Adam Pinder (Muckle Cycle Club) took his first open hill climb victory in almost 14 years at the North Tyneside Riders event on Winters Gibbet, while Hannah Farran (Team Boompods) won the women’s event.

Pinder, aged 33, won his first open hill climb of the season in a winning time of seven minutes and 16 seconds.

The Muckle Cycle Club rider was two-time junior national hill climb champion and last won an open climb at the ABC Centreville event in 2009 - before placing fifth in the senior national championships later that year.

Starting outside Elsdon in Northumberland the Winters Gibbet climb is 3.4 kilometres long with an average gradient of 4.4%.

The exposed nature of the climb which can make it a tough. However, conditions were mainly still on this occasion with just the slightest of headwind.

Once the early morning mist cleared over the Northumberland countryside riders were greeted by very humid conditions.

Pinder finished over five seconds clear of Alexander Storey (GS Metro) who finished second in (7-22.1) and quickest veteran John Bowman (Muckle Cycle Club) finished third overall (7-26.9).

“I rode the climb for the nationals in 2004, but had no recollection of it,” said Pinder. “I must have been 14 then and came dead last. It’s a big exposed climb on a moor, it’s pretty steep start and steadies off towards the top.

“It’s not my kind of climb to be honest, I prefer the shorter and stepper stuff, but it was good. I’ve recently moved to the North East and it’s super-hilly where I live so I do a lot of cycling in the hill.

“Naturally you just get better at hills by riding. I think I’ve got a shot at the top ten in the national this year, I think I can potentially produce the power for a top 10.

“That’s my aim.”

Quickest junior boy was Charlie Thew (Racing Metro 15) who completed the course in a time of 8-15.4, while Mason Bulfin (Manilla Cycling) was quickest juvenile boy (8-41.1).

In the women’s event Farran took her second open hill climb of the season stopping the clock in nine minutes and three seconds.

The Team Boompods rider finished 19th in last season’s National Hill Climb Championship and won the Victor Racing HC in July.

Quickest veteran Sarah Wilkinson was second in 9-15.6 ahead of Blaydon CC team-mate Louise Burnie in third (10-19.8).

Edith Shaw (Tyneside Vagabonds CC) was the only juvenile girl and completed the course in 12-34.4.

“I’m really pleased with my ride today especially so early in the hill climbing season,” said Farran.

“I’m focusing on the longer climbers this year with the national hill climb being my main target at the end of October.

“I’d like to thank the North Tyneside Riders for organising a great event and to the time keepers for their support too.”

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

Results

1          Adam Pinder   Muckle Cycle Club     07:16.3

2          Alexander Storey        GS Metro         07:22.1

3          John Bowman Muckle Cycle Club     07:26.9

4          Colin Atkinson            Muckle Cycle Club     07:41.6

5          Adrian Armstrong       Muckle Cycle Club     07:42.3

6          Tom Harcourt  Team Bikestop Tyrekey 3FS   08:12.5

7          Michael Charlton        Barnesbury CC           08:14.6

8          Charlie Thew  Racing Metro 15         08:15.4

9          Daniel Keegan Cestria C.C.    08:23.3

10        Tim Burdon     Allen Valley Velo        08:24.5

11        Noel Stoddart  Allen Valley Velo        08:25.7

12        Jonathan Cairns           Muckle Cycle Club     08:26.2

13        Chris Wann     EMC Cycling  08:32.3

14        Owen Haggerty           North Tyneside Riders CC      08:37.1

15        Mason Bulfin  Manilla Cycling          08:41.1

16        Ian Gallon       North Tyneside Riders CC      08:49.6

17        Hannah Farran Team Boompods         09:03.3

18        Michael Noble Muckle Cycle Club     09:03.6

19        Sarah Wilkinson          Blaydon CC    09:15.6

20        Scott Gibson   Muckle Cycle Club     09:21.7

21        Thomas Collin Newcastle University Cycling CLub  09:25.0

22        Daniel Robinson         North Tyneside Riders CC      09:26.1

23        Philip Parsley  Muckle Cycle Club     09:41.6

24        John Newton   North Tyneside Riders CC      09:51.0

25        Daniel Kane    Muckle Cycle Club     09:55.1

26        John Hopper    Zeus CRT        10:00.0

27        Roger Clarke   Tyneside Vagabonds CC         10:11.4

28        Louise Burnie Blaydon CC    10:19.8

29        Sarah Wann     EMC Cycling  10:29.5

30        David Lavery  North Tyneside Riders CC      10:32.2

31        Michael Trow  Blaydon CC    10:46.3

32        Keith Sibbald  Zeus CRT        10:59.9

33        John Picken     North Tyneside Riders CC      11:36.5

34        Lee Whittaker  Alnwick & District Triathlon Club     11:43.0

35        Dean McLauchlan       North Tyneside Riders CC      12:02.7

36        Edith Shaw     Tyneside Vagabonds CC         12:34.4