time their annual Hill Climb Championships at the Southampton Princess yesterday.

Little did they know how important it would be.

Former champion MacInnis Looby won the event in one minute, 3.09 seconds, followed by three other riders separated by exactly .30 seconds.

Earl Godfrey was timed in 1:05:25 to pip Steve Sterritt (1:05:43) for second place, while Dana Henry had to settle for fourth in 1:05.55.

Looby's time was almost exactly the same as last year when he finished second to Elliot Hubbard's record-setting performance of 57 seconds.

Hubbard, currently riding professionally in Europe, didn't compete, but is expected back on the Island early next month.

Melanie Claude took the women's crown with a time of 1:25.83.

Nuri Latham won the Junior II Division in 1:07.39 while Vic Ball was the Veteran's Division victor in 1:10.72.

Other division winners were: Peter Matcham (1:12.18) in Novice; Flora Duffy (2:15.13) in Junior Female; and Adam Petty (1:36.98) in Junior II.