Chris Smart was fastest while Kerry Gowland was crowned top woman at the Teesside District 25-mile Championships staged by Cleveland Coureurs near Crathorne in North Yorkshire on Sunday morning.

38-year-old Smart, who rides for GTR-Return to Life, clocked 50-56 for the T252/3 course near Crathorne, giving him the win on the day by 2-25 from Joe Simons (Albarosa CC), with Marcel Schubert (Darlington CC) just four seconds further back in third place.

Kerry Gowland, the 41-year-old Houghton CC rider, clocked 1-02-38 to win the women’s prize by more than four minutes from Kate Sanderson (Cleveland Wheelers).

Sanderson’s time of 1-06-44 was just one second away from being a new personal best time, but it was enough to give her the Teesside District title, while Austrian rider Shubert was crowned Teesside Men’s champion despite only riding a road bike with tri bars attached.

In other categories, 16-year-old Euan Sanderson (Cleveland Wheelers) hit an impressive personal best on his way to the handicap prize with a time of 56-53.

It was a sunny, warm and dry day – but a stiff wind meant PBs were few and far between for the event, which takes riders from near Crathorne down to Knayton just north of Thirsk and back up.

Below the podium, Jack Rees (Ribble Pro Cycling) took fourth spot with 53-31, and GS Metro’s Philip Kennell was fifth.

In-form Chris Smart has been in great form so far this season. He has many wins to his name already including the Derby Mercury RC 10 and 25 last weekend, the VC Glasgow South 10, the Cleveland Wheelers hilly 25 and Ferryhill Wheelers 10 in April, as well as the VC Vitesse 13.6-mile event in March.

He was also third in the fourth round of the Sigma Sports Classic Series.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

Results:

1. Chris Smart (GTR-Return to Life) 50.56

2. Joe Simons (Albarosa CC)  53.21

3. Marcel Schubert (Darlington CC)   53.25

4. Jack Rees (Ribble Pro Cycling)      53.31

5. Philip Kennell (GS Metro)  54.18

6. Gray Walker (VTTA North)           54.56

7. Graham Heaton (City RC Hull)      55.03

8. Steve Gore-Brown (Team Swift)    55.14

9. Chris Day (Selby CC)         55.44

10. Paul Felce (Adelt CC)      55.54

Women: Kerry Gowland (Houghton CC)      1:02.38

District Champion: Marcel Schubert

Women: Kate Sanderson (Cleveland Wheelers)         1:06.44

Handicap: Euan Sanderson (Cleveland Wheelers) 56-53