THE Val des Terres hill record was broken twice in a thrilling climax to the Guernsey round of the MSA British Hill Climb Championship. In the first of two top-12 run-offs the 2005 champion Martin Groves, clocked 28.97sec., the first man to go sub 29sec.

But championship leader Scott Moran subsequently beat that, as the 30-year-old from Ludlow crossed the finish in 28.84 in the second run off.

Loud cheers from the pit lane by Havelet Bay greeted the news.

Meanwhile, local favourite Mike Dean, crashed during the second run-off, having placed third in the first.

‘I can’t believe it,’ said Moran afterwards.

‘I feel sorry for Martin for having it earlier and for Deano for not going over the line. The car felt very good.

‘The balance is right and it seems to be getting better. I’m getting more used to it.’

The record before the meeting had belonged to Englishman Adam Fleetwood who posted 29.14 in the 2004 event.

Groves, who claimed Andy Priaulx’s Bouley Bay course record 48 hours earlier, said he was content with picking up the points on Saturday.

‘Scott was very quick at the top and that’s what did it for him,’ he said.

‘In the second run it just got away from me coming into the straight and I was a bit late putting my foot down. But it was a good day.

‘I’ve come out with 20 points and Scott has come out with 17. That’s what’s important.’

Dean was left licking his wounds after he again failed to taste victory in the national series. He is yet to win a round after five years of trying.

He is starting to be compared to Jenson Button who also has not won a race in Formula One.

‘But at least he gets paid,’ said Dean.