TOMORROW'S Ramsbottom Rake hill climb will offer equal prize money for men and women for the first time.

Organised by Bolton-based Lancashire Road Club, the prestigious event's format has been changed this year to have separate men's and women's races.

In previous years the main prize was open to both men and women, with a lesser award in a secondary female category.

As part of the switch, there will be a top prize of £100 in both the men's and women's events.

There is a record number of 14 female entrants in the 105-strong field this year – the largest number for a Rake hill climb which has not been a national championships.

Ian McKinley, of Lancashire Road Club, said: "The LRC committee decided unanimously last year that regardless of the number of entrants we should offer the same prizes for male and female categories in all our events.

"In the past we've had an open format for the Rake Hill Climb that anyone could win, then a further prize for females.

"So in accordance with our new club policy, this year our Rake event will switch to a more straightforward separate male and female categories.

"In each case the winner receives £100, a framed event print from local Ramsbottom artist Adam Rowlinson and a winner's jersey from Champion Systems.

"Our revised approach has been very well received by the wider cycling community, with the number of female riders having more than quadrupled.

"We also received a message of support for our approach from former Commonwealth, Olympic and World road race champion Nicole Cooke."

LRC rider Hope Kerry, who is taking part in the event for the second time, will get the ball rolling tomorrow as the first competitor, with a start time of 12.01pm.

"The decision to make it equal prize money is fantastic for women's cycling," she said.

"It brings people from lots of areas to the events and has boosted the field for women's cycling, which makes a better event all round."

Welsh national champion Jessica Roberts is the favourite for the female title, while defending champion Lee Baldwin will aim to reclaim the crown he won a year ago, when he completed the testing 875m course in 2mins 26.4secs.

Other names to watch out for include former national champion Dan Evans and Wigan’s One Pro Cycling professional Richard Handley.

LRC secretary Duncan Smith is delighted with the calibre of riders who will be taking to the start line.

He said: “It is a huge number of entrants this year with 105 and we are really pleased to have so many female riders as that is something we have really pushed this year.

“We have 21 juniors on the start line and Lancashire Road Club have more than a dozen riders competing.

“Hopefully there will be a big crowd to cheer on what is a record entry for the event when it has not been the national championships.”

The Ramsbottom Rake starts at the library in the town centre and climbs up towards Lumb Carr Road near to the Shoulder of Mutton pub.

It is due to last around two hours, with the last of the 105 riders is scheduled to start at 2pm.