FORMBY-based cyclist Jim Henderson will start hot favourite in Sunday's Lancashire Road Club Rake Hill Climb at Ramsbottom.

The race is always a popular event on the local sporting calendar and Henderson, of the Southport Cycling Club, will be bidding for his fourth title in five years after winning the event in 2 minutes 24.5 seconds last time around.

The lung-bursting haul begins at lamp post number 3 outside the public library in Carr Street, Ramsbottom and proceeds via Rawsons Rake and The Rake to finish at the lamp post opposite Exeter Cottage, Chapel Lane, Holcombe Village, approximately 120 yards before the junction with Helmshore Road.

Average gradient of the 947 yard course is 1 in 8.8 with a maximum gradient of 1 in 4.8.

And there is plenty of incentive for anyone who can break five time winner Jeff Wright's 2 minutes 14 seconds course record with a £100 cash prize up for grabs on top of the first prize of a Fausto Coppi "Torino" bike valued at £600 and supplied by Geoff Smith Cycles of Bolton.

The event is sponsored by Georgia-Pacific and Bury Metropolitan Council with cash prizes down to tenth place as well as for juniors, juveniles, ladies, veterans and team.

While Henderson is odds-on favourite to retain his crown there's sure to be some keen competition to take his crown as the event is also doubling up as the British Universities Hill Climb championship.

It wasn't so long ago the champion regularly competed in the event for Oxford University so there could be a good deal of stiff opposition from that quarter.

Blackburn CTC will again be difficult to beat for the team prize and once again the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company are supplying tickets to the island for the winners of the team prize.

The first competitor will depart the Carr Street start at 12.30pm with Henderson scheduled to be last off at 2.02pm.

The presentation will be made by the Mayor and Mayoress of Bury Couns John and Stella Smith on the Shoulder of Mutton pub car park approximately fifteen minutes after the final rider.