Zach Haigh and Miriam Jessett were fastest male and female riders respectively at the Barnesbury CC 10-mile time trial on the same course as the National 10-Mile Championships in Northumberland in two weeks.

Haigh (Team Kirkley Cycles) clocked 20 minutes and 18 seconds to take the win by just one second from John Routledge (GTR-Return to Life) while Euan Adam (Durham City Velo) was third, another five seconds back in a close finish.

Jessett (Jadan Vive le Velo) covered the M101 course in 22-39 to take the win in the women’s category by 2-21 from Velo Culture veteran Adele McAleer in exactly 25 minutes, while Ellen Powell (Durham Triathlon Club) was another 24 seconds back in third.

It was a dry and warm morning for the event near Cramlington which gave riders a last chance to set down a marker ahead of the championship event early next month.  There was a nice tail wind on the way out, but once the riders turned at the top roundabout at North Seaton, they were met with a nasty headwind, making the going quite energy sapping.

“I knew it was going to be a hard return leg today, so my aim was to get a decent buffer on the way out with the tailwind in my favour,” said Haigh after his win. “The headwind on the way back was really tough – I tried to stay as aero as possible and to keep the power down.

“I was very surprised to take the win considering the talent on the start sheet.  It’s nice to finally get an outright win chalked up.”

In other categories Lee Cuthbertson of Muckle CC was fastest male road bike (21-27), and Caroline Cunningham of North Tyneside Rider for the females (27-17).

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

Results:

Men:

1. Zach Haigh (Team Kirkley Cycles)           20.18

2. John Routledge (GTR-Return to Life)       20.19

3. Euan Adam (Durham City Velo)    20.24

4. Adam Smith (Team Kirkley Cycles)          20.32

=5. Christopher Isats (Berwick Wheelers)     20.46

=5. Jay Pitt (Velo Culture)      20.46

Women:

1. Miriam Jessett (Jadan Vive le Velo)           22.39

2. Adele McAleer (Velo Culture)       25.00

3. Ellen Powell (Durham Triathlon Club)      25.24

4. Freya Johnson (Gosforth RC)         25.45

5. Caroline Cunningham (North Tyneside Riders)     27.17

6. Heather Gould (North Shields Polytechnic Club)  32.57

Road Bike Men: Lee Cuthbertson (Muckle CC)        21.27

Road Bikes Women: Caroline Cunningham (North Tyneside Riders)           27.17