Matt Melville hit peak form just at the right time to win the battle of the hill climbers in Brighton Mitre's two open events in Sussex.

The Hampshire ace finished a close second in the first climb and won the second to take the overall prize ahead of Londoners Matt Goodes and Tony Kelly.

With most of the leading Sussex road riders enjoying a winter break it was left to Hove rider Tim Mardall, who only took up racing a few months ago, to lead the local challenge with fourth place overall.

Goodes (De Laune CC) won the morning event on the steep slopes of Steyning Bostal, covering the 1,672 yards in a record 4m 17.5secs. Melville (St Raphael) was second in 4:20.9 while Mardall (VC Etoile) took third in 4:30.06 with Kelly (Addiscombe) fourth in 4:34.01. Worthing Excelsior's Tony Reeves finished sixth in 4:47.07.

After a three-hour break the second climb took place on Mill Hill, north of Shoreham.

Melville preferred this less steep but longer two-and-a-half mile climb which he covered in 8:23.01. Kelly, who was 12th in the recent national hill climb, finished a close second in 8:25.03.

Goodes' hopes of an overall win disappeared when he was third in 8:32.07 while Mardall gave another good performance to finish fourth in 8:34.02.

Melville was fastest overall in 12:44.00. Goodes, a cycle shop owner who had made a substantial contribution towards the prize list, recouped some of his money by finishing second in 12:50.02 and leading the winning De Laune team. Kelly was third in 12:59.04 and Mardall was fourth in 13:04.08. Tim Holmes (Mitre) won the veteran's prize.

The promoter, Robin Johnson, deserves a special mention. He has put on nine open events this year, six for Mitre, two for the southern Counties Union and one for the Sussex CA.

His races always have good prize lists and, as one official said: "he knows how to get blood out of a stone." Johnson is already planning next year's events which include an earlier date for the hill climb.

The Sussex Cycle Racing League's annual meeting and presentation takes place at the Adur Outdoor Activities Centre tomorrow (7.30pm).