Flixton Brow Hill Climb

James Sawyers claimed a second win of the season at the Vive le Velo hill climb in East Yorkshire on Sunday, with Kirstie Drakeford finishing as quickest female.

A time of 3-19 helped Clifton CC rider Sawyers to success ahead of clubmate Daniel Kemp, who was runner-up in 3-28, while the final spot on the podium went to Andrew Askwith of promoting club Vive Le Velo – denying the three riders from Clifton Cycling Club York’s junior squad a clean sweep of the podium and pushing Ezra Bateman down to fourth in 3-58.

Sawyers now has two wins from four completed rides this season after picking up another first at his season-opening event at the Jem Hadar 10-mile two-up team time trial on March 4, and has shown swift progress since his first open event at the Lakes Road Club hill climb on The Struggle on September 25 2022.

In the women’s event, Drakeford (Jadan Vive Le Velo) clocked an impressive 4-25 to finish as joint-fifth overall alongside Chris Dugher of Goole Vermuyden Cycling Club.

Steve Burrows (Vive le Velo) took the honours in the time trial bike category, flying the flag for the Aero crowd and becoming a fan’s favourite on the day.

This event, run on the V491 course, sees the field of 12 riders start between Flixton and Fordon and head uphill in a southbound direction to finish at the summit, with entrants facing a damp and breezy morning on the East Yorkshire coast. 

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

Results:

1. James Sawyers (Clifton CC York)  3.19

2. Daniel Kemp (Clifton CC York)     3.28

3. Andrew Askwith (Vive le Velo)      3.58

4. Ezra Bateman (Clifton CC York)    4.09

5. Chris Dugher (Goole Vermuyden CC)       4.25

5. Kirstie Drakeford (Jadan Vive le Velo)       4.25

Women: Kirstie Drakeford (Jadan-Vive le Velo)        4.25