Bank Holiday Monday saw the second round of the GDW Hillclimb Championship at Mere Hollow.  The perfect tailwind from the first round had been replaced by the exact opposite, with riders battling against a horrible headwind as well as the gradient of the hill.  Paul Hopkins, riding his Merida team issue bike, was the only rider to get under the five minute barrier with 4.57.  Course record holder Kim Little was second with 5.11 while junior rider Ashley Martin (Chippenham Wheelers) was third.  Thanks to Jerome and Lindy for doing the signs as always and to Julian Day for pushing off.  The full results are here.

Conditions were a more helpful at this evening’s time trial, the first club night of the season on the Bruton 19 mile course.  Charles Rees, Julian Chown, Nigel Brown, James Chant all managed p.b.s for the course, as did Andy Sawyer who knocked a whole three minutes from his previous best time.  There were several riders having their first go at this course, including overall winner Sean Frost (VO2, 46.42), Kim Little (48.45), Trevor Bartlett, Paul Wingrove and Simon Hurd (Westbury Wheelers) all got well under the hour on their first attempts while Charles Daka finished in 63.09 and Chris Thomas in 65.04.
The two junior riders present were also Bruton debutants, both recording good times of 57.45 for Tom Brown and 63.10 for Barney Cox.
Lizzie Hutson was the fastest lady rider (55.59), finishing ahead of Jane Pritchard, Jenny Lucas and Sarah Roberts.
Full results are here.

There are still a few regulars yet to renew their membership, the championship points tables will be revised after next week’s tt with non-members and second claim riders removed from the results so if you want to keep your points please send in your forms and subs to Mary Asplen or bring it with you next Wednesday.  We are back to the Gillingham 10 next week, meet at the Library car park, sign in by 1845 for a 1900 start.

If there is anyone who would be able to help out at the Gillingham 10s by keeping some signs and putting them out at the Mere and Black Dogs junctions each time we use this course that would be really helpful.  Please get in touch here – azjo@btinternet.com.  We are about to lose one of our early season marshals – Chris Mullett who is now injury-free and eager to race again – so the organisers are always very grateful for anyone who can marshal at any of the tts.