A BOLTON cycling club are celebrating after staging another successful event in the Hill Climb series.

32 riders were in action in the Belmont Hill Climb and nine of them were from the host club Horwich CC.

Louis Szymanska won the overall with a time of 10 mins 30secs which was slightly down on Craig Battersby’s effort in 2014 when he posted a time of 10:01.

Horwich rider Dave Powell came in second with 11.08 and won the club hill climber 2015.

Then Ben Huddart and Tom Hanlon from Bolton-based Lancashire Road Racing Club were in third and fourth spots respectively.

Also claiming spots in the top 10 were local riders Horwich's Chris Bodenham (11.57) and Lancashire Road Racing Club's Chris Dwyer (12.00)

This is Horwich's longest hill climb with over two miles of flat Time Trailing before racers turn left up onto Rivington Road.

From there over one mile of climbing awaits with three sections hitting over a 10 per cent gradient. The finish is placed at the highest point of the road at 1,052ft.

Craig Sefton, from Horwich CC, said: "It’s a hard race to get right.

"If you go too far into the red on the two mile time trial you risk ‘blowing’ on the climbs. And if you try to save energy for the climbs you could underperform.

"It’s a really interesting race to watch as the strong lads can make great time on the flats but at the same time the racers who are more suited to climbing can make up time when the gradients kick up.

" The best results come from racers who are strong in both disciplines.

"Most racers opted for modified road bikes. Clip-on Tri bars, Disc wheels, aero helmets and skin suits all help riders to reduce their profile and therefore minimise drag.

"All of which help shave valuable seconds off their time.

"There was a large number of marshals positioned along the route to communicate with cars and ensure each racer was safe and followed the correct route.

"It was great to see so many members from clubs based all around the northwest compete. A lot of which made the most out of the Wilton Arms and joined us for a post-race drink and chat.

Among the clubs attending included: Manchester Wheelers, Chorley CC, Bolton Hot Wheels, Lancashire Road Club and Velocity WD40 along with other riders.

Horwich CC President Dave Headon said: "Hill Climbs are great for local cycling as they give an experience of racing to new local riders.

"The other good thing is it is local, so you can ride there and no car is needed.

"It can be difficult so it toughens up riders to the efforts needed to race and uses local assets to good effect notably the hills.

"Another benefit is that is was a pleasant evening for riders, marshals and spectators and can be a good chance for clubs to recruit riders.

Results: Louis Szymanska (ABC Centreville) 10.30, David Powell (Horwich CC) 11.08, Ben Huddart (Lancs RC) 11.28, Tom Hanlon (Lancs RC) 11.32, David Stammers (Bury Clarion) 11.35, Graham Yardley (CLRC) 11.37, Neil Riding 11.43, Joseph Dobson (Manchester Bicycle) 11.54, Chris Bodenham (Horwich CC) 11.57, Chris Dwyer (Lancs RC) 12.00, David Tabron (Horwich CC) 12.23, David Jackson (H Middleton CC) 12.28, Tim Worthington (Horwich CC) 12.31, Andy Porter (Horwich CC) 12.32.5, Neil Wood (Lancs RC ) 12.32.8, Dave Headon (Horwich CC) 12.33, Andrew York 12.37, Lee Smith 12.44, Lee Ashworth (Lancs RC ) 12.51, Roy Neild (Lancs RC) 13.10, Anthony Hims 13.11, Ben Svarvps (CLRC) 13.15.2, Tyler Koch (Mossley CRT) 13.15.8, Dan Robinson (Manchester Wh) 13.18, Adam Westwell (Lancs RC) 13.21, Dave Bateson (Horwich CC) 13.31, Martin Horrobin (Bolton HW) 13.45, Ben Horrobin (Bolton HW) 13.52.3,l Pollington (H Middleton CC) 13.52.6, Holly Carter (Manchester Wh) 14.38, Paul O`Halloran (Horwich CC) 15.35 and Kate Porter (Horwich CC) 18.06 – who was crowned Horwich CC's Woman's hill climb champ 2015.