Andrew Feather (HuntBikeWheels.com) landed a blow on his rivals ahead of this weekend’s National Hill Climb Championships by winning the Matlock CC hill climb on Riber, while Jo Tindley (CAMS- Tifosi) took her maiden win of the season in the women’s event.

Feather maintained his unbeaten hill climb taking his 13th consecutive victory of the season in clear fashion.

Despite a slight wheel spin towards the top Feather, aged 35, charged to another win finishing seven seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

 With a maximum gradient of 25% the Riber climb goes up in stages and includes two hard corners before a steep drag to the finish- a total length of 1.19 kilometres.

With a host of his rivals for this weekend’s championships also in action it was an opportunity to test their form ahead of the big day.

Feather, aged 35, clocked a winning time of three minutes and 20.1 seconds on the climb to take a clear victory.

Andy Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles in Motion) had to settle for second on this occasion clocking 3.27.4.

Meanwhile, a tight battle for third saw under-23 rider Cameron Biddle (Vredestein Basso) and Jude Taylor (Crimson Orientation Marketing RT) tie in third place both finishing in exactly 3-30.8.

“I’m pretty pleased that I managed to win a week before the nationals against a strong field,” said Feather.

“There was a lot of favourites for the nationals riding although this climb is a bit longer. I was four seconds slower than last time I rode but was considerably colder and more slippery towards the top.”

Ewan Mackie (HMT Hospitals Giant Cycling Team) was quickest junior finishing in 3-55.2 while Darrell Clarke (Ilkeston Cycle Club) was fastest veteran clocking 3-58.6.

In the juvenile category Ryan Williams (Beeston Cycling Club) ran out victor setting a time of 4-13.6.

Meanwhile, in the women’s event Tindley showed her improvement in her maiden hill climb season by taking her first victory.

In her third open event of the season Tindley recorded a winning time of 4-37.0 a week before the Hill Climb National Championship.

Becky Hair (Magspeed Racing) who won the Kingston Wheelers hill climb last month had to settle for second this time around finishing in 4-41.2.

She pushed Rebecca Richardson (Team Brother UK) into third place finished a further five seconds back in 4-46.1.

Quickest veteran was Gemma Sargent (Jadan CycleSpace- Vive Le Velo) who clocked a time of 5-05.8 while Madeline Gammons (Team Boompods) was best under-23 rider (5-46.9).

Maia Howell (Matlock CC) was fastest juvenile girl in 6-17.0 while Lilja Raine (myhillcycling.co.uk) was quickest junior clocking 7-38.

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