Despite less than ideal conditions, reigning national champion Andrew Feather threw down a marker to his rivals for this year’s title by setting a new course record in the East Sussex CA hill-climb on Firle Bostal on Saturday.

The HuntBikeWheels.com rider clocked 3-29.7 to take the win by around 25 seconds from Ashley Dennis (Things That) with James Hayward (Woolwich CC) third.

Meanwhile, quickest female was Penge CC’s Wendy Mathie whose time of 5-53.9 gave her the win in that category by just 1.5 seconds from Olivia Webb (Eastbourne Rovers CC) with third being Erica Martin (Eastbourne Rovers CC).

This win was Feather’s seventh of the season so far, and he made it eight later in the day with victory in the Beachy Head CC climb of Butts Lane.

He will be aiming to add to his tally with rides in next weekend’s Halifax Imperial Wheelers climb at Ripponden on Saturday and the North Lancashire RC event on Nick O’Pendle, before defending his national title the following Sunday, Oct 31, in Derbyshire.

In her first season of open hill-climbing, Mathie took the win here but had to settle for third in the Beachy Head CC climb later in the day. An improving rider, she is entered into the National Championships on Winnat’s Pass on Oct 31.

Elsewhere in the result espoir Sam Clark (TBW23) took fourth overall and best espoir, while top junior was Ben Neal (Southborough & Dist Wh) with 4-06.8.

Hayward was best of the veterans, his time of 4-03.4 being around 13 seconds better than his nearest rival in Richard Cartland, the HuntBikeWheels.com rider who placed seventh, just three seconds ahead of third fastest veteran Ashley Nunn (Addiscombe CC).

Firle Bostal is a popular short climb, starting outside of the last house in Firle Bostal and heading up the hill to the junction with the South Downs Way – a mere 1,433 yards of lung-bursting effort!

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