NOT EVEN perfect conditions and real expectations that he could finally break it could inspire national champion James Dobbin to crack the longstanding Haytor Hill Climb record.

Dobbin (Arctic Shorter Rochford RT) duly won the Mid-Devon CC/Colin Lewis Cycles-promoted annual event.

But his time of 13 minutes 7.2 seconds was 23 seconds outside Jeff Williams' 29-year-old course record, and even 17 seconds slower than he produced in victory last year.

The fastest starter over the 3.125-mile hill, from just outside Bovey Tracey to the top Haytor Car Park, was Mid-Devon's own time trial No.1 Peter Vincent.

Vincent covered the opening three-quarters-of-a-mile, which includes two nasty ramps, four seconds faster than Dobbin.

But by the time they had powered up the steepest section and reached the open moor, Dobbin had reversed the positions and was three seconds faster.

Third was Sean Childs, who had his sights on the Royal Navy & Royal Marines hill climb title, fourth was Stuart Hall (Alltrax), ahead of new Mid-Devon starlet Patrick Hambly, Andrew Peters (Cycle Sport South Hams) and Lee Sanderson of the Navy.

The final section can be arduous, especially into a headwind, but conditions were marginally helpful this time as the riders were cheered up to the finish line.

The first, and only, junior rider to beat 15 minutes was Mid-Devon's Jake Durant in 14-58.3.

Peters came in with 14-50.9, while Sanderson faded to 15-18.1, but still collected the Navy silver medal.

It wasn't long before Plymouth-based Hall went to the top of the leaderboard with 14-20.4.

Hambly, 18, who has only just taken up competitive cycling after several years as a nationally-ranked distance runner, posted 14-45.7 for fifth place.

That was an outstanding effort for his first serious race.

Hambly revealed later that his pre-event training had involved a circuit which included four ascents of the Haytor climb each lap!

Childs secured the Navy title in 14-40.7 for third place, and it was then a question of waiting to see what Vincent and Dobbin would do.

Vincent was first to finish, in 13-22.6, but Dobbin saved a bit for the final 500 yards and finished strongly for a deserved victory.

Mid-Devon's Andrew Hitchens, who first rode the event back in 1979, finished in 15-43.3, a minute-and-a-half slower than he managed as a 15-year-old lad 29 years ago.

Other MDCC times were Luke Julyan's 16-51.0, Tom Dracup's 17-27.8, Clayton Baker's 17-46.5, Mike Parker's 19-00.7, Dan Bergman's 19-30.6 and Tom Tinnyunt's 19-49.3.

The Haytor climb certainly did Hitchens no harm, for 24 hours later he travelled to the final 25-mile Time Trial of the South West season at Roche in mid-Cornwall and recorded his fastest time since he was 19 years old.

Hitchens finished the Camel Valley CC event in 56-38.

Fastest on the day was Britain's Olympic Pursuit silver medallist Wendy Houvenhagel, of the promoting club.

Preparing for forthcoming World Cup track races, she beat all the men in 54-20.

The runner-up was Karl Hodson (Trigon/JJ Coaching) in 54-28.

Mid-Devon's Adam Beams, who beat the hour-mark for the first time last month, improved again to 57-59.

Third counter was Mark Sanders in 58-36, which clinched the team prize for the Mid-Devon club.

Andrew Retter overhauled his faster starting father Ray, who rides for the North Devon Wheelers, to beat him by just two seconds in 1-00.20.

Keith Watts came home in 1-02.29, while supervet Ken Robertson kept up his good end-of-season form with his best '25' for five years in 1-04.27.

The autumn season of fun cycling sessions for Mid-Devon's Abbrook Aces junior section starts this Saturday (2pm) at Kingsteignton's Abbrook Park Sports & Social Club.

They will continue, for about an hour each time, every other Saturday until Christmas.

The sessions are traffic-free and include skill-based exercises and mini-team races.

Anyone interested should contact Andrew Parker on 01626 351447.

The Mid-Devon club will also be holding a two-hour mountain bike ride, starting at 10am from Abbrook, on Saturday.

It will be led by Kenny Parker (07753 271595). Anybody interested should bring spare inner tubes, tyre levers and pump, and there will be follow-up rides on the first Saturday of every month until February.