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Cumbria | 5.3 miles | L804 | Hartside Moor
Andy Cunningham claimed a great win over reigning National Hill Climb Champion Andrew Feather in the open category at Border City Wheelers Hartside Pass hill climb on Sunday morning, with Joanna Brewis finishing quickest in the female category.
Ilkley Cycling Club rider Cunningham has enjoyed a fine season to date, with six wins from seven hill climbs in 2024, his only defeat coming as runner-up at the Buxton Cycling Club / Sett Valley Cycles Bunsall Cob hill climb on Saturday.
Feather, in contrast, was making his first appearance of the season, with the 2022 and 2023 national champion having been a non-starter for his first two planned events.
A time of 18:14-8 saw Cunningham top the standings with Feather back in 18:16-0 and Iain Duffield of Venture Racing almost half a minute further back in 18:45-2 to claim third spot.
“I really think I benefitted from having done a couple of longer climbs in the last few weeks,” said Cunningham.
“Hartside Pass isn’t a traditional hill climb, I’d say it’s more like a time trial, plus it was a slow day which probably benefitted me. It was great to beat Andrew as he’s the top guy and he won the Nationals in such style last time I raced him.
“I expected worse conditions too it didn’t turn out too bad in the end which was a bonus.”
In the women’s event, Brewis (Sheffrec Cycling Club) managed 21:19-3 to win from Stolen Goat Race Team’s Olivia French who clocked 23:00-5 and Gemma Mitchell of Team Boompods taking the final spot on the podium in 25:17-8.
Riders are now focusing closely on the RTTC National Hill Climb Championship hosted by Muckle Cycling Club on October 27 on the MH1 course in what is shaping up to be a particularly intense showdown.
This event, run on the L804 course, is a 5.3-mile hill climb that starts near Melmerby village green just north-east of Penrith and heads northeasterly up the A686 to climb Hartside Pass and finish at the summit.
* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by James Ayles.