As there were no races for first category riders this weekend in the South/South-East Region I decided it would be a fun change to compete in the Kent Hill Climb Championships this morning, my second ever one, my first being a knackering one going up a big hill in the Peak District in the BUCS Hill Champioships. This one was not quite so big being Kent, but hard nonetheless and it was Hollingbourne Hill, a decieving little climb that gets steeper and steeper as you go up the climb with the steepest part averaging 12.5% lasting about 1-1.2km. Up I went though as the thirty-first rider achieving a time of 3mins 27secs dead. I eventually came fourth after I led for quite a while, I was beaten into third by 0.01 seconds, gutting and the winning time was 3mins12secs. I felt really good until I went halfway up the climb and hit the steepest part, where with a good tunrout cheering me on I decided to knock into a bigger gear and really take the hill by the horns. Unfortunately the hill won. As the hill eased off towards the top I died with the last 100metres being some of the most painful of my life. Up until that point I was on for a time of around 3.15 which would have nabbed me second, but I paid for the effort of going mad on the steepest part of the hill. Nevermeind, lesson learned and the that's the first time I have ever been up that hill too, at least I came away £25 better off though.

Will let you know how I get on in my next race next Sunday, stay safe till then.