CYCLING'S National Hill Climb Championship will be held on Ramsbottom's Rake course next year.

And that's a superb 75th anniversary present for the Lancashire Road Club whose impressive organisation of their own annual hill climb has earned them the honour of holding the 'national'.

The invitation to stage the event over the punishing 970-yard ascent is a real feather in the cap for the club who each year have attracted competitors of the highest quality.

National champion Stuart Dangerfield and hill climb specialists such as Jim Henderson, Jeff Wright, Mark McKay and the up-and-coming Tom Anderson have all competed in the Rake event in recent years, boosting it's status to second only to the national championship.

As well as proven climbers, LRC organisers have also attracted top-liners such as Chris Boardman, Gethin Butler and only last year pulled off something of a coup when 4,000 metre world record holder and former world pursuit champion Graeme Obree took part. The race has become a popular event in the local sporting calendar regularly attracting large crowds along its route but they will be nothing to what can be expected when the 'national' is held.

Consequently, this year's LRC Hill Climb, scheduled for October, will be a trial run for the prestigious event.

Course record holder for 32 years and member of the race organising team, Peter Graham said: "Everyone at the club is delighted to have clinched the event, especially as it is our anniversary.

"But we couldn't have done it without our sponsors Lepps Jewellers, Quicks for Ford and Bury Metropolitan Council who have done us proud.

"Without their support these last few years we wouldn't have been able to attract the quality competitors and put the event on the map like we have.

"I never knew when I was tearing up the Rake as a lad it would end up being the national championship - I only wish it had been then!" he added.

Club members have already met with officials from the council highways department and the local authority have promised to help in any way they can with the organisation of the race.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.