Ashley Dennis (Things That) and Kate Palmer (1904 RT) were fastest male and female riders respectively at the Brighton Mitre CC climb of Bostal Road in Steyning on Saturday morning.

The first of the club’s two events that day, the morning’s climb of the 1704-yard Bostal Road saw riders tackle a short spiral staircase of a climb, with Dennis covering the course in 3-59.85 to take victory by 13 seconds from Matt Sumpton (Dulwich Paragon CC), while Oliver Hurdle (Stolen Goat RT) was just a fraction of a second slower in third spot.

Palmer held off Bethan Male (Neighbourhood Brighton CC) for the win, while third spot went to Eastbourne Rovers CC rider Olivia Webb.

Brighton Mitre CC took the team prize at Steyning, with their fastest three finishers being Jack Smith, Cris Coxon and Robb Cunningham.

Those three held the same positions in the afternoon’s other Brighton Mitre CC climb of Mill Hill at Shoreham (see separate report).

Ashley Dennis is due to tackle the East Sussex CA hill-climb next weekend as well as the Beachy Head CC event on Butts Lane Hill the same day.

Palmer’s only other hill-climb appearance this season was in the Kingston Wheelers climb of Leith Hill last month, where she placed third behind reigning national champion Bithja Jones and top talent Madeleine Heywood.

Next Saturday she tackles the same two events as Dennis – the East Sussex CA climb in the morning and the Butts Lane climb in the afternoon.

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

Results:

Men:

1st Ashley Dennis: Things That:  3.59.85 (£60)

2nd Matt Sumpton: Dulwich Paragon CC:  4.12.30 (£35)

3rd: Oliver Hurdle: Stolen Goat RT:  4.12.58 £25)

4th: Richard Cartland huntbikewheels.com:  4.14.00 (£15)

Women:

1st Kate Palmer: 1904RT: 5:16.04 (£60)

2nd: Bethan Male: Neighbourhood Brighton CC 5:33.16 (£35)

3rd: Olivia Webb: Eastbourne Rovers CC 5:38.58 (£25)

4th: Liz Halliday: Sussex Nomads CC 7:02.29 (£15)

Team: Brighton Mitre CC