Russ Richardson (Zurbaran Racing and North Group) snatched a closely fought victory at the National VTTA Championship 25, while Linda Dewhurst (Team Milton Keynes and L&HC Group) was a convincing winner in the women’s event.

Richardson, aged 65, clocked a time of 54-24 on the 25-mile course in North Yorkshire which gave him the victory by 10 seconds with an age adjusted time of 48-09.

The event was decided on the newly introduced age adjusted time system which is calculated on their actual time minus competitor’s age adjustment.

The V236/1 saw competitors battle out over two out and back starting at Topcliffe and heading up past Thirsk on the A168 and then A19 to the South Kilvington Interchange.

Richardson, from Durham, won his first National VTT Championship on style with his age adjusted time 10 seconds quicker than Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC and NL&L Group), with the 52-year-old finished third on scratch in 50-42 equating to an adjusted 48-19.

A further two seconds back on adjusted time was Joe Costello (Legato RT and Midlands Group) after the 64-year-old stopped the clock in 54-14 equating to 48-21.

“It was a cold morning and tough in spots on the carriageway,” said Richardson. “I don’t think there was any help either way really. It’s a pretty quick course though as there’s not that many hills.

“I was working the times out with the 50-year-old lads and thought if I could get into the 54 minutes I had a bit of a chance.

“I like it a bit later in the year and warmer for me, the sun did come out and I got it on my back and got stuck into it the best I could.

“I’ll be having a look at the VTTA 10 and 50 now and put my mark on them if I can.”

In the women’s event 64-year-old Dewhurst also took her first VTTA national title after posting a time of one hour, one minute and five seconds which gave her an age adjusted time of 48-17 for a comfortable victory.

Deborah Moss (Springfield Financial RT and NL&L Group), aged 52, was the quickest woman on scratch posting a 58-03 which equated to 49-10.

Bringing home a medal for the hosting Yorkshire Group in third was 54-year-old Angela Hannon-Flaherty (Seacroft Whs) whose time of 1-00-04 gave an adjusted time of 50-39.

The club team champions were Springfield Financial RT with Deborah Moss, Derek Parkinson and Theresa Taylor all contributing towards an age adjusted time of 2-31-56.

Meanwhile, the group team champions were North Lancs & Lakes with Richard Bideau, Peter Greenwood and Deborah Moss making a winning age adjusted time of 2-26-33

The tandem champions were Andrew and Catherine Hutchison (Ride Harder and East Anglian Group) who had an age adjusted time of 52-36.

The fastest rider on the day was Richard Sharp (Addform Vive le Velo) who completed the course in 49-19 over a minute quicker than Marcel Schubert (Darlington CC) in second (50-37), while Bideau was third a further five seconds back (50-42).

Moss was the quickest woman on scratch in 58-03 over two minutes quicker than Hannon-Flaherty in second (1-00-04) and Dewhurst in third (1-01-05).

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

* A gallery of images from this event is available here

Results
Age adjusted time

1 Russ Richardson (Zurbaran Racing and North Group) 48.09
2 Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC and NL&L Group) 48.19
3 Joe Costello (Legato RT and Midlands Group) 48.21

Women

1 Linda Dewhurst (Team Milton Keynes and L&HC Group) 48.17
2 Deborah Moss (Springfield Financial RT and NL&L Group) 49.10
3 Angela Hannon-Flaherty (Seacroft Whs and Yorkshire Group) 50.39

Club Team Champions: Springfield Financial RT (Deborah Moss, Derek Parkinson, Theresa Taylor) 2:31:56

Group Team Champions: North Lancs & Lakes (Richard Bideau, Peter Greenwood, Deborah Moss) 2:26:33

Tandem Champions: Andrew and Catherine Hutchison (Ride Harder and East Anglian Group) 52.36

Scratch

Men

1    Richard Sharp (Addform Vive le Velo)    49:19

2    Marcel Schubert (Darlington CC)    50:37

3    Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest CC)    50:42

4    Alex Royle (Manchester BC)    51:17

5    Michael O'Keeffe (London Dynamo)    51:24

6    Julian Ramsbottom (Team Bottrill)    51:30

Women

1    Deborah Moss (Springfield Financial)     58:03

2    Angela Hannon-Flaherty (Seacroft Whs)    1:00:04

3    Linda Dewhurst (Team Milton Keynes)    1:01:05

4    Joanna Cebrat (360Cycling)    1:01:21

5    Susan Semple (Legato RT)    1:01:35

6    Sarah Harrison (Trek Sheffield)    1:02:13