the cycling season the way he started it...with victory.

And Melanie Claude continued her dominant 1999 season as she moves into her final preparation for this month's World B Championships in Uraguay.

After securing the title of top sprinter in the IBC Race Series on Front Street in February, Simons entered the Hill Climb as one of the favourites in an event that clearly favours the power riders over the short distances.

The record for the steep 400 metre climb which starts at the bottom of the north entrance to the hotel is 58 seconds, held by Elliot Hubbard.

In Hubbard's absence, Simons, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday, did not disappoint the spectators at the top of the hill as he powered his way to the finish line to record the fastest time of the day of 1:03.10 as a loud chrous of `happy birthday' greeted him as he crested the final section of the hill.

Simons beat out former Olympian Earl Godfrey, a renowned sprinter and always a favourite for a top placing in this event, by just three hundredths of a second as he was timed in 1:03.41.

The Island's top rider this season, Steve Millington, was third in 1:04.44.

Millington travels with the team to the World B Championships in Uraguay.

Claude was in top form as she recorded the sixth fasted overall time of the day at 1:11.12, some 22 seconds faster than national squad team-mate Julia Hawley in 1:23.73. Making a welcome return to the racing scene is Jeana Godfrey who was third in 1:28.82.

Claude, a former triathlete, capped a first year concentrating solely on cycling and is expected to perform well at the upcoming World B Championships.

Vic Ball once again secured the title of top veteran in an event he has made his own in recent years, winning in 1:11.53 while Paulo Medeiros was second in 1:16.36 and Maurice Brangman third in 1:27.91.

In the junior and novice categories, there were some impressive performances as 16-year-old Jonathan Herring won his division with the fifth fastest time overall (1:09.73) while 14-year-old Roy Allan Burch surprised everyone with his 10th overall placing in 1:11.82.

Jahdal Williams capped his first season of racing by winning the novice category in 1:11.43.

Other category winners were Tim Fox in the under 10 years, Florida Duffy in 11-12 girls, Geoffrey Smith in the 11-12 boys, Ashley Robinson Roberts (13-14 girls), category three competitor Bill Wharton and female veteran Maria Duffy.