Coventry Cycle Club were the organisers of this year’s National Hillclimb Championship, using the harsh Cotswold slope of Dover’s Hill, near Broadway.  148 riders took on the challenge, with the Gillingham Wheelers represented by Simon Rouse.  Simon gave it everything he had on his climb and finished in 99th place with a time of 5.16.3.  This is a similar time to those that Simon manages on our Mere Hollow events but Simon said that Dover’s Hill was a steeper course (!). 
The fight for overall honours went right down to the wire as riders progressively lowered the leading times, with 2009 champion Dan Fleeman winning again on the final ascent of the day with a time of 3.41.1.  His team, Raleigh UCI, won the team prize with Lynn Hamel (Team NCA) setting the fastest women’s time on 5.04.0.
There is a good photo of Simon in action, just after the start, here, and there are lots of good shots on the Sarah Brooke Photography website.

Nigel Brown had a good result in an enduro mountain bike race recently, finishing third in the 49-mile Vet race at Bordon, Hampshire.  Nigel led the opening three laps of the seven lap race and looked set for second place until a late-race puncture cost him three minutes and one position.  Full results here, and some photos here (Nigel is number 231)