Hattie Archer and Andy Nichols tackled the elements on Saturday to seize wins in Rutland CC’s Mam Nick hill-climb.

In typical British fashion, a recent bout of inclement weather has followed a sterling summer but riders powered through with some coming close to age records despite the “windy and very wet” conditions.

Andy Nichols (Team B38-Underpin Racing) finally triumphed in the Rutland CC hosted event after a few years of riding it with no first place to show for his efforts.

The 28-year-old traversed the infamous Mam Nick course in 6-46.4, beating his team-mate Patrick Clark by a mere rotation of the crank – the win was Nichols’ fourth of the year and will be gearing up to face the National Championships later this month, hoping to improve on his 17th from last year.

Nichols’ younger team-mate Clark narrowly missed out as he crossed the line in 6-48.

22-year-old Clark hasn’t managed to take the top step of the podium so far this year in open competition, with this result equalling his previous best of the season. But Clark fared better than the weekend’s winner Nichols in last year National Champs, finishing just inside the top ten and will look to do the same in a couple of weeks.

Ilkley CC rider Andy Cunningham has four wins and a second in his five started events of the year but couldn’t equal it has he finished third with a time of 6-50.2.

Mam Nick rookie Hattie Archer (Bolsover and District CC) was emphatic winner on her first attempt at the event, finishing nearly 33 seconds better than second place.

The win is Archer’s first of the season after finishes of 2-2-4 previously but a time of 8-10.7 on her first outing in the event impressed organisers leaving them wondering what she may have done on a better day.

Hannah Larbalestier (Boompods EDCO NRG) finished second, equalling her best hill-climb of the season with a time of 8-43.6.

Larbalestier has tasted victory however in time trialling of the more flat variety in the Birdwell Wheelers 10 back in April.

Jo Jebb (Common Lane Occasionals) was third in 9-23.6.

In other categories, 15-year-old Taylor Hill (Sheffrec CC) took the juvenile prize in 08-18.3 whilst Will Beech (Team Jewson) topped the fastest junior timesheets by a minute 0.5 seconds.

Fastest veterans were Tony Cope (Leek CC) and Jo Holden (Macclesfield Wheelers) for their respective sex categories.

Team B38-Underpin Racing were the top team with top two overall Andy Nichols and Patrick Clark joined by Rick Bailey to post a collective time of 20-41.3 – 1-33 better than next best Bolsover and District CC).

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by Jack Cudworth.