Richard Sharp (ADDFORM Vive le Velo) was fastest male while Kim Barfoot-Brace (Team Bottrill) secured her second National 12-Hour Championship title when she covered an impressive 263.13 miles in the 2023 event in Cheshire on Sunday.

42-year-old Barfoot-Brace from Bath set a new course record with her provisional distance, and took the win by just over two miles from Grace Reynolds (Brother UK-Team OnForm), with third-placed Corinne Clark (Swindon Wheelers) similarly close, just one mile further back.

Sharp covered 295.10 miles to take victory by a narrow margin with the runner-up spot going to Tom Thornely (Fulfil the Potential RT) with 294.41 miles and third being Joe Adlam-Cook (Cambridge University CC).

The rain and wind caused problems for many in the field and led to an increased number of non-starters, with those who did ride having to contend with challenging conditions.

“It was really tough,” said Barfoot-Brace. “I’m more of a dual-carriageway type of person so this course was a real challenge for me.

“It was single carriageway with lots of traffic, rain and wind. I did 278 miles when I won two years ago. I really wanted to get the course record today, I think I did that by 12 miles.

“I struggled from hours seven to nine, I just sat up a bit and had some water. I just chilled out and found something extra from somewhere.

“It ended up being super-close with just four miles between myself and third. It has been high drama - I had a feeling they were close which is why I just put the hammer down as much as I could.

“I did feel very wobbly at times but you’ve just got to lock in. My support crew and family were amazing and I could see them at two different points on the course which kept me going and they handed me what I needed at the right time.

“I didn’t know I had won it until they made the final announcement. I’m so delighted as last time was during Covid in 2021 and I didn’t see the trophy let alone hold it.

“It felt really special, my team mates have been winning jerseys all season so I’ve finally had my moment and done my bit for the team.”

Meanwhile Sharp’s victory was kept on ice as an appeal meant the result wasn’t announced until later in the year.

But once confirmed as the winner, he said: “I didn’t sleep well the night before with nerves but that’s pretty common for me, and despite being pretty tired before the start the adrenaline kicks in and you forget all that and just get on with riding your bike.

“My plan was to ride the first bit at a consistent pace and then look to recoup and take on fuel about hours 6-8ish before picking it back up in the last three hours or so.

“With Ed from Vive le Velo on point for support he knew what I needed when and some well-timed caffeine hits were just the pick me up I needed.

“I did struggle with the last three hours just keeping anything down and was being sick quite a bit while riding but managed to get it over the line just under five miles short of my 300-mile target.

“All told I was really pleased with how it played out and that I managed to improve on my 2021 placing by taking the title.”

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* A gallery of images from this event is available here