WITH one week to go until the National Hill-Climb Championship in Northumberland, riders across the country are either honing their preparations with rides in challenging events – or choosing to rest so they are fresh for the title race.

Reigning women’s champion Illi Gardner (Cardiff Ajax CC) won’t be seen in an open CTT event until the big day, but reigning men’s champion Andrew Feather (Hunt Bike Wheels.com) is one of several who are riding the 360cycling climb of Birdy Brow in Lancashire on Saturday.

Others taking part in that event on a 1.18-mile course near Clitheroe are Andy Cunningham ((Ilkley CC), Maxwell Hereward (360cycling) as well as Abi Plowman (Alba Development RT) and in-form veteran Gemma Mitchell (Team Boompods).

Elsewhere on Saturday Brighton Mitre CC are staging two climbs – one on Bostal Road near Steyning in the morning, then on nearby Titch Hill in the afternoon.

Harry MacFarlane (TAAP Kalas) is expected to be victorious in both events according to Spindata, while Christina Wiejak (Barrow Central Wheelers) and Penge CC veteran Wendy Mathie are in the women’s field.

McFarlane moves on to the Matlock CC climb on Bank Road in the Derbyshire town where he faces opposition from Cameron Biddle (HUUB WattShop) and Andy Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products) among others, while the women’s field includes Becky Hair (Fulfil the Potential RT) and the host club’s junior Maia Howell.

Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products) has been in great form so far this hill-climb season and he rides the North Lancashire Road Club event on Nick O’Pendle near Sabden in Lancashire on Sunday, where Cunningham takes part again, while Venture Racing’s Iain Duffield has been showing consistent form over the last few weeks too.

Top women riders Plowman and Mitchell ride this event too, along with Bronwen Jenkinson (Saint Piran).

There’s also a good field for the Outlands CC climb on Hammer Square Bank in County Durham, with Muckle CC fielding several riders including Marcus Cram, John Bowman, Adrian Armstrong and Hugo Storey, while Nick Munro of the promoting club could upset things.

Rachel Galler is in action at this event too, along with Musselburgh Roads CC rider Madeleine Bell and an impressive 13 other females.

After winning the Catford CC hill-climb last Sunday, Ewan Tuohy (Arctic Aircon RT) is fancied for victory at the Berkhamsted CC climb on Tom’s Hill Road near Aldbury in Hertfordshire on Sunday.

Other events this weekend include the University of Exeter CC’s climb of Mamhead near Exmouth in Devon, as well as the Oxford University CC event on Keeper’s Hill Lane near Wytham in Oxfordshire.

Bristol South CC have an event on Burrington Combe in Somerset, while there’s also the Sussex Nomads event on Ditchling Beacon in East Sussex.

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