Bowditch digs deep for treble

ANN BOWDITCH has stormed to her third consecutive national hill climb title, held on the toughest hill yet to hold the annual event. More impressively, she recorded the largest winning margin in the history of the women's championship.

The hill in Sidmouth, Devon, was, without question, the toughest in the south of England, being just over one mile in length with an average gradient of 20%, making it twice as long and twice as steep as the Val des Terres.

Starting on the sea front, riders were graced with a flat start of 150 metres before they greeted the climb.

It quickly became steeper and steeper as riders searched for the best line on a wet and rough road surface.

In the early stages of the race, Bowditch made full use of the closed road, finding her line on the right-hand side of the road.

As if she needed a carrot, she could see her minute marker, Richard Brain, of Sid Valley CC, and in no time Bowditch passed him as she proceeded towards the halfway mark.

Unbeknown to Bowditch, she was not the women's leader at that point, her main rival, Lynn Hamel, reaching the halfway point in 3min 12sec., Jane Kilmartin at 3-20 and Bowditch just behind in 3-21.

The second half of the hill was so tough that one rider fell off and several were forced to climb off due to the 25% gradient. Bowditch had planned well in advance and prepared herself for this crucial section.

She was one of the few riders who looked in control over the toughest part and had clearly paced the ride well as she sprinted towards the finish line in a time of 6-41, to record a winning margin of 21sec. from Hamel and smashing her own course record, set in 2005, by a massive 28sec.

'I was so nervous before this event. I knew my rivals felt they had the beating of me and I felt I had something to prove,' said the triple champion.

'I also knew I had to ride my own race and stick to my plan, which I did.

'I've got faster as the year has progressed and am fitter and stronger than I have ever been.

'Some people could not understand my decision not to go to the Commonwealth Games in March but, if I had, I wouldn't have achieved what I had set out to.

'I have three national medals, including this title. It means a lot to me and I am very happy.'