Under-23 rider Samuel Painter (TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling P/b trainSharp) clinched his first ever open victory in the Wigmore CC event the Hollingbourne Hill Climb, while veteran Debbie Percival (Kent Velo Girls/Boys) took the women’s title.

Painter, aged 19, improved on an eighth-place finish last season knocking over 10 seconds off that time to win in 3-10.8.

The Hollingbourne Hill Climb (QHC/11) is 1.2 kilometres in length with an average of 9% and maximum of around 20%.

After a steady start at around 9% the gradient flattens out briefly before rising steeply through a wooded section.

The climb then eases off slightly and then rising steeply again up to 20% before levelling out slightly for the sprint to the finish.

Local rider Painter has recorded a 3-03 on the course on Strava but despite being slightly slower on this occasion his time was enough for victory.

Jack O’Brien (Parlay CC) started a minute behind Painter and chased the winner all the way up falling less than two seconds short of victory in 3-12.6.

Rounding off the podium positions was Tom Rowing (Abellio-SFA Racing Team) who took third in 3-22.5.

Last year’s winner James Hayward (Woolwich CC) was down to seventh explaining that lockdown restrictions have impacted on his training.

A hard-fought battle for the veterans’ prize saw Richard Cartland (HuntBikeWheels.com) finish in 3-33.2 which was 0.4 seconds quicker than James Wayward (Woolwich CC).

Keith Walker (Wigmore CC) was fastest veteran 50-59 in 4-08.6 while Brian Perry (Datalynx-Parenesis Cycling) was first veteran aged over-70 clocking 6-26.1.

Quickest junior was Ben Elliot (Redhill CC) who finished in 3-45.8 ahead of 4T+ Cyclopark duo of Finn Dunton (3-52.5) and Leighton Dalley (3-52.6).

Dunton and Dalley also led 4T+ Cyclopark to the team award along with veteran Stephen Gibson (3-41.6).

Also riding for 4T+ Cyclopark was fastest juvenile Luke Gibson (4-16.8) beating Frankie Finch of the host club into second (5-24.2).

In the women’s category after winning the event in 2016 Percival regained her title with her first victory of the season clocking 4-49.9.

Last season’s winner junior rider Katie Painter (Medway Tri) finished second in 5-06.0 while Tracy Wilkinson-Begg (TWB - On Time Race Team) took third in 5-24.6.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.