Becky Hair (Laka x Pedal Mafia Race Team) clinched her second hill climb win of the weekend in the Sussex Revolution VC event on Brantridge Lane, while Matthew Ferguson (Redhill CC) won the men’s event.

In the first open event on the 2.1-kilometre Brantridge Lane climb, Hair was a clear victor in the women’s event posting a time of six minutes and 26 seconds.

The Laka x Pedal Mafia Race Team rider opened her hill climb campaign for the season the previous day by winning on Firle Bostal and she made it two wins from two open events on this occasion.

The Brantridge Lane climb has a steady gradient of 4.5% and a cold temperature for the Sunday morning event slowed times somewhat.

Hair, aged 33, finished 16th in the National Hill Climb Championship two years ago and will be competing in this year’s championship in two weeks’ time.

Gemma Freeman (Sussex Revolution Velo Club) was second woman stopping the clock in 6-55 which was 13 seconds quicker than her team-mate Megan Godber (7-08).

Liz Halliday (Sussex Nomads CC) was the fastest veteran woman recording a time of 8-20.

In the men’s event scratch rider Matthew Ferguson (Redhill CC) took his fourth open hill climb victory of the season in a time of five minutes and 12 seconds.

Fellow Redhill CC rider Ben Elliot finished second in 5-17, while quickest veteran Chris Baker headed a trio of Sussex Revolution Velo Club riders to take third in 5-26.

“It went really well,” said Ferguson. “I was really pleased with my ride. It was a bit cold for putting out the power so that was difficult.

“It was nice to have a longer effort than the others I have raced this year which have been between two and four minutes.

“The other hill climbs I’ve done this year have been a bit steeper, but this was a bit more gradual.”

Next weekend Ferguson plans to be back in action at the Sussex Nomads event on Ditchling Beacon before the National Hill Climb Championship the following week.

Quickest juvenile rider was Gabriel Kh Au (Preston Park Youth Cycling Club) in 7-16 and Noah Stepney (Worthing Excelsior CC) was fastest junior (7-21).

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

Results:
1 Matthew Ferguson (Redhill CC)     5.12
2 Ben Elliot (Redhill CC)       5.17
3 Chris Baker (Sussex Revolution Velo Club)           5.26
4 Olly Thomas (Sussex Revolution Velo Club)          5.29
5 Jonathan Saks (Sussex Revolution Velo Club)        5.36
6 John Blight (Elevate RT)     5.46

Veteran: Chris Baker (Sussex Revolution Velo Club)            5.26
Junior: Noah Stepney (Worthing Excelsior CC)        7.21
Juvenile:  Gabriel Kh Au (Preston Park Youth Cycling Club)           7.16

Women:
1 Becky Hair (Laka x Pedal Mafia Race Team)         6.26
2 Gemma Freeman (Sussex Revolution Velo Club)   6.55
3 Megan Godber (Sussex Revolution Velo Club)      7.08
4 Liz Halliday (Sussex Nomads CC) 8.20

Veteran: Liz Halliday (Sussex Nomads CC)  8.20