Bowden Hill Hill Climb

Illi Gardener (Wahoo Endurance Zone p/b Le Col) set a new course record on her way to winning the women’s event at the Chippenham & District Wheelers hill climb, while Morgan Curle (Rogue Racing) won the men’s event.

Gardener, who turns 23 later this month, posted a time of four minutes and 44.46 seconds win the women’s event and her time also finished her fifth overall.

Meanwhile, in the men’s event under-23 rider Curle clocked 4-26.7 which was 10 seconds clear of her nearest opponent.

The Chippenham & District Wheelers hill climb took place on Bowden Hill in Wiltshire. The 1.1-kilometre climb has an average gradient of 8.5% with the steepest section coming at towards the bottom of around 12% before levelling off and then kicking back up for the finish.

Curle, aged 22, has been on fine form already this season winning the Dursley Road Club hill climb last month as well as taking second in the PDQ Cycle Coach HC last weekend.

Joe Rees (Bikestrong-KTM) was his closest competitor leading the charge behind taking second in 4-34.1 which was two seconds faster than Luke Walton (North Hampshire RC) in third.

Quickest junior rider on the climb was host club competitor Theo Anderson who stopped the clock in 4-45.5.

In the veterans’ category Kevin Thomas (Bradford-on-Avon Cycling Club) was quickest in the 40+ category in 4-53.9; Karl Norris (360VRT) was best veteran 50+ in 5-09.6; while host club rider Alistair Hardy was fastest veteran 60+ in 5-40.33.

In the women’s category Gardener continued her preparations for the National Hill Climb Championships by adding another win to her collection.

Gardener has been unbeaten in the women’s category so far this hill climb season with six wins to her name and will be hard to stop at the nationals later this month.

On this occasion Emily Lockwood (Chippenham & District Wheeler) was her only challenger finishing second in 5-48.5.

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