Ed Laverack claimed a fourth win of the season with victory at the Cheltenham and County CC’s Bushcombe Lane hill climb on Saturday morning in Gloucestershire, with Emily Lockwood finishing as quickest female.

Laverack has already picked up wins this season at the Bynea CC 25 in May, and both stages of the recent Minehead Cycling Club double-header last weekend, as the hill climb season heads towards the National Hill Climb Championship on October 27.

He maintained his impressive form with another win here, posting 4-14 to see off competition from Elevate Race Team’s Joshua Hall who clocked 4-30 for the runners-up spot, with a time of 4-35 helping David Fellows (Solihull Cycling Club) to the final spot on the podium.

In the women’s event Lockwood, representing the promoting club, was the class of the field in 6-33, just seven seconds ahead of Katrina Tse (Oxford University Cycling Club) in 6-40, while Stroud Valley Velos rider Amy Collender came home in 7-12 for third place.

“I've never raced or ridden Bushcombe Lane before,” said Lockwood after victory. “Although you're told its steep it was still quite unexpected just how steep it was.

“It is probably the hardest climb I've raced up, it was a task to make it to the top!

“Overall it was a really well organised closed road event and the volunteers swept the road in the early hours to get the boulders off the course!”

This hill climb event, held on course UH73, starts on the lower section of Bushcombe Lane heads uphill for three quarters of a mile to finish at the top of Bushcombe Lane.

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

Results:

Open:

1. Ed Laverack (Backpedal)    4.14

2. Joshua Hall (Elevate Race Team) 4.30

3. David Fellows (Solihull Cycling Club)      4.35

4. Matthew Skeats (Myhillcycling.co.uk)       4.40

5. Matthew Brown (Team Lifting Gear Products)      4.43

6. Daniel Pink (Bigfoot Cycling Club)           4.50

7. Mike Skidmore (Cheltenham and County Cycling Club)  4.52

8. Patrick Jones (Gloucester City Cycling Club)        4.55

9. Luke Walton (Elevate Race Team) 4.56

10. Ryan Oldam (Elevate Race Team)            4.58

Women:

1. Emily Lockwood (Chippenham and District Wh)  6.33

2. Katrina Tse (Oxford University Cycling Club)      6.40

3. Amy Collender (Stroud Valley Velos)        7.12

4. Charmian Monroe (Cowley Road Condors CC)    8.54

5. Diana Gardalits (Bristol South Cycling Club)        13.40