Ruby Isaac (Welland Valley CC) and Harry Hudson (Matlock CC) were fastest junior girl and boy at the National Hill-Climb Championships in Cumbria on Sunday, with both setting new course record times on their way to victory.
16-year-old Hudson clocked 13-05 to take 57 seconds from the old record for The Struggle held by Louis Lermite while 15-year-old Ruby Isaac set a time of 18-21 to beat the old junior girls record by an impressive 4-15.
Hudson’s time would’ve put him joint third in the senior men’s event, while Ruby Isaac’s time would’ve put her 22nd in the senior women’s field of 79 finishers.
Isaac’s time gave her the win on the day by just four seconds from Solihull CC junior Ella Tandy, while third was Maia Howell (Matlock CC) with 20-21.
Hudson was 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Maxwell Hereward (360cycling) in the boys’ event with the final podium spot going to Joe Watkins-Wilson with 14-04.
Age Group awards went to Finn Miller (Matlock CC) with 23-41 in the boys’ 12-year-old category, while Ezra Bateman (Clifton CC York) was top 13-year-old with 16-50.
The best 14-year-old was Finley Hudson (Matlock CC) in 16-02, with top 15-year-old being Finn O’Brien (Z Junior Race Team) in 14-22.
The 16-year-old award went to Harry Hudson (Matlock CC) with 13-05, while quickest 17-18-year-old was Maxwell Hereward (360cycling) in 13-19.
In the girls age group awards Isabel Beale (Welwyn Wheelers) was quickest 14-year-old with 22-02, while Ruby Isaac (Welland Valley CC) was top 15-year-old. Ella Tandy (Solihull CC) clocked 18-25 to win the 16-year-old award, while the 17/18-year-old girls award was won by Millie Jenkins (Brother UK Team OnForm) with 20-34.
The event was staged by Lakes Road Club and Barrow Central Wheelers on The Struggle near Ambleside. It was longer than your typical hill-climb at 2.67 miles, and with an average gradient of eight per cent and a maximum gradient of an eye-watering 24 per cent.
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