Joe Clark (Envelopemaster-Giant Sheffield) showed his form ahead of the national hill climb championships by winning the hotly-contested  Lancashire Road Club hill climb on The Rake.

The Envelopemaster Giant Sheffield rider, who was a bronze medallist in the national hill climb last year, clocked a winning time of 2 minutes and 17 seconds to win by three seconds.

The Rake hill climb is one of the classic events in Britain and has hosted the national championships on three occasions.

At 875 metres long the climb starts at a gradient of 10 per cent for the first 300 metres before levelling out only for riders to turn right onto Rawsons Rake which reaches a 25 per cent gradient.

Clark was just three seconds behind the course record of 2.16 set by Jeff Wright in 1993.

On this occasion he beat Richard Handley (One Pro Cycling) into second with a 2.20 and Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Rhos-on-Sea CC) finished third in 2.21.

After winning the Holme Valley Wheelers and Huddersfield Star Wheelers events the previous day Dan Evans (Team Elite) had to settle for fourth on this occasion with a time of 2.26.

In the women's event Becky Lewis (Wrexham RC) took a clear victory and set a new women's course record with a time of 3.08.

The previous record had been held since 2012 by Lyn Hamel but Lewis beat it by two tenths of a second.

Jessica Roberts (Team Elite) took second in 3.19 while Nicola Soden (Veloschils Interbike RT) finished third in 3.29.

Fastest veteran in sixth place overall was Niall Patterson (Velo Club Cumbria) in 2.28 while fastest junior was host club rider Ben Huddart who clocked 2.53.

Results:

1 Joseph Clark (Envelopemaster Giant Sheffield) 2.17

2 Richard Handley (One Pro Cycling) 2.20

3 Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Rhos-on-Sea CC) 2.21

4 Dan Evans (Team Elite) 2.26

5 Lee Baldwin (Champion System/VCUK) 2.27

6  Niall Patterson (Velo Club Cumbria) 2.28

7 David Huck (Lakes RC) 2.30

8 Chris Dyke (Manchester Bicycle Club) 2.34

9 Andy Cunningham (All Terrain Cycles) 2.35

10 Thomas Hanlon (Harry Middleton CC) 2.35

Woman: Becky Lewis (Wrexham RC) 3.08

Veteran:  Niall Patterson (Velo Club Cumbria)