Andrew Feather (HuntBikeWheels.com) and Illi Gardner (Wahoo Endurance Zone p/b Le Col) proved their credentials ahead of the National Hill Climb Championships by winning the men’s and women’s events at the Chew Valley CC hill climb in record times.

Feather, aged 37, won the national crown in 2020 and showed his form winning the event on the Smitham Chimney Hill Climb of 1.2 miles in length in a new record time of four minutes and 47 seconds.

Starting outside East Harptree in the Mendip Hills and the gradient increases gradually until you reach the snaking turns, where it ramps up to around 16% for a hundred metres.

Once through the twists and turns competitors reached a plateau before the road kicks up for the final climb to the summit.

Feather also held the previous course record of 4-56 set in 2018 but he lowered that mark by nine seconds to take his ninth win of the season in sunny conditions.

Ben Millar (Primera-Teamjobs) took a close battle for second posting a time of 4-56.0 which was less than a second quicker than Ed Laverack (Backpedal).

The quickest veteran on scratch was Phil Stonelake (Bristol Road Club) in 5-13 while Harvey Thomas (Bristol Road Club) was the best junior (5-31).

Tricycle competitor and para-cyclist Geoff Pickin (Monmouthshire Wheelers) was also in action completing the course in 15-45.

In the women’s event Gardner posted a winning time of 5-36 which shattered the previous course record of 6-34.

Gardner, aged 23, from Cardiff, finished fourth in her first attempt at the National Hill Climb Championships last season and looks in top form ahead of this year’s event in two weeks’ time.

Jennifer Hudson (Bristol Road Club) led the charge behind taking second in 6-31 while Jennifer Lemen (PDQ Cycle Coaching) was third (7-12).

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