By Mitch Rees ensured 2026 Southern Hemisphere Hill Climbs/street racing action, opened in exhilarating fashion, setting a new outright lap-record at the Star Insurance New Zealand Hill Climb Championships.
Rees (Team Rees – Honda), the top solo Mountain Course newcomer of TT 2025, third timed run (opening race mode run) saw him lap the Bluff time-trial course in sub 43.4 seconds (43.268), guaranteeing the ‘King of The Hill’ title.
Mark Hodgkinson (Kings Mechanical Ltd/Liqui Moly – Kawasaki) clocked the nearest time to the three times NZ Superbike Champion’s turn of speed, attaining a new lap-record for up to 600cc machines (44.983 seconds).
Bill Swallow, Chris McMeeken, Jon Rawcliffe ended respective leading Pre 63, Post Classic Pre 82, Post Classic Pre 89 Classics competitors.
Stratford’s Cameron Keegan (Keegan Electrical – CK Hybrid) captured lead Super Quad pilot honours.
Star Insurance New Zealand Hill Climb Championships – top five fastest racers per class, detailed below:
(Top lap time accrued, aside racers names)
Over 601cc:
1st – Mitch Rees – 43.268
2nd – Angus Phyn – 45.558
3rd – Heath Botica – 46.007
4th – Kane Bray – 47.770
5th – Garth Wilson – 48.190
Up To 600cc:
1st – Mark Hodgkinson – 44.983
2nd – Daryl Craigie – 45.872
3rd – Conrad White – 48.030
4th – Phil Main – 48.295
5th – Riley Foster – 48.786
Super Quad:
1st – Cameron Keegan – 46.573
2nd – Kim Reid – 48.917
3rd – Ian Newman – 50.767
4th – Tim Dore – 53.870
5th – Barry Jones – 56.702
Pre 89 Post Classics:
1st – Jon Rawcliffe – 48.353
2nd – Luke Holland – 48.652
3rd – Guy Northover – 49.925
4th – Tony Tomasi – 53.744
5th – Paul Fisher – 54.475
Pre 82 Post Classics:
1st – Chris McMeeken – 51.592
2nd – Kevin Ryan – 54.583
3rd – Bevan Wilson – 55.551
4th – David Schimanski – 1.08.341
Pre 63 Classics:
1st – Bill Swallow – 56.754
2nd – Phil Price – 57.663
3rd – Graham Peters – 58.294
4th – Rob Chappell – 1.07.438
5th – Matt Gibbs – 1.08.767
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
