CLEVELAND Wheelers Cycling Club held its annual hill climb on Sunday up the steeper side of Clay Bank, between Ingleby Greenhow and Great Broughton.

The weather was almost perfect for the 42 competitors with warm temperatures, bright sunshine and only a slight, cool headwind.

The early pace on the 0.88 mile course was set by junior rider, Leo Scrimshaw, of Whitby Wheelers, with a time of three minutes, 30 seconds. This remained the target time for most of the race, with only another junior rider, Ben Etherington, of Manila Cycling, coming close in three minutes 34 seconds, until the eventual winner, Nick Munro, of the RAF Cycling Association, stormed up the hill in 3:20. The last two riders to start came close with Aaron Preston from Cleveland Wheelers, second in 3:24, and Jacob Vezey, of Harrogate Nova CC, third in 3:29.

Scrimshaw was the eventual juniors winner. The juvenile winner was Lawrie Dryden, of Cleveland Wheelers in 4:10.

The ladies winner was Hannah Farron, of Team Boompods, in 4:15, with Nuala Robinson, of Fietsen Tempo, second in 4:54 and juvenile rider, Sophie Heighton, of Ferryhill Wheelers, third in 5:14. The junior female prize went to Holly Lincoln, of Cleveland Wheelers, in 5:25

The over 40s winner was Dave Diston, of Muckle Cycling Club, sixth overall in a credible time of 3:36, and the over 50s winner was Mark Snape, of Fietsen Tempo, in 4:18. The older competitors were not to be left behind with Hilton Armstrong, of Fietsen Tempo, winning the over 60s in 4:23, and Colin Moore, of Cleveland Wheelers, the over 70s in 5:42.