MORE than 100 cyclists will be competing for a £3,100 prize list in the main race at the hill climb up the Porlock toll road on Sunday (September 20).

The main event, again sponsored by Minehead firm Tanks Direct, gets underway at 10am and is due to finish at midday.

It will be followed by a series of Go-Ride races by age group for the children at 1pm and the Porlock Pedal Fun Ride for families, friends and anybody from the local community on a bike at 2.30pm.

A pound per rider will be donated to CareMoor for Exmoor, the Exmoor National Park Authority’s donation scheme which offers everyone who has been inspired by Exmoor to contribute to the upkeep of the environment.

Although last year’s ladies’ champion Wendy Houvenaghel - a former world champion and Olympic silver medalist - won’t defending her title, the competition for the ladies’ prizes looks set to be tough, with Maryka Sennema, the current ladies’ national hill climb champion, and Crystal Spearman, who took bronze at the recent national 12 hour championship, competing against more than 20 other women.

The men’s field sees former national champion Tejvan Pettinger, the winner for the past two years, returning to seek a hat-trick of wins.

But he will face his toughest opposition yet in Dan Evans, the current national hill climb champion, who is travelling from North Wales to test himself on the toll road as part of his preparation for the defence of his national title.

There are at least another ten riders who could upset the form book in a field of over 90 men, with local hopes resting with Graham “Conker” Collins, who lives in Porlock and could well upset the expectations of some of the top riders.

Organiser Ian Piper said: “This year is a first in that we are working together with the Exeter Wheelers in promoting the South West Hill Climb Festival.

“Their event is on Stoke Hill, Exeter, on Saturday and as with our own event they have the main race, a series of children’s races and, in their case, a team event in place of our Porlock Pedal Fun Ride.

“Combining the two events on the same weekend has encouraged people from as far a field as Yorkshire, North Wales and Kent to come for the weekend.

“Porlock has been promoted as the place to stay for the weekend to give those people new to the national park a real taste of Exmoor hospitality.

“Linking up with the Exeter Wheelers will also hopefully draw some of the children from that area up to ride in the Go-Ride races and act as an introduction to Exmoor.”

Tomorrow, a team of riders from the Minehead Merlins will be taking part in the Go-Ride races at Exeter before putting their local knowledge to good effect on the Sunday for the races up the Toll Road.

For more information, visit www.porlockhillclimb.co.uk.