Rutland CC

Tom Bell (High North Performance) and Rebecca Richardson (Team Brother UK) showed their credentials ahead of this year’s national championships by taking the men’s and women’s victory at the Mam Nick hill climb hosted by Rutland CC.

Bell narrowly missed national honours last season but landed a psychological blow on rival Andrew Feather by knocking 26 seconds off his course record setting a new benchmark time of five minutes and 37 seconds.

Meanwhile, Richardson who missed last year’s national championships due to Covid-19 restrictions set a new women’s course record of 7-34 knocking three seconds off Lizzie Banks’ previous mark.

Starting from Barber Booth in Derbyshire the Mam Nick hill climb saw riders compete over the 2.1-kilometre climb with an average gradient of 10% but some steep sections with the maximum gradient of 16.3%.

For Bell it was his fifth win from six events this hill climb season with his winning time of 5-37 some 29 seconds clear of his nearest challenger.

Former National Hill Climb Champion Ed Laverack (Backpedal) led the charge behind finishing second in 6-06 and also beating the previous course record before seeing Bell better his time.

Andy Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles In Motion) completed the podium positions in 6-14.

Fastest veteran over-40 was Andrew Laider (Sitwell Cycling Club) who clocked 7-21 while Brendan Hirst (Rugby Racing Cycling Club) was quickest veteran over-50 in 8-08.

Meanwhile, quickest junior rider was Dan Taylor (Leicester Forest CC) who completed the course in 6-53 which was good enough for 14th overall out of 66 finishers.

“I knew I had done a fairly good ride but wasn’t exactly sure of the timing,” said Bell.

“I didn’t have too much indication of what the time was. I was really pleased to have a good ride and felt like I got everything out.

“I’m really happy with the town and everything is going quite well.”

Meanwhile, in the women’s event Richardson was pushed all the way for victory with her time of 7-34 just four seconds faster than Frances Owen (Fibrax Wrexham RC).

Quickest veteran woman Sophie Yarwood (Macclesfield Wheelers) completed the women’s podium positions clocking 8-40.0.

Para-cyclist Morgan Newberry (Škoda DSI Cycling Academy) finished in 9-11 while quickest junior girl was Lilja Raine (myhillcycling.co.uk) stopping the clock in 10-25.

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* A gallery of images by Kimroy Photography is available here - https://urlchill.com/6hj3v