Andy Cunningham maintained his unbeaten start to the 2024 season with success in the open category at the Team Judge Tyrekey hill climb in County Durham on Sunday morning, with Madeleine Bell winning the female category.

Having already picked up wins at the Muckle CC, Zurbaran Racing and AIMS Cycling hill climbs as well as the North Tyneside riders 27 events last month, Cunningham is clearly a man in form.

He was at it again here, posting a time of 4:16-8 to narrowly defeat Muckle Cycle Club’s Marcus Cram who set 4:17-0 with a time of 4:33-5 seeing Ian Duffield (VENTURE RACING) into third place.

“I’m really happy with the result though I think 0.2 seconds is as close as you can get to a dead heat!” said Cunningham.

“I felt good today, though I have to say I found this one quite difficult. It was a hard one to manage because of how varied the gradient was and conditions turned out to be on the grim side this morning!”

In the women’s event, Bell posted a 5:38-0 as the Musselburgh Road Cycling Club rider beat Deborah Jeffries (Manilla Cycling) who was second in a time of 10:59-2.

“I'm hoping to target the full hill climb season this year, so it was good to tick this one off the list in preparation for the Nationals in Hexham in two months,” said Bell.

“The climb starts quite steeply which suits me well, but has a bit of a twist with some fast sweeping downhill sections before ramping up again at the top.

“Each climb is different and suits different people, so I was really keen to do this one to try and work on any weaknesses. The weather was grim which added a few technical challenges, but overall it was a great day and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

“Thanks to Team Judge Tyrekey for putting on a great event on the first proper weekend of the hill climb season.”

In other categories Graeme Wardale of South Shields Velo Club was top veteran in 5:10-1, ahead of AIMS Cycling rider Mike Jeffries who took the runners-up spot in 5:18-1, while top junior on the day was Ezra Bateman, whose time of 4:49-2 was enough for fourth place overall as well.

This event, run on the THC40 course, is a one-mile steady climb up Billy Lane on Hindon Hill to finish just short of the junction with the B6282.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. This report by James Ayles.

Results:

Open:

1. Andy Cunningham (Ilkley Cycling Club)  4:16.8

2. Marcus Cram (Muckle Cycle Club)           4:17.0

3. Ian Duffield (VENTURE RACING)         4:33.5

4. Ezra Bateman (Clifton Cycling Club York)            4:49.2

5. Tom Harcourt (Team Judge Tyrekey)         5:05.4

6. Graeme Wardale (South Shields Velo Club)           5:10.1

7. Mike Jeffries (AIMS Cycling)        5:18.1

8. Rohan Rayner-Smith (Cleveland Wheelers Cycling Club)            5:31.4

9. Christopher Peach (Outlands)         5:34.9

10. Dan Richardson (North Tyneside Riders Cycling Club)  5:36.4

Women:

1. Madeleine Bell (Musselburgh Road Cycling Club)           5:38.0

2. Deborah Jeffries (Manilla Cycling)            10:59.2