CSE Insurance, Data Ensure, Family Preservation Services, First Bank & Trust, Hagy-Fawbush Funeral Home, Iron Works Cycling & Outdoor Adventure, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Lifecare Ambulance Service, Lonesome Pine Cycling Club, Miner Exchange Bank, Mountain View Lodge, New Peoples Bank, Norton City Schools,  Pathfinders Outdoor Adventures, Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., Red River Coal Company/Humphries Enterprises, Southwest Insurance Agency, Southwest Tool Rental, Vic’s Decorating, William C. Horne, Jr., D.S.S., P.C., Wise County Sheriff’s Department, Wolfe, Williams & Reynolds.

The Norton Kiwanis Club would like to thank the following people for their hard work in the 2015 Benge’s Revenge: Robert England, Race Director; Kiwanis Club Members – Paul Bolling, Esther Bolling, Martha Jones, Kathy Still, Sharon Hamblin, Byron Cantrell, Bob Isaac, Melissa Coffey, Don Purdie, James Lane, Rick Colley, Barbara Caruso and Buzz Witt; Amanda and James Hughes, Time Keepers; Laura Witt, Aid Station Coordinator; Bike Repair and Service – Lonesome Pine Cycling Club ( Shayne Fields and Andy Mullins) and Iron Works Cycling (Lorenzo Rodriguez and Bobby Bloomer)

Please visit the Benge’s Revenge website (www.bengesrevenge.com) for a complete list of finishers and photos from this year’s event.