Richard Gildea was fastest male while Jacintha Hamilton-Love was quickest woman at the Watford Velo Sport hill climb on Whiteleaf Hill near Monks Risborough on Sunday.

Gildea, the 33-year-old Didcot Phoenix CC rider, clocked 3-41.5 to take the win by almost 15 seconds over the 0.8-mile climb, while Danny Axford (Arctic Tacx) was second and Oliver Mytton (Verulam CC) was third.

The top two spots was a repeat of the podium from the nearby Newbury Road Club climb seven days earlier.

Also 33 years old, 2017 event winner Hamilton-Love (Dulwich Paragon CC) clocked 5-10.8 to win by 13.1 seconds from Jennifer Andrews (CC Ashwell), while Gemma Hobson (Sussex Nomads CC) was third fastest female.

Heavy rain and strong winds caused a reduced field but a brave 36 riders still faced the climb in the heart of the Chiterns in Buckinghamshire.

A dedicated crowd cheered on the soaked riders with cow bells and horns as they crested the steepest section of the climb through the morning mist.

The Veteran’s (over 50) category podium comprised Mick Kelly (Team MK), Richard Burt (Solihull CC) topped off by Andy Ashwell of Berkhamsted CC in a time of 5:39.24.

Watford Velo Sport’s Tim Slamon holds the club championship for 2018 as the faster rider of the hosting club in a time of 04:36.13, enough for 11th on the day overall too.

Gildea’s victory is the latest in a good season for the rider from Didcot. As well as winning the Newbury RC climb last week, he has also been victorious in the Chippenham and District Wheelers climb and the Lovelo Racing event in September.

Hamilton-Love is in great form heading into the national championships in two weeks. She has won every hill-climb she has ridden this season, including the Bec Cc and Catford CC events last weekend, the Wigmore CC, Reading CC and Lovelo Racing events.

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