LEE Baldwin of the Champion Systems team was victorious for a second year at the Ramsbottom Rake hill climb recently.

He beat the current national hill climb champion Dan Evans by less than a second over the 875 metre climb.

Baldwin finished with a time of 2min 26.4 and had started a minute before last man off Evans who crossed the line with a time of 2min 27.1 seconds

Baldwin from Derbyshire returned back to Ramsbottom following his win in the event last year to beat the 34 year old Welshman Evans Cannondale UK /Team Elite who is hoping to retain his National title next week in Yorkshire.

In third place was Wheelbase/Altura’s Ben Davis with 2mins 28.4secs for the final podium place.

Duncan Smith, club secretary of the Lancashire Road Club revealed that Evans had already declared that he would return for the event next year.

“Dan lost by such a narrow margin that I think he wants to come back to try and win it,” said Smith.

“He came up to us afterwards and said he really enjoyed it and that he would be back.

“It was a really close race and Lee Baldwin did well to get the win. He has won it two years in a row now so I am sure he will back next year to defend his title.”

Smith also thanked the supporters who came out to cheer the near 70 riders in action.

“We had a really good turnout,” said Smith. “There were plenty of people supporting the riders and we were really pleased with how the race went. We are already looking forward to next year’s event.”

The annual event is promoted by the Bolton based Lancashire Road Club takes place on closed roads for the duration of the event, the gruelling climb has sections of 25 per cent gradient with a testing 12 per cent average over the 875 yard course.

The fastest female was Claire Munton of the Malteni Race Team with a time of 3min 45.3 seconds

Organisers, Lancashire Road Club won the team award in the event with Sam Holden 2min 39.1 (eighth place) Ben Huddart (2min 59.6) and Matt Doheny (2nd vet) in 3min 2.09.

The veterans category was won by Jim Henderson, Southport CC who has previously won the event on numerous occasions, he recorded 2min 29.7 and was also fourth overall.

The fastest junior rider was Kieran Wynne-Cattanach, Team Elite with a time of 2min 32.8 and fastest Juvenile was Henry Cash, Holmfirth CC with 2mins 43.4.

The winners were awarded with Polka dot jerseys with the dots actually being Lancashire red roses, which were provided by Bolton based Champion Systems.

Antony Lowe, from the host club Lancashire Road Racing Club believes the crowds lining the streets was impressive.

He said: "There was the same amount of riders as last year (+2 this year) 70 compared with 68 but when the national championships were held on this event in 2012 I think we had about 130 riders.

"As per crowds watching I think there was more this year and estimate about 200+ lining the route, both locals, rider supporters and general club riders watching the event.

"We find that generally riders are from the north west clubs but we usually have a few from out of the area.

"The popularity of cycling has been increasing over the last few years mainly due to the Brad Wiggins, Team Sky, British Cycling effect and I envisage the event will continue to attract new club riders."

Results

1st: Lee Baldwin (Champion System/VCUK) 2:26.4, 2nd: Dan Evans (Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical) 02:27.1, 3rd: Ben Davis (Wheelbase Altura MGD) 2:28.4, 4th: Jim Henderson (Southport CC) 02:29.7, 5th: Niall Paterson (Velo Club Cumbria) 2:30.4, 6th: Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical) 2:32.8, 7th: Adam Hartley (PH-MAS Cycling) 02:36.2, 8th: Sam Holden (Lancashire RC) 2:39.1, 9th: Alex Auty (Cycle Sport Pendle) 02:42.9, 10th: Henry Cash (Holmfirth CC) 2:43.4, 11th: Halley Woods (Inspire VCUK Youth Racing Team) 2:43.6, 12th: Thomas Hanlon (Harry Middleton Cycling Club) 2:43.9, 13th: Andy Cunningham (All Terrain Cycles) 2:44.2, 14th: Hamish Graham (Green Jersey Race Team) 2:44.9, 15th: Andrew Laycock (Clitheroe Bike Club) 2:47.5, 16th: Matthew Higgins (Manchester Wheelers Club) 2:48.1, 17th: Joshua Whitehead (Rossendale RC) 2:48.3, 18th: David Powell (Horwich CC) 2:49.7, 19th: William Brown (Rossendale RC) 2:54.1, 20th: George Greenhalgh (Sport City) 2:54.8, 21th: Thomas Brook (Lancaster CC) 02:55.1, 22th: Chris Smith (Condor Road Club) 2:57.3, 23th: Alex Barlow (Islington CC) 2:57.7, 24th: Ben Huddart (Lancashire RC) 2:59.6, 25th: John Raho (Clitheroe Bike Club) 3:01.4, 26th Mark Nulty (Glossop Kinder Velo) 3:02.5, 27th: Matthew Doheny (Lancashire RC) 3:02.9, 28th: Joseph Cadwallader (Bury Clarion CC)3:03.4, 29th: Kev Gilmour (Ribble Valley CRC) 3:05.7, 30th: Sam Mansfield (Champion System/VCUK) 3:08.1, 31th: Jay McCarthy (Cycle Sport Pendle) 3:09.0, 32th David Murphy (Liverpool Mercury Dolan CC) 3:10.5, 33: Graham Yardley (Central Lancs Road Club) 3:10.6, 34: John Hey (West Pennine RC) 3:10.9, 35: Philip Simcock (Team JMC) 3:12.3, 36: Joshua Hartland (Halifax Imperial Whs) 3:14.0, 37: Alan Gibworth (Manchester Wheelers Club) 3:15.2, 38: Ian McKinley (Lancashire RC) 3:19.7, 39: Martyn McGrillen (Lancashire RC ) 3:20.4, 40: Paulo Joaquim Campos (Central Lancs Road Club) 3:22.6, 41: Ian Russell (Manchester Wheelers Club) 3:26.6, 42: Jason McDonald (Bury Clarion CC) 3:29.5, 43: Ian Ashworth (VeloViewer) 3:32.7, 44: Francis Woodcock (Bury Clarion) 3:35.0, 45: Michael Stanley (Port Sunlight Whs) 3:35.9, 46: Tony Lowe (Lancashire RC) 3:40.0, 47: Ian Jackson (East Lancs RC) 3:40.9, 48: Dan Robinson (Manchester Wheelers Club) 3:42.5, 49: Steven White (Bolton Triathlon Club) 3:42.9, 50: Will Kerry (Lancashire RC) 3:44.2, 51: Claire Munton (Malteni Race Team) 3:45.3, 52: Shelton de Lima (100% ME) 3:46.0, 53: Raffi Jacobs (Verulam CC) 3:52.2, 54: Matthew Finegan (Cycle Sport Pendle) 3:56.2, 55: Holly Carter (Manchester Wheelers Club) 4:10.4, 56: Hope Kerry (Lancashire RC) 4:40.0, 57: Adam Nelson (Cycle Sport Pendle) 5:08.1.