Hill-climbers from across the country are heading to Northumberland this weekend, with Muckle CC hosting Sunday’s National Championships near Hexham.

Whether riding or spectating, a huge crowd of hill-climb fanatics are expected to descend on Dipton Mill Road, a 1.2-kilometre climb which has a large field of entrants.

It promises to be a close event in the open category, with reigning champion Andrew Feather (HuntBikeWheels.com) heading north to defend his title, while similarly the reigning women’s champion Illi Gardner (Cardiff Ajax CC) is top of the pile in the women’s startsheet.

Spindata predicts that the top eight riders in the open event will be separated by just ten seconds, making it one of the closest events for years.

Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products) has been in great form this season and could well edge Feather, but it’s far from a two-horse race and others who could spoil their party include Harry MacFarlane (TAAP Kalas), Ben Millar (Primera TeamJobs) and Ed Laverack (Backpedal).

“I’m looking forward to it – it looks a good course,” said Feather. “I've done a couple of recons - there's some great riding up there.

“It’s all to play for, it seems to be wide open with lots of riders in the mix to take the top spot.”

Illi Gardner is expected to prove fastest in the women’s event once again, with Spindata estimating she will be 13 seconds ahead of last year’s runner-up Lizi Brooke (Le Col Race Team), while the battle for the podium could also include Jennifer Hudson (FTP Fulfil the Potential RT) and Abi Plowman (Alba Development RT) who was third last year.

“I’m feeling excited,” said Gardner. “I think the atmosphere is going to be really good so my main focus is to avoid getting carried away at the start when the adrenaline kicks in!”

In the junior event Harry Hudson (Harrogate Nova RT) is tipped by Spindata to take the win, while Harley Widdowson (Clancy Briggs Cycling Academy) and youth rider Ezra Bateman (Clifton CC York) will also be among the fastest.

In the junior girls’ event Olivia Smallshaw (Secret Training CC) and Maia Howell (Matlock CC) will be going for glory.

Elsewhere there’s the Cambridge University CC climb of Beechwood’s Hill near Cherry Hinton, a 938-metre event where the promoting club’s own Jamie Maxen, Joe Adlam-Cook and Ewan Collar are among the favourites, along with the University of Bristol CC’s Ludo Hirst.

And time trialling isn’t quite finished yet, with Brighton Mitre CC holding a 25-mile event near Kirdford in West Sussex on Sunday.

Simon McNamara (Sigma Sports Race Team) is tipped by Spindata for the win there, although Pat Wright (Paceline RT) and Colin McDermott (Festival Road Club) are in the mix too.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.