Andrew Feather (Champion System UK) and Olivia Bentley (Vision Innovative Leisure Racing Team) put in dominant performances to take victory in the 2019 John Bornhoft memorial hill climb.

A dry but very breezy morning on Leith Hill greeted the 48 starters and the spectators who had come out in force to the Kingston Wheelers event to see Feather don his national stripes as reigning national champion.

With the wind behind the riders on the climb fast times were expected, and the results did not disappoint.

34-year-old Exeter-based Feather rode a storming time of 3:31.2 to fall just shy of Tejvan Pettinger’s 2014 course record and finish 13.7 seconds ahead of second-placed Charlie Mactear (High Wycombe CC) who edged out Kingston Wheelers’s own Mark Aldred in third by 0.9 seconds.

Mactear, still a junior, will be one to watch closely over the next few years, as will 13-year-old Finlay Hawker (VC de Londres) who finished 18th overall.

28-year-old Olivia Bentley recorded a time of 4:37.0 to finish as fastest female by 34.3 seconds from Gemma Hobson (Sussex Nomads CC).

Kingston Wheelers took home the team prize with Aldred’s strong performance backed up by Neil Grunshaw (4:26:00, 21st), just ahead of Harry Bunnell (4:28:00, 23rd).

It was Feather’s fourth victory on his CTT record for 2019, and continues his preparation for the title defence in Devon in four weeks.

He is next due to be in action in the Chippenham and District Wheelers climb of Bowden Hill, Lacock, next Saturday, as well as the Realteam.co.uk climb near Rhigos, Hirwaun, on Sunday.

Bentley’s victory was her first of the season, and she will be aiming to add another victory to her list at the Watford Velo Sport’s Whiteleaf climb next Saturday.

Results:

1 Andrew Feather (Champion System UK) 3:31:2

2 Charlie Mactear (J) (High Wycombe CC) 3:44:9

3 Mark Aldred (Kingston Wheelers CC) 3.45.8

4 Chris Newberry (Redhill CC) 3:46:1

5 David Ross (LFGSS CC) 3:49:4

Women:

1 Olivia Bentley (Vision Innovative Leisure Racing Team) 4:37:0

2 Gemma Hobson (V) (Sussex Nomads CC) 5:11:3

3 Kate Palmer (Brixton Cycles Club) 5:15:1

Junior: Charlie Mactear (High Wycombe CC) 3:44:9

Juvenile: Finlay Hawker (VC Londres)  4:24:6

Veterans: Peter Tadros (trainSharp) 4:04:2

Veteran Women: Gemma Hobson (Sussex Nomads CC) 5:11:3