COURSE record-holder Jeff Wright showed just why he's regarded as cycling's 'King of the Rake' when he won Sunday's Lancashire Road Club annual hill climb for the fifth time.

The irrepressible Tynesider covered the 970-yard ascent in 2 minutes 21.6 seconds, more than seven seconds outside his 1994 record, but fast enough to leave national hill climb champion Stuart Dangerfield (2-25-9) trailing in third place.

Runner-up for the second year in succession was Oxford University CC's up-and-coming Jim Henderson.

Graeme Obree, the Scottish former world hour record holder, was forced to go up the lung-bursting course on a borrowed bike and failed to finish in the top ten.

How they finished:

1 J. Wright (North East RC) 2.21.6; 2 J. Henderson (Oxford University CC) 2.25.6; 3 S. Dangerfield (Wheelbase) 2.25.9; 4 R. Taylor (Team 120/80) 2.20.3; 5 M. McKay (Team Ambrosia) 2.30.4; 6 T. Anderson (Holme Valley Wheelers) 2.30.6; 7 C. Newton (North Wirral Velo) 2.31.8; 8 B. Green (Oldham Century RC) 2.33.8; 9 S. Green (Oldham Century RC) 2.35.5; P. Marshall (Global Racing) 2.41.7.

FASTEST VETERAN: P. Lyons (Rossendale Tri) 3.17.9.

FASTEST LADY: Louise McGuirk (Kent Valley RC) 5.56.3.

FASTEST JUNIOR: N. Swithenbank (ABC Centreville) 2.41.8.

FASTEST JUVENILE: T. Butterworth (Bolton Clarion) 3.10.5.

TEAM PRIZE: Oldham Century (8.8.22).

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