Frank Longstaff (Colchester Rovers CC) took a slender victory by just four tenths of a second in the CC Sudbury Falling Leaves hill climb in Suffolk on Sunday, while Millie Jenkins (Brother UK) was quickest female.

The Watson’s Hill climb is 380 metres long with an average gradient of 9.2% resulting in close margins between competitors.

Longstaff posted a time of 43.5 seconds which was just narrowly quicker than Oskar Everett (Orwell Velo).

Calum Brown’s course record of 39.9 seconds has been held since 2017 and remains intact.

Longstaff was competing in his first open event and came away with victory at the first attempt.

Junior rider Everett won the same event last season in 42 seconds exactly but had to settle for second place on this occasion.

Completing a closely fought top three positions was Timothy Torrie (trainSharp) who was just over a second further back (0.45).

Quickest juvenile rider Oliver Beale (Welwyn Wheelers) narrowly missed out on the podium positions finishing fourth overall in 49 seconds.

Lee Ford (CC Sudbury) was the quickest veteran stopping the clock in 50 seconds, two seconds faster than Paul Moss (Stowmarket & District CC) in second and Matthew Watts (Pedal Revolution CC) in third (0.54).

CC Sudbury were also quickest team with Ford joined by Daniel Upton (0.59) and Dean Death (1.01).

Taking part in her first open hill climb junior rider Jenkins won the women’s event in a time of 59 seconds.

Along with taking the victory Jenkins also knocked eight seconds off the junior girls’ previous course record of 1.07.

Juvenile rider Isabel Beale (Welwyn Whs) finished just three seconds behind (1.02) to take second place, while veteran Hannah O’Brien (Loose Cannon’s Conditioning) finished third (1.07).

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

Results:
1 Frank Longstaff (Colchester Rovers CC)    43.5
2 Oskar Everett (Orwell Velo)            43.9
3 Timothy Torrie (trainSharp) 45.2
4 Oliver Beale (Welwyn Whs)            49.1
5 Lee Ford (CC Sudbury)       50.8
6 Paul Moss (Stowmarket & District CC)      52.1

Junior: Oskar Everett (Orwell Velo)   43.9
Juvenile: Oliver Beale (Welwyn Whs)           49.1
Veteran: Lee Ford (CC Sudbury)        50.8

Team: CC Sudbury

Women
1 Millie Jenkins (Brother Uk – Team OnForm)         59.6
2 Isabel Beale (Welwyn Whs) 1:02.2
3 Hannah O’Brien (Loose Cannon’s Conditioning)   1:07.2