Abi Plowman (Jadan Vive Le Velo) set a new course record on her way to winning the women’s event and placing third overall at the Cleveland Whs CC hill climb on Clay Bank, while Richard Lilleker and Tom Harcourt shared the men’s victory.

Plowman set a formidable time of three minutes and 51 seconds to smash 17 seconds off the previous course record.

Meanwhile, Lilleker and Harcourt both stopped the clock in exactly 3-41 to share the men’s honours.

The 1.39-kilometre climb goes up the ‘steep side’ of Clay Bank, near Ingleby Greenhow, and despite a steady start for the opening 800 metres the hill kicks up towards the top at gradients of over 10%.

Two-time National Hill Climb Champion Andrew Feather holds the men’s course record of 2-59 set three years ago.

The weather was kind to competitors, other than a headwind on part of the course which slowed times somewhat.

Cleveland Wheelers CC rider Lilleker, aged 35, took his first open hill climb victory for nearly four years after finishing second on multiple occasions.

However, he had to share the victory with Team Bikestop Tyrekey 3FS competitor Harcourt, who also won the Darlington CC hill climb in March.

Plowman was in powerful form convincingly winning the women’s event and finishing third overall - just 10 seconds behind the joint winners.

The Jadan Vive Le Velo rider finished sixth in the National Hill Climb Championship and was competing in her first open event of the season.

Second woman was Kate Sanderson (Cleveland Wheelers CC) who finished almost two minutes behind stopping the clock in 5-50.

Quickest juvenile rider Elliott Holt (Manilla Cycling) was also in fine form finishing just two seconds outside the overall podium positions finishing fourth in 3-53.

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

Results:
=1 Richard Lilleker (Cleveland Wheelers CC)          3.41
=1 Tom Harcourt (Team Bikestop Tyrekey 3FS)       3.41
3 Abi Plowman (Jadan Vive Le Velo) 3.51
4 Elliott Holt (Manilla Cycling)         3.53
=5 Jost Mullenheim (Fietsen Tempo) 3.58
=5 Shaun Tyson (Protech Velo)          3.58

Juvenile: Elliott Holt (Manilla Cycling)         3.53

Women:
1 Abi Plowman (Jadan Vive Le Velo) 3.51
2 Kate Sanderson (Cleveland Wheelers CC) 5.50