After battling through the cheering spectators, the gradient and the wet weather, Abigail Armstrong is the 2006 London Phoenix Hill Climb Champion after a using her Roc D’Azur form to great effect over the 1 in 6 roads of the Catford & Bec Hill climbs.

She said after finishing that she was really proud to win the coveted trophy and hopes to defend the title over her fellow club members in 2007.

London Phoenix riders Jane Kilmartin, Abigail Armstrong and David Steele raced at this years scorching and extra rocky 18th Roc D’Azur MTB festival held in the Frejus on the Cote D’Azur. The three day event comprised of a gruelling 87KM Marathon on the Friday, shorter Randonee rides and the Women’s competition on the Saturday finishing with the main Roc MTB 57KM race on the Sunday.

Jane had a storming ride in Fridays Roc Marathon achieving 6th place in the Women’s category in an impressive time of 5hrs 34 over a course characterised by steep climbs and technical rocky descents – such an impressive effort that she was unable to muster enough energy to ride Saturdays Women’s race. David and Abi completed both the Marathon and Saturdays and Sunday’s races in respectable times (4hrs 26 for David in Roc and 6. 20 for Abi) and are still nursing their battered and bruised bodies after a long week of riding the best trails around southern France.

Results

Roc Marathon, 87km
KILMARTIN, JANE, 6th woman (of 23), time: 5:34:44
STEELE, DAVID, 136th vet man (of 500+), time: 6:26:32
ARMSTRONG, ABIGAIL, 20th woman, time: 8:38:04

Roc D’Azur, 58km
STEELE, DAVID, 282nd vet man, time: 4:38:38
ARMSTRONG, ABIGAIL, 35th woman, time: 6:26:26

At the very last Beastway on Saturday 21st October

And then at the Catford and the Bec Hill Climbs on Sunday 22 October.

Richard Marston and Stuart Lockyear rode an all-weather Ride of the Falling leaves on 1st October – an annual sportive organised by Dulwich Paragon and Mosquito Bikes. Starting with a wet and very slippery lap of the track at Herne Hill velodrome, the ride headed out to the North Downs and back in an 80 km or 110 km loop. Heavy rain showers this year brought cyclocross style conditions to this good-natured event. Richard and Stuart finished the long ride in 4 hrs 29 mins and 4 hrs 33 mins respectively.

Jane Kilmartin won the Andover Wheelers 10 Mile TT ladies event (32 starters) with a personal best of 22:11 on the 16 September.