Harry MacFarlane opened his hill climbing season with victory at the inaugural Elevate Racing Team Dean Hill Climb on Sunday morning in Wiltshire, with Ellen Reynolds winning the female category.

Riding for TAAP Kalas, MacFarlane posted 1:46-60 to see off the challenge of promoting club rider Joshua Aiken in 1:47-14, while a time of 1:48-19 helped Ewan Tuohy (Arctic Aircon Race Team) to the final spot on the podium.

MacFarlane will now be looking to build on a dominant 2023 season which saw him win five of six climbs before just missing out on a podium spot at the National Championships.

MacFarlane may have expected to face the winner of that event, but reigning champion Andrew Feather sent his apologies, giving MacFarlane a clear shot at victory.

“It was great to take the win at elevate RT’s first hill climb,” said MacFarlane. “This was my first hill climb of the year and being such a short course it stung a lot!

“There was only three seconds between me and third place so everyone was on very good form. Great crowds and a superb HQ offering ice baths after!”

In the women’s event, Reynolds ensured more success for the host club with a time of 2:37-36, ahead of Performance Cycles Cycling Club’s Emily Lockwood who managed 2:43-40, while a time of 3:40-10 saw Gemma Herbertson join her clubmate Reynolds on the podium.

“I’ve been competing in hill climbs with Elevate RT for nearly two years now and absolutely loved competing in their first event,” said women’s winner Reynolds.

“Thomas and the rest of the Elevate team put in a lot of work to make it happen, and it really paid off.

“I grew up near here and it was really fun to race on one of my local hills, especially with my parents (and dog) coming to cheer me on. I'm really pleased with how I did today and am looking forward to seeing how the rest of the season goes.”

This event used Dean Hill near Salisbury, which is about 800 metres long with an average gradient of 9% that provides a perfect test of the legs at the start of the hill climb season.

At the end of the event, riders were able to enjoy coffee, cake and even an infra red sauna at race headquarters.

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

Results:

Open:

1. Harry MacFarlane (TAAP Kalas)   1:46.60

2. Joshua Aiken (Elevate Race Team) 1:47.14

3. Ewan Tuohy (Arctic Aircon Race Team)    1:48.19

4. Josh Coyne (Pump and Pedal Racing)        1:49.44

5. David Fellows (Solihull Cycling Club)      1:51.83

6. Steven Prince (Ludlow Brewery Race Team)        1:56.77

7. Joshua Hall (Elevate Race Team)   2:02.52

8. Ryan Oldham (Elevate Race Team)            2:02.56

9. Andrew Lockwood (Chippenham and District Wheelers)  2:03.19

10. Danny Lake (360VRT)     2:03.41

Women:

1. Ellen Reynolds (Elevate Race Team)         2:37.36

2. Emily Lockwood (Performance Cycles Cycling Club)      2:43.40

3. Gemma Herbertson (Elevate Race Team)  3:40.10

4. Bithja Jones (Elevate Race Team)  4:04.14