NATIONAL champion Andrew Feather emerged triumphant when Chippenham & District Wheelers staged their Open Hill Climb last weekend.

A total of 39 competitors took on the 1.27 mile course on Bowden Hill in Lacock, starting near the River Avon bridge and finishing at the Spye Park gates

Feather was the star attraction in the field and used the event as part of his training for the defence of the National Hill Climb Championship title in Devon this month.

Feather broke the course record, set last year by Richard Gildea, en route to victory, with his 4mins 19.81secs time seeing him finish 20 seconds clear of the field and seven seconds ahead of the previous record.

U23 riders finished in second and third as Cameron Biddle came home ahead of Morgan Curle.

Glyndwr Griffiths, who won the event outright in 2016, won the veterans’ prize, while the ladies’ award was won by Nicole Coates.

First Espoir racer home was Mathew Smart, with Jacques Coates the leading junior.

Following the race, prizes were presented by Chippenham & District Wheelers president Mike Edwards in the Lacock Manor Room HQ.