Kieran Wynne-Cattanach earned a dominant victory in his first event of the season at the Cheshire Mavericks hill climb, while Alison Dockney earned first place in the women’s event on Saturday afternoon.

Reigning Welsh hill climb champion Cattanach, riding for Team Lifting Gear Products, clocked 6-20 to take the win, with Ross Howcroft-Jones (High North Performance) second with 6-31, while a time of 6-36 helped Team Brother UK’s former national champion adam Kenway to take the final podium spot.

Having finished last season with seventh place at the National Hill Climb Championship preceded by three consecutive wins at the Welsh Championship, Lancashire Road Club, and North Lancashire Road Club hill climbs, Wynne-Cattanach has begun the new season in fine form and will be hoping for similar success over the coming months.

Despite Spindata listing third-placed Kenway as favourite, Wynne-Cattanach was able to exceed expectations to take his maiden success of the new campaign.

On his win, he said: “Brickworks was my first open event of the hill climb season, only done a few club events prior to this weekend.

“I always have nerves before the first one as you never know if the training will pay off or how your level will be, but kind of just let the day happen and try not to get too caught up in those feelings. The atmosphere at the event helped, lots of friendly faces and nice to see a strong women's and junior field.

“Despite being quite a pleasant bright day for Autumn, it was actually a pretty harsh headwind so I knew times would be down compared to what I set last year as the course record. My actual race felt rather sub par, constantly fighting the changing gradient and the wind, so from a mental point of view it was a battle to keep on the gas. The flat bits I thought could be a slight rest were windiest and the steeper bits just a slog.

“I came over the line pretty battered, had the classic lie down on a verge then wobbled back to HQ. Was pretty convinced I'd not done enough to win but the wind must have been tough for all, as managed to beat some really strong riders and share the podium with them, that was really nice and lovely to chat after the race.”

In the women’s event Dockney, riding for Macclesfield Wheelers, just edged a remarkably tight race in 8-28, three seconds faster than runner-up Bronwen Jenkinson (Clwb Beicio Egni Eryri) who stopped the clock at 8-31, while the third place went to Glossop Kinder Velo’s Alice Larkin in 8-33, again just two seconds behind her rival.

This event, run on the J9/8 course, starts just north of Pott Shrigley village and heads east up Bakestone Dale Road to Charles Head to finish after 1.25 miles.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by James Ayles.

* A gallery of images from this event is available here

Results:

Men:

1. Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products)    6.20

2. Ross Howcroft-Jones (High North Performance)   6.31

3. Adam Kenway (Team Brother UK)            6.36

3. Laurence Fryer-Taylor (Macclesfield Wheelers)    6.42

5. Daniel Piercy (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA)            6.46

6. Joe Watkins-Wilson (North Cheshire Clarion)       6.47

Women:

1. Alison Dockney (Macclesfield Wheelers)  8.28

2. Bronwen Jenkinson (Clwb Beicio Egni Eryri)       8.31

3. Alice Larkin (Glossop Kinder Velo Cycling Club) 8.33

4. Faye Sharpley (Holmes Chapel Velo)         8.43

5. Yasmine Cooper (Macclesfield Wheelers)  10.15

6. Sally Cunliffe (Velotik Racing Team)        10.31