Under-23 rider Carl Jolly (73 Degrees Bicycles, WestSide Coaching RT) took his first victory of the season in the Team Tor 2000 hill climb on Westclose Hill in Somerset.
Despite heavy air conditions Jolly, aged 22, completed the climb in a time of five minutes and 46 seconds.
The Westclose Hill climb is over 1.2 miles long and ascends away from the village of Rodney Stoke starting off with a shallow gradient followed by a moment of brief respite with a small descent.
However, the climb soon kicks up again with a maximum gradient of 16% before flattening off for a sprint finish.
After an unpromising start to the day with low cloud shrouding the Mendips, it brightened up nicely into a moderately warm 13 degrees centigrade for the start with what little wind there was helping riders up the top exposed section.
The heavy air, however, dampened any hopes of getting near the course record (5-00.0.5 set by Jim Henderson in the 2000 National Hill Climb Championships).
Jolly, from Bristol, was runner-up in the same event last season and despite going two seconds slower on this occasion his time was 11 seconds clear of his rivals.
Morgan Curle, who has won four hill climbs already this season, led the charge behind taking second on this occasion in a time of 5-57.6.
A further four seconds behind was Charlie Lacaille (University of Bristol Cycling Club) who finished third in 6-01.2.
Heading the veteran’s category was Steve Thomas in 6-08.8 ahead of Glyndwr Griffiths in second (6-16.3) while Andrew Metherell (Salt and Sham Cycle Club) was third clocking 6-23.3.
Quickest junior was Leo Guilfoyle (Clevedon & District Road Club) who covered the course in 6-37.9 while fastest juvenile was Toby Wilson (Team Tor 2000 | KALAS) in 8-56.7.
There were no women competitors.
The Team Tor 2000 hill climb was a charity event with the proceeds going to Diabetes UK as the organiser Peter Rogers is Type 1 diabetic.
The unusually small field was suspected to have been caused by the BC National Road Race Championships being held on the same weekend.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.