GREAT Britain cycling team member Wendy Houvenaghel was in top form when she joined members of Minehead Cycling Club for their inaugural time trial hill climb up Porlock Toll Road on Sunday.

She finished first in the women's section in a time of 16.14, ahead of 1st Chard Wheelers members Wiebke Rietz and Ayse Vahiboglu of Exeter Wheelers in times of 19.16 and 19.17 respectively.

Houvenaghel is widely recognised as one of the country's most successful riders of all time, having scooped three World Championship gold medals in the team pursuit, four silvers at both individual and team pursuit, plus a silver in the individual pursuit at the Beijing Olympics.

In fact, the prospect of racing the four mile climb on a road closed to traffic proved a huge draw and attraced a host of riders from across the country, including double national hill climb champion James Dobbin and current hot tip, Tejvan Pettinger.

An attractive prize list helped produce several outstanding performances, unsurprisingly topped by Tejvan Pettinger who recorded just 13.24 - an average of 17.91mph - as he rocketed up the 1,100 feet of ascent.

Porlock Manor Estate had agreed to close the iconic Porlock Toll Road to all motorised traffic to enable the cycling club to run two events during the day.

The large contingent of Minehead CC riders were well represented by recently crowned club hill climb champion, Stephen Toogood who finished in a time of 16.32 to come third in the 40-50 age group.

Clive Atkins in 17.26 was fifth, while John Halls recorded one of the best rides of the day to cross the line in 17.07 and first place in the over 50s.

Janet Hewlett also rode a well judged race to grab fifth in the women's with a time of 20.21, followed by Louise Crossman.

Taunton-based club, Somerset RC, had excellent rides from Andrew Kelly and Michael Waterjohns with second and fourth in the 40-50 age group.

As well as the competitive time trial starting there was also a family friendly open ride, dubbed Pedal Porlock.

Riders of all ages and abilities set off from Porlock Village Hall at 1pm for a leisurely traffic-free ride through the countryside.

Among the 40-odd finishers were several five to seven-year-olds from Minehead First School who all reached the finish unaided to receive medals.

Club chairman Bernie Mitchell said: "We were really grateful to the Porlock Manor Estate for their generosity in allowing the traffic-free use of the road.

"It was a beautiful gentle route up from the coast and out onto the moor."

Winner Tejvan Pettinger congratulated the club for organising such a successful event and gave special thanks to the Porlock community for their enthusiastic support.

Result inside the Free Press