Schoolgirl defends her national title
HEATHER DESPRES, who will be making her Games bow in Jersey, has made a successful defence of her British Schools' Cycling Association National Hill Climb title in Petersfield.
Despres, 16, who made her UK debut in this race last year, was among the 115 entrants who had to tackle a tough 2.2 mile-long climb, with two steep hairpin corners of up to 20% and then a long gradual incline.
She paced herself well over the whole climb, despite being considerably hindered by a recent arm injury sustained in a local race which made it impossible for her to get out of the saddle for any part of the ascent.
The Guernsey rider still posted the fastest time by any girl in the event, her time being 53 seconds faster than the second-placed competitor in her age group.
It was a great win for Despres, the daughter of former specialist hill-climb cyclist and long-distance athlete Nick, who has shown some excellent recent form ahead of the Island Games where, the arm injury permitting, she will be competing in the mountain bike races.
