Wes Sturgill finishes first at 17th Annual Benge’s Revenge Challenge
Eighteen bicycle enthusiasts began the challenge at about 9:00 A.M. on a clear 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, 35 minutes and 04 seconds to finish first in the 75-mile portion of the 17th Annual Benge’s Revenge Bike Challenge held on Sunday, Sept. 9th in Norton, Virginia.
In total 12 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 – Charlie Long, Kingsport, TN; Third Place Bryan Caviness, Bristol, TN; Fourth Place – Will Humphreys, Kingsport, TN ; Fifth Place – Phillip Prince, Wise, VA.
Bess Mathisen, Norton, VA was the first woman to finish the 75 mile ride with a time of three hours, 59 minutes and 27 seconds. Bess was 6th overall. Rachel Monderer finished in four hours, 19 minutes and 10 seconds to finish in 9th place overall.
Dave Stallard of Wise, VA was the first place finisher of the 50 mile Challenge with a time of two hours, 42 minutes and 17 seconds. Fred Ramey of Norton, VA was second with a time of three hours, 6 minutes and 58 seconds.
Nikki Steffey of Allen, KY, finished first in the 25-mile challenge in one hour, 35 minutes and 30 seconds followed by second place finisher Ben Conway of Wise, VA with a time of one hour, 42 minutes and 24seconds, third place finisher Ron Elkins of Wise, VA with a time of one hour, 46 minutes, 37 seconds and fourth place finisher Brian Lovell with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes and 5 seconds.
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 the Bill Collie awards went to Wes Sturgill of Wise, VA. The Dink Shackleford award went to Charlie Long of Kingsport, TN.
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 Consultants, Ltd., City of Norton Police Department, Cartridge World, CSE Insurance, Data Ensure, Inc., Doughmakers Pizza, Family Preservation Services, First Bank & Trust Company, Fishtales, Hagy-Fawbush Funeral Home, Ironworks Cycling & Outdoor Adventures, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Lifecare Ambulance Service, Lonesome Pine Cycling, Miners Exchange Bank, New Peoples Bank, New Vision Optical – Wise, Pathfinders Outdoor Adventures, Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., Southwest Insurance Agency, Southwest Tool Rental, Tester Chiropractic, The Optometry Group, Vic’s Decorating, William C. Horne, Jr., DDS, 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 2018 Benge’s Revenge: Kiwanis Club Members – Paul Bolling, Esther Bolling, Kathy Still, Sharon Hamblin, Sass Sloce, Ernie Ward, Rick Colley, Ethel Daniels and Chris Jones; Gordon Sandt, Sigman Aid Station; Pre-Race set-up, Mark Caruso, Pre-Race and In-Race Bike Repair and Service – Ironworks Cycling & Outdoor Adventures of Big Stone Gap (Lorenzo Rodriguez and Bobby Bloomer). Jeff Brooks and J.I. Burton High School for use of the facilities.
For more pictures and results please visit the Benge’s Revenge website.