Tyneside Vagabonds CC 47

Team Kirkley Cycles team-mates Lewis Wake and Joanne Rea showed their form over tough terrain to take the men’s and women’s victories in the Tyneside Vagabonds CC Mountain TT 47.

Wake took his fourth open time trial victory of the season stopping the clock in a time of one hour, 56 minutes and 14 seconds after a gruelling 47 miles of racing.

Starting and finishing at Belsay competitors completed one tough loop of the circuit, heading out through Scots Gap and then onto the B6342 to the top end of the course at Rothbury and Thropton.

Heading back on the B6341 riders climbed up through Elsdon in a tough section of the course coming at the 30-mile mark. Turning onto an unclassified road the tough terrain continued before the final leg back to Belsay on the A696.

“It was a perfect day for the mountain time trial,” said Wake. “I managed a new PB and the overall win so I’m really happy with that.

“Big thanks to Tim Irwin at Team Kirkley Cycles who’s helped a lot with all things bike related in recent weeks and always, thanks to the marshals, organisers and timekeepers for today.”

Wake was beaten into second last weekend in the Zeus CRT 10 but returned to the podium top step on this occasion finishing 1-17 clear of his nearest challenger.

Last season the 27-year-old finished second in the same event clocking 1-58-23 but he took two minutes off that time this year.

Veteran rider Andrew Duggan (Alnwick & District Triathlon Club) provided tough competition and posted a time of 1-57-31 for second, while fellow veteran Marcel Schubert (Darlington Cycling Club) finished third (1-58-26).

Rea was unstoppable in the women’s event with her time of 2-20-35 over three minutes quicker than her nearest competitor.

It was the 35-year-olds second open time trial victory in as many weeks after also winning the Tyne & Wear Fire Service 12 last weekend.

Olivia French (Stolen Goat Race Team) placed second in 2-23-45 while Heather Witham (Blaydon CC) finished third in the women’s time trial bike competition (3-04-10).

The event takes in the ascent of Bilsmoor and Winter’s Gibbet, with the Bilsmoor climb being timed climb within the event with male riders competing for the Russell Thompson trophy.

Honours for that went to Rob Carter of Cleveland Wheelers (5:40), and Rob also picked up the J K Marshal trophy for Fastest Vet on Age Adjusted Time.

“I’m a big fan of mountain time trials in general and these types of events really suit me, as I enjoy being on my road bike,” said Carter. “I had a target in mind of breaking the two-hour mark for a road bike, so I’m absolutely over the moon to do that and take these two trophies home with me.”

In the women’s competition for the ascent of Bilsmoor, Madeleine Bell of Musselburgh RCC took the honours with a time of 00:06:44.

Rob Carter has been thriving in the road bike competitions this season and took his third category victory posting a time of 1-58-35.

Josef Murray (AIMS Cycling) finished second over nine minutes back (2-07-37), while Alexander Storey (GS Metro) finished third (2-09-35).

In the women’s road bike competition Madeleine Bell won in a time of 2-28-37, beating Louise Burnie (Blaydon CC) into second (2-34-17) and Celia Michie (Alnwick Cycling Club) finished third (2-41-26).

Results
Time trial bikes
1 Lewis Wake (Team Kirkley Cycles) 1:56.14
2 Andrew Duggan (Alnwick & District Triathlon Club) 1:57.31
3 Marcel Schubert (Darlington Cycling Club) 1:58.26
4 John Bowman (Muckle Cycle Club) 1:59.43
5 John Routledge (GTR - Return to Life P/B Streamline) 2:01.40
6 Carl Donaldson (GS Metro) 2:03.38

Time trial women
1 Joanne Rea (Team Kirkley Cycles) 2:20.35
2 Olivia French (Stolen Goat Race Team) 2:23.45
3 Heather Witham (Blaydon CC) 3:04.10

Road bikes

1 Rob Carter (Cleveland Wheelers CC) 1:58.35
2 Josef Murray (AIMS Cycling) 2:07.37
3 Alexander Storey (GS Metro) 2:09.35

Women road bike
1 Madeleine Bell (Musselburgh RCC) 2:28.37
2 Louise Burnie (Blaydon CC) 2:34.17
3 Celia Michie (Alnwick Cycling Club) 2:41.26