Jude Taylor (Team PB Performance) and Emily Robinson (Ilkley CC) battled against their rivals and blustery conditions to take the men’s and women’s individual stage and overall victories on the Otley CC two-stage hill climb.

The two-stage event saw riders tackle Guise Cliff in the morning which was followed by Norwood Edge in the afternoon.

Firstly riders tackled Guise Cliff which is 1,400 yards in length on Nought Moore Road which has an average gradient of 10.3%, but with the steepest section of 18% coming at the bottom.

Blustery conditions greeted riders making it difficult for competitors to get out of the saddle and put their power down.

Taylor won the opening stage posting a time of 3 minutes and 21.6 which was 16 seconds faster than Nick Munro (Royal Air Force Cycling Association).

In the women’s event Robinson was fastest but was closely followed by Hannah Bayes (Saint Piran) with the win up for grabs on the second stage.

The afternoon saw riders tackle the infamous Norwood Edge challenge with tough conditions again greeting competitors for the effort of 1.7 kilometres starting near the Lindley Wood Reservoir.

The steepest section of around 15% was again at the bottom with an average gradient of 9.2% to test competitors.

Taylor was the fastest in the men’s event again completing the climb in 5-02 to win the event overall in a combined time of 8-23.

Behind there was a tough battle for the remaining podium positions with Munro having a combined time of 9-02 which was five seconds faster than Iain Duffield (PMRR) in 9-07, while Mark Jagger (Team Lifting Gear Products) finished just a second outside the podium places finishing fourth in 9-08.

There was also a close competition in the junior category with Christos Tzelis (Ilkley CC) recording the quickest time of 9-57 which was four seconds faster than James Sawyers (Clifton CC York).

The best junior girl was host club rider Emily Middlebrooke who stopped the clock in 12-36.6.

The juvenile category was also well contested with fellow Otley CC rider Matthew Peace covering both stages fastest in a combined time of 10-12.9.

In the women’s event Robinson increased her first stage lead on Norwood Edge to post a combined time of 12-09.1.

Bayes had to settle for second on this occasion in 12-24 while junior rider Middlebrooke was the third woman overall.

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