Emily Meakin led a one-two for The Team Independent Pedaler- Nopinz as she clinched her maiden women’s RTTC National 50 Championship in difficult conditions.

Meakin, aged 31, from Staffordshire, mastered the wet and treacherous conditions to add the 50 crown to her National 10 victory earlier in the season.

Heavy rain the previous day cleared up for the early morning women’s event starting before the men.

Greasy conditions at some of the roundabouts led to several crashes including runner-up Alex Clay (The Independent Pedaler-Nopinz).

The M50 out and back course north of Newcastle upon Tyne was between Cramlington and Amble on the A189 and then A1068.

The course had a sting in the tail with a climb past the finish starting with 15 miles to go before looping back down and climbing back up for the actual finish.

Reigning champion Emma Lewis (The Independent Pedaler-Nopinz) was amongst the non-starters suffering from illness.

Riders were treated to a cross-tailwind on the outward leg and after winning the National 25 last weekend Joss Lowden (Drops Racing) led Meakin, who was riding conservatively.

However, battling into the cross-tailwind Lowden crashed out and was taken to hospital.

Meakin kept her calm and paced her effort perfectly recording a winning time of 1-47-46 which was an average of over 27.8 miles per hour.

Clay, who finished third in last weekend’s National 25, suffered a crash at the 13-mile point but quickly remounted and managed to take second place in a time of 1-52-11.

After finishing third in the National 10 earlier this season Kimberley Morrison (Drag2Zero) clinched another podium position clocking 1-53-04 to take third again.

“I wasn’t expecting to win these two (10 and 50) National Championships so it’s amazing,” said Meakin.

“Especially as it’s been so hard this year with all the championships condensed into five weeks on the bounce I didn’t know how to prepare as normally they are spaced out.

“The first 25 miles I road at a conservative pace so I got to the turn and felt really good and I got faster and stronger.

“The tail-crosswind out meant I knew I needed to be careful as I knew it would be hard coming back. In the end it wasn’t half as windy as in last week’s 25. It wasn’t as bad so it meant I could put down more power.”

Fastest veteran on the day was Erica Booth (Lancashire RC) whose time of 1-58-35 earned her a seventh-place finish.

Blaydon CC won the team prize with Joanne Rea (2-03-39), Gemma Hutchins (2-14-51) and Claire Harlow (2-18-17) all contributing to make a combined time of 6-36-47.

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

* A full gallery of images from this event by Kimroy photography is available here