Carl Donaldson (GS Metro) took over three minutes off his own course record to clinch victory again in the Teesdale Mountain TT, while Jennifer Batey (Vertex Biemme RT) was fastest woman.

Donaldson, 36 and from Morpeth, posted a time of one hour, 45 minutes and 28 seconds on the mountainous course over 40.5 miles.

His time was over three minutes faster than the 1:48.48 he posted last year for victory, which equalled the previous course record set by Wayne Randle 10 years earlier.

On this occasion, he needed to break the course record for victory as both the second and third placed riders also broke the previous mark.

“It was one of my priorities this year to go back and get the course record,” said Donaldson.

“In the run up to the finish I was monitoring my speed so knew I would be there or there about. I knew I had done a good time as I was totally spent at the finish.

“I will go back again next year and see if I can beat my mark because it is an iconic event in this region.

“It’s just a hard course which suits me.

“It was one of three races I was targeting this year and the other two are coming in the next three weeks which are the Derwentside CC and Tyneside Vagabonds mountain time trials.”

It was the 25th edition of the event which was originally 38.5 miles before being increased to the current 40.5 in 2003.

The event is known for its stunning scenery as riders compete over rolling moorland with a mixture of long sweeping climbs and shorter steeper gradients.

Matt Moorhouse (Preston CC) also beat the previous course record clocking 1:48.20 but finished second again to Donaldson, as he did in the same event last year.

Taking third was Fergus Robinson (Clay Cross RT) posting 1:48.44 which would have won him the event last year.

Fastest woman on the day was Jennifer Batey (Vertex Biemme RT) who clocked 2:13.48, showing that she is just as fast over the hillier terrain after also winning the flatter Wansbeck CC 21 the previous day.

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