Andrew Kirby took his first hill climb win of the season in an event organised by his club, the University of Bristol CC. And Kate Mactear made it a double for the university team, claiming first place in the women’s category.
This was Kirby’s ninth hill climb in two months and although he has finished as runner-up in the Somerset RC, Sussex CA and Severn RC events, victory had proved elusive.
However, he got the better of a competitive field over the 0.86 mile course, completing in a time of 2:55.7.
VC Montpellier’s Jacob Pilkington had to settle for second place on the day, agonisingly missing out with a time of 2:56.4.
The top four rider had hardly anything separating them with DRK’s Charles Coleman claiming the final place on the podium with 2:56.6 – just two tenths of a second off the time of Pilkington.
JLT Condor’s Ed Lavarack was just a second off the pace for a top three finish with a time of 2:57.6.
In ninth place overall, Phil Stonelake of Bristol RC won the veteran prize with a time of 3:07.3. Less than a second slower than Stonelake in 3:08.1, University of Bristol rider Chris Parker was top Espoir in tenth.
Kate Mactear, in 54th place overall, took the women’s prize home for the University of Bristol with a time of 3:50.9. It was a close-run contest with Performance Cycles CC’s Joanne Jago second in 3:51.2. Third was Lucy Rowe of DRK Racing in 3:52.3.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.