MINEHEAD Cycling Club members were at the National Hillclimb Championships on Sunday. Matlock in Derbyshire hosted this year’s fight against gravity, a brutal course of 880 yards starting at 14% and ramping up to 20%.

A total of 460 entrants braved the town centre course, past bemused shoppers and crowds of enthusiastic supporters to finish in the best time they could.

Stephen Crossman (Veteran 5mins 25 seconds 293rd overall) was the first club member off. He said: “It was tempting to blast away from the start at maximum effort, but I knew if I did that I might just come to a halt in the middle of the course where it gets really steep. I tried to keep in the same gear but had to change down as the burn in my legs started to alert me to impending doom! The crowds were great, worth a few watts!”

Lee Musto (Veteran 4.03 250th) was next up. He said: “I emptied the tank but maybe went off a bit too hard. The atmosphere was off the scale, a wall of noise. I’m heading back to the course to cheer everyone else on, plus some beer and food! Next year the Nationals are at Porlock Toll Road, a somewhat different climb!”

Minehead CCs top hillclimber was again anti-gravity specialist Geoff Ware (Veteran 3.54 236th). Always popular with the crowds, Geoff warmed up by riding around the local pump track with his boy then pinned his numbers on his best checked shirt and danced on the pedals to push his way through the crowds to set an excellent time.

He said: “ I’ve ridden several events this season, the nationals are always a highlight; it was painful but an amazing day”.

Other club members were riding nearer home on Saturday and Sunday, joining in with the club’s regular MTB and road rides.