Allen and Heighton climb to victories at AIMS Cycling event
Jonathan Allen (University of Birmingham CC) set a new course record on his way to winning the AIMS Cycling Hill Climb, while junior Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Wheelers) was the fastest female.
Allen, aged 23 and from Yeadon, climbed up the one-kilometre hill in a time of two minutes and 57 seconds to win his first open time trial event.
The THC35 sees competitors start outside Kildale in North Yorkshire before a steady start sees the road ramp up to gradients of over 11% before finishing in the trees at the Pale End Plantation.
The previous course record of 2-59 was set last year by Jacob Vezey (AIMS Cycling), but Allen knocked two seconds off the mark this time out.
Seasoned hill climb rider James Scrivener (Macclesfield Wheelers) finished second in 3-12 while under-23 competitor James Allen (Oxford University CC) was third in 3-17.
“It’s the sort of climb which I enjoy, short and steep,” said Jonathan Allen. “I do a bit of everything, but I’ve not done a full hill climb season yet, so I’m hoping to do more this year.
“It was good and the weather was nice.”
Quickest juvenile rider Mason Bulfin (Manilla Cycling) narrowly missed out on the overall podium positions finishing fourth in 3-23.
In the veteran’s category Andrew Askwith (Vive Le Velo) was quickest up the short climb in 3-44 ahead of Mike Jefferies (Cleveland Wheelers CC) in second (3-51) while Alex Ingham (AIMS Cycling) was third (4-01).
Junior rider Heighton was the only female competitor, but was a worthy winner stopping the clock in a time of 5-11.
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