Kate Lucas takes win at Hill Climb Championship by narrowest of margins
Kate Lucas (Norwich ABC) on her championship-winning climb at the East District Championship Hill Climb. Picture: Roger Rush - Credit: Archant
Just one-tenth of a second difference decided the East District Women's Hill Climb Championship with Kate Lucas of Norwich Amateur BC climbing Semer Hill in one minute and 3.1 seconds while Becky Ridge of Manningtree Wheelers went up in 1:03.2.
Godric Club members assemble before their hill climb event out of Stoke Holy Cross. Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
A total of 68 competitors attacked the short, sharp climb near Hadleigh with the fastest of all being visitor from Yorkshire Callum Brown who set a new course record of 39.9 seconds.
East District Champion is therefore Chris Crabtree of Team LCUK who was just outside the old record with 44.7. Tommy Power, just promoted to Elite Category roadman, was third in 46.7 seconds.
Most Norfolk riders stayed nearer to home and rode the lower-ranked but hotly-contested Godric CC event on the climb out of Stoke Holy Cross, just south of Norwich.
Winner here, in near perfect conditions, was Bungay rider Morris Bacon who climbed the two-stage hill – there's a bit of downhill in the middle – in two minutes 16.3 seconds.
Fastest up the hill at the Godric CC Hill Climb Morris Bacon (DAP CC). Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
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Next fastest was UEA triathlete Jake Brockwell in 2:20.0 and Liam Gentry (DAP CC, 2:20.3). All these times are provisional.
Women's winner was Laura Gilbert in 3:08.5. Laura is from the Bungay-based Godric club who boast a weekly women-only Saturday club ride in addition their usual Sunday clubruns.
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There was a splendid turn-out of Godric club members who rode to and from the event en-masse and 19 of whom contested the hill climb – providing exactly half the field.
Andrew Taylor of VC Norwich won the King's Lynn CC Road Race after a six-man break got clear of the main field near Great Massingham on the second of the four 15-mile laps.
Ladies winner at the Godric CC Hill Climb - Laura Gilbert (Godric CC). Picture: Fergus Muir - Credit: Archant
The break did not at first look promising – staying in sight of the bunch for some time.
DAP led an energetic chase, but Strada, who had Thomas Heal in the break, had no interest in helping and eventually a two-minute gap opened.
Andrews won from Sam Barker (Cambridge CC) followed by Heal, Robin Hawes (Chelmer), Jack Taylor (St Ives) and Jack Ibbotson VC Norwich).
Oli Wood of Strada took the bunch sprint for seventh.
