Verroken and Booker win on Hardwick Hill
Emilie Verroken and Gregg Booker were quickest female and male up the Hardwick Hall climb in Derbyshire, as dozens of riders took advantage of the road closure and great atmosphere on the 615-metre climb on Sunday evening.
There was a great evening’s racing under lights, and mercifully little rain as riders tackled the course which includes a cattle grid for an extra challenge.
13 young riders were led off by eight-year-old Albie Saxton of Bolsover and Max Parish of Ilkeston. Enthusiastic Bolsover DCC Go riders took the opportunity to ride with 11-year-old Leila Crookes, becoming the youngest female to beat the hill. Showing the strength of the field, six of the juveniles went under two minutes.
The usual rain at this event threatened as dark fell and riders ascended through the night through the floodlights, with cow bells clattering.
Emilie Verroken (Team Lifting Gear Products) returned to competing with a vengeance and matched her time of 2021 to top the female podium, with Nicola Soden (Datalynx-Paranesis Cycling) second and Alison Dockney (Macclesfield Wheelers) third.
Special kudos to 72-year-old Yvonne Twelvetrees who made this a truly inclusive all age event.
Three female Bolsover riders took part on Brompton bikes. Maddi Smith topped the podium in this category with Sonia Insley and Julie Leonardo second and third.
As it got darker times got faster and event regular Gregg Booker (Summat CC) topped the male podium at 1:21, beating his nearest rival be seven seconds.
Two minutes is a great target for male riders with over two thirds of the adult male field achieving this.
* A gallery of images from this event is available here