Elliot Hubbard emphatically laid them to rest in less than a minute yesterday morning.

The 23-year-old who returned from his base in the US to win the three-day Bermuda Grand Prix earlier this year, made another all-too-infrequent appearance on the local roads.

And the result was exactly the same.

This time, however, Hubbard showed he's equally at home whether the distance be 170 kilometres or 700 metres.

Competing against the best of local riders and a former One-Plus Inc.

team-mate from the US, Hubbard surged to victory in the annual Southampton Princess hill climb, shattering the old record by an amazing five seconds.

It would be Hubbard's last event on local soil before leaving this month to sign a pro contract with leading Italian team, AKI-Gipiemme.

And the Bermudian was obviously keen to impress, negotiating the sharp, winding incline from Waterlot Inn to Southampton Princess Hotel in a blistering 57 seconds.

It marked the first time any rider had ducked under one minute for the course, easily eclipsing the old record of 1:02.

Second place went to Dana Henry in 1:02 while defending champion McInnis Looby had to share third place with Hubbard's ex-team-mate, American Scott Hodder.

Both clocked 1:03.

Some 40 riders turned up for the event, and in muggy conditions, Hubbard wasn't the only one to make his mark.

Doran Simmons lifted the women's title in a new record time of 1:41, carving 10 seconds off the old time of 1:51, held by Kim Mason who yesterday placed second in 2:04.

And another record fell in the Junior II category where the ever-improving Kris Hedges clocked a nippy 1:11, six seconds faster than the former record.

Second was Nuri Latham in 1:16 and third Tyler Butterfield in 1:20.

Junior III rider Roy-Allan Burch also rode into the record books with a time of 1:49, a second better than the previous mark, and three seconds faster than second-placed Adam Petty (1:52).

Veterans Martin Bolton and Vic Ball had to share the honours in their division, both equalling Ball's record time of 1:12. Mel Bennett was next in 1:17.

Junior girls honours went to Allison Petty in 1:56 ahead of Flora Duffy (2:11).

FEELING THE HEAT -- Elliot Hubbard strains as he races to victory and a new record time in yesterday's annual Southampton Princess hill climb.