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Otley CC Open 2 Stage Hill Climb

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Thank you to all riders, marshals, timekeepers and other volunteers.

A mild, calm and dry start at Guisecliff/Nought Bank left it very tight at the top of the men’s competition after stage1, with Ross Howcroft-Jones (High North Performance) leading, but with three other riders within 1.4s. The arrival of damp conditions for stage 2 on Norwood Edge made it more challenging on the steeper early slopes, and by the end Andy Cunningham (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) had taken the lead by just over 10s, from David Fellows (Solihull CC).

As with the men’s event, the women saw a close stage 1, with Flora Johnson (Albarosa CC) lead by around 5s over Ruth Dunstan (Kendal CC). However by the end of stage 2, Flora had expanded this to over 20s, whilst Sophie Rotheram (University of Bristol CC) snuck into 2nd.

Junior prizes were taken by Christos Tzelis and Emily Middlebrooke of Otley CC, and in Emily’s younger brother Daniel Middlebrooke, the host club also took the juvenile men’s competition.

Veteran awards went to Andrew Askwith (Vive Le Velo) and Joanna Cebrat (360 Cycling)