Record out of Downing's reach

The Derbyshire beauty spot was packed with spectators cheering on 120 riders as they powered up the one-in-six climb – including course record holder and former top professional Malcolm Elliott, who had travelled to the event from his home in Sheffield.

Downing clocked 1min 20.5 seconds to win the 2010 event by seven seconds, but he was slightly over-geared and did not challenge Elliott's record from 1981 of a staggering 1min 14.2sec.

South Pennine Road Club's Charles Taylor took second, while Matlock CC's Chris Metcalfe was third, just 0.7 seconds behind.

Elsewhere, 19-year-old Stoke rider Mike Cuming won the two big hill-climbs in the North on Saturday, the Holme Valley Wheelers' climb of Brockholes Lane as well as the Huddersfield Star Wheelers' event at Jackson Bridge.

Cuming beat 2008 national champion Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughan Cycles) in both events, being around 10 seconds quicker over the 1.3-mile Brockholes event, but just 0.4 seconds faster on the 1,540-yard Jackson Bridge climb.

Top woman in both events was Holme Valley Wheelers' Harmionie Waterman, while Halifax-based Blair Buss of Pedalsport CC was top veteran on Brockholes, and Bridlington CC's Andrew Askwith was best on Jackson Bridge.

Meanwhile, in cyclo-cross, Northallerton's Noel Clough had to settle for second spot in the opening round of the National Trophy Series in Wales yesterday, 29 seconds behind Coventry Road Club rival Darren Atkins in the over-40s category.

But there was some joy for Yorkshire riders in the event, with Paul Milnes-Bradford Olympic rider Billy Harding winning the youth race by 16 seconds from Hargroves Cycles rival Harry Franklin.