Hamel hammers all

Lyn Hamel holds onto her British Hill Climb champion
title after recording 15'36.8" on the harsh Long Hill
in the Peak District
(image from North Devon Farms)

Reigning British Women's Hill Climb champion Lyn Hamel retains her title for another year after completing the testing 7.145km Whalley Bridge Long Hill course in 15'36.8" - almost 23 seconds ahead of second place Rebecca Slack's time of 15'59.6". Hamel, who cites Emma Pooley as her inspiration, joined the Herbalife Wheelbase team early this year and adds this latest triumph to an already well-stocked trophy cabinet that suggests she's one of the names to watch in time trials for the coming years.

2009 champion Matt Clinton of Mike Vaughan Cycles was the favourite among the men due to 2010 champ Dan Fleeman's absence, but had to be satisfied with third place after the event with a recorded time of 12'57.5". He was beaten by just 1.4 seconds by Richard Handley of Team Raleigh and 8.5 seconds by men's winner and new National champion Gunnar Gronlund of RST Racing-Trigon who achieved a superb time of 12'49". Josh Teasdale (Team Jewson) was fastest junior with 13'58.1" and Peter Tadros (InGear-QuickVit) fastest veteran with 13'19.5" - sufficient to put him in ninth place overall. Endura Racing's Richard Hayles, who lives within sight of the start of the course, chose the event to mark his retirement and crossed the line in 14th place (13'46.3") after a ride in which large crowds cheered him on all the way.