Daniel Shoobridge took victory by the narrowest of margins at the Berkhamsted CC hill climb on Toms Hill finishing less than a second ahead of his nearest challenger, while Bithja Jones (Pankhurst Cycles) was a clear winner of the women’s event.

Shoobridge, from Chinnor in Oxfordshire, posted a winning time of two minutes and 0.23 seconds which was just less than three tenths of a second quicker than Darren Kidson (Onyx RT).

Toms Hill is just 800 metres in length starting near the village green in Aldbury and heading towards Aldbury Common on Toms Hill Road.

The climb has a maximum gradient of 10.8% and a hairpin towards the top of the climb to test competitors.

Shoobridge, aged 29, also won the Antelope RT event over 11.7 miles at the much flatter Thruxton closed circuit, in the road bike category, last weekend and continued to show his form with a second win in as many weeks.

Defending champion and quickest veteran Kidson lost his title by the narrowest of margins despite going slightly quicker than 12 months ago.

The battle for third place was also a close one with Alan Wylie (Ashmei Musette Race Team) posting 2-03 which was two seconds quicker than Ellis Pullinger (Rugby Velo).

The quickest juvenile was Marc Charton (Solihull CC) in 2-25 while Jacob Sunderland (Verulam CC) was the best junior (2-45).

Jones was in dominant form in the women’s event completing the climb in a winning time of 2-12.

The 42-year-old, from Reading, will be hoping to retain her national hill climb title later this month and took her second win of the weekend after also taking the Beachy Head CC event the previous day.

Jones’ time was also quicker than the women’s Strava record of 2-13 for the climb.

Becky Hair (Team Watto) led the charge behind finishing second in 2-42 which was two seconds faster than Harriet Hernando (Maidenhead & District CC) who clocked 2-44.

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