A large field of riders in heading to West Yorkshire on Saturday for the 50th anniversary running of the Granville Sydney Memorial hill-climb at Jackson Bridge.

Organised by Huddersfield Star Wheelers, the event has attracted the attention of reigning women’s national champion Illi Gardner (Cardiff Ajax CC) as well as several others in the open event who will be aiming to win the national title in two weeks.

“I’m looking forward to racing Jackson Bridge, which is a climb I’ve never ridden before,” said Gardner after winning the Welsh Championships last weekend. “It’s quite short but I’ve heard it’s a tough one!”

In the open event in-form Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products) also comes into the Jackson Bridge event having won the Welsh Championships last weekend, while others to watch include reigning national junior champion Harry Hudson (Harrogate Nova) who has already tasted victory this year at the Team Lifting Gear Products climb of Sir William Hill in Grindleford as well as at the Glossop Kinder Velo’s Snake Pass climb a fortnight ago.

Marcus Cram (Muckle CC) and Jude Taylor (Team PB Performance) could also push for the podium, while other female entrants looking to challenge Illi Gardner include Joanna Brewis (Sheffrec CC) and Olivia French (Stolen Goat RT).

Further south, reigning open national hill-climb champion Andrew Feather (HuntBikeWheels.com) tackles the Sid Valley CC climb of Peak Hill in Devon on Sunday. Feather lost out to Ben Millar in last weekend’s University of Bristol CC climb on Saturday but then made amends by beating him in the Bath CC event on Sunday.

This weekend, Primera TeamJobs rider Millar rides the Severn RC event on Hinton Hill as he continues his preparations for the National Championships.

After his ride in Saturday’s Jackson Bridge event Wynne-Cattanach heads over to the Lancashire Road Club event on The Rake on Sunday, which also has on the start sheet Gabe Dellar (Stolen Goat RT) and Marcus Cram (Muckle CC).

There looks to be a good battle brewing in the women’s event, with Gemma Mitchell (Team Boompods), Alice Larkin (High Peak Cycles RT) and Bronwen Jenkinson (Saint Piran) all down to ride, while 360cycling’s up-and-coming junior Ruby Blanc can’t be ruled out.

We will be some idea of Larkin’s form when she rides Saturday’s Mam Nick event staged by Rutland CC, where she will have Abi Plowman (Alba Development RT) for company.

Ilkley CC’s Andy Cunningham rides the Rutland CC event, as well as Gabe Dellar (Stolen Goat RT).

The classic Catford CC and Bec CC climbs take place on Sunday, and TAAP Kalas rider Harry MacFarlane is tipped for victory in both of those, although Ewan Tuohy (Arctic Aircon RT) could provide a challenge for him at the Catford event on Yorks Hill.

Other hill-climb events on this weekend include the Beachy Head CC Butts Lane climb near Willingdon, as well as the East Sussex CA event on Firle Bostal.

And on Sunday it’s also the Tickhill Velo Bib Lane climb in South Yorkshire, the Houghton CC climb of Quarrington Hill in County Durham and Saint Piran are staging two events in Cornwall too.

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