Duncan McCrostie of Kaitangata retained the title he won last year when he took victory in the Bay View Hotel / Pub Charity Bluff "where the journey begins" Sealed Hillclimb on Saturday.

McCrostie repeatedly laid down the fastest times throughout the day in his Mitsubishi EVO, bettering his mark on every run to record a time of 1 minute 00.733 seconds on the final attempt. McCrostie already held the record for the hill but this year's course featured several changes so he can now claim the record for the new course as well.

McCrostie was happy with the win which also gave him the the Southern Twin Peaks Challenge title for the second consecutive year. That title is presented to the driver who records the fastest combined time from both the Kaitangata Promotions Bob Scott Memorial Hillclimb held last October as well as Saturday's event.

"It's all good," said McCrostie at the conclusion of the event. He acknowledged a rear spring change had made the car better this year and said the onIy real problem was light rain that affected the second run for most of the competitors.

The 2007 champion and last year's runner-up, Glenn Frew of Outram, was second again this year in his Mitsubishi EVO. Frew spent the entire day in second place and saved his best run until last when he recorded a time of 1 minute 01.176 seconds. However he could not quite head McCrostie off. Tim Cook of Christchurch, runner-up in the National Hillclimb Championship and a former National Junior Clubsport Champion, was third in his Mitsubishi EVO in his first appearance at the event with a time of 1 minute 03.672.

Winton driver Brent Cross was fourth in 1 minute 05.063 seconds with Dave Wilson of Ashburton fifth in a Toyota Celica GT4 and Gore driver Andrew Graves next in his Mitsubishi EVO.

The top ten was rounded out by Gordon Beeby of Timaru, Phil Winter of Dunedin, Mosgiel's Chris Hey in the first two-wheel-drive car home and Quentin Doig of Dunedin. Several other good performances were recorded, including that of Winton driver Darryl Batt who had his Subaru RX Sti in the top ten until the final run.

Competition was also exciting in the various class battles. Hey won Class C for 2 wheel-drive cars of 1601cc and over in his Nissan powered, turbocharged Toyota MR2 ahead of Murray Marshall of Kaitangata in a Nissan Bluebird Turbo and Invercargill's Chris Lange in a Ford Fiesta ST150. Carter Strang of Wallacetown near Invercargill took Class B in his Toyota Levin from Craig Cormack of Gore in a similar car. Jeremy Dawson of Invercargill was third in a Toyota Starlet. Paul Goatley of Balclutha took Class A from Gore's Kevin Laird in a Suzuki Swift while Laird's father, Roger Laird, used the same car to grab third in the class.

As the first three placegetters are not eligible for class prizes Class D for 4-wheel-drive vehicles went to Brent Cross from Dave Wilson and Graves.

McCrostie received $500 for winning the Southern Twin Peaks Challenge while the Class winners in the Challenge - Chris Hey, Carter Strang and Kevin Laird each won $100.

The hillclimb utilises the road to the summit of Bluff Hill (Motu Pohue), a road that climbs to a height of 264 metres above sea level. The cars now start in Pearce Street and encounter a tight right-hander just metres after the start. They then climb through a steep twisty section before a long uphill straight interrupted by two chicanes. That section is followed by another steep, twisty section of road that takes the cars to the finish line.

Changes to the course met with wide approval. A new corner at the bottom of the hill created a great new spectator area while the reconfigured chicanes met with approval from the drivers.

Forty-seven entries contested the hillclimb, a record for the event.

The Bay View Hotel/Pub Charity Bluff "where the journey begins" Sealed Hillclimb is a joint project between Bluff Promotions, the Eastern Southland Car Club and the Southland Sports Car Club. It forms a part of both the Southland Sport Car Club's Speed Championship and the Eastern Southland Car Club's Club Championship.

Lindsay Beer