Melanie Hall (North Tyneside Riders) took the women’s victory on her first time trial bike outing at the Barnesbury CC 25, while Josh Charlton (Hetton Hawks) smashed the course record in the open event.

Veteran rider Hall, aged 43, started competing in open time trials this season on her road bike and has now moved to a time trial machine.

Hall has taken two road bike victories already this season and took her second women’s overall win of the season in a time of 1-06-48.

The M250 saw riders start outside Morpeth before heading across to Ashington and then north on the A1068 to Broomhill and then looping back south to the start to Morpeth.

There was a definite chill in the air and the conditions were overcast but remained dry.  

Five out of the 11 women starters were taking on their very first time trial event and enjoyed the experience.

This is all part of the North East district’s recruitment drive to get more females competing. 

Holding a separate female only event, and setting them off last after the open riders proved to be popular, with the majority of finishers gathering just past the finish line to cheer the others in.

Sarah Allen (Outlands) led the battle behind finishing second woman in 1-13-55 and Denise Drummond (Alnwick & District Triathlon Club) was third (1-14-53).

Hall said afterwards: “It's a great course to race on with beautiful countryside and fairly quiet roads.

“We had a strong field of women today so it was a privilege to take the win. The camaraderie amongst riders was fantastic - having the ladies all start together made for better competition and support.

“A special thanks to the race organisers and marshals - we really appreciate all they do.”

In the open event 21-year-old Charlton posted a course record time of 48-10 (beating the previous course benchmark of 53-52) - taking 5-42 off the record. 

A total of eight riders went under the hour mark on a course not renowned for being particularly fast.

Charlton was pre-race favourite having finished runner-up in the National 25-Mile Championship last month in 49-04.

Last year’s winner, Chris Isats (Berwick Wheelers Cycling Club) had to settle for second place on this occasion but was fastest veteran in 53-53. 

Completing the open podium positions was Zach Haigh (Team Kirkley Cycles) who stopped the clock in a time of 55-09.                 

Afterward Charlton said: “The day went really well.

“It was a very early start, but I really enjoyed the sporting course instead of your usual motorway 10. There was lots of good little undulations and technical sectors to really test yourself on.

“I was surprised by my time at the end. I didn’t expect to go as quick as I did but super-happy with that.

“A big thanks as always to Sharon (Dyson) and her team for a top-class event again.”

 The open road bike category was won by Paul Philbrick (North Tyneside Riders CC) whose time of 59-53 was also quick enough for eighth position overall.

Second road bike was Oliver Walker-Hayes (Tyneside Vagabonds CC) in 1-02-07, while Denise Drummond (Alnwick & District Triathlon Club) was third (1-14-53).

The women’s road bike category attracted a good field and Sarah Allen (Outlands) was quickest of them in 1-13-55.

Agnes Wolkowska (Outlands) was second in the category in 1-15-16 ahead of team-mate  Eleanor Dixon in third (1-17-39).

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

Results

1 Josh Charlton (Hetton Hawks CC)      48.10                                                                                                   

2 Christopher Isats (Berwick Wheelers Cycling Club)   53.53                                                                   

3 Zach Haigh (Team Kirkley Cycles)       55.09     

4 Jonathan Cairns (Muckle Cycle Club)               55.40                                                                                   

5 Adam Lunn (Team VC)              56.22                                                                                                                   

6 Benjamin Amaira (GS Metro) 57.10                                                                                                                   

7 Neil Wilkinson (Blaydon CC)  58.46                                                                                                                   

8 Paul Philbrick (North Tyneside Riders CC)      59.53                                                                                   

9 Oliver Walker-Hayes (Tyneside Vagabonds CC)           1:02.07                                                               

10 Malcolm Steer (Zurbaran Racing)     1:02.11               

Women

1 Melanie Hall (North Tyneside Riders CC)        1:06.48

2 Sarah Allen (Outlands)             1:13.55

3 Denise Drummond (Alnwick & District Triathlon Club)             1:14.53

4 Agnes Wolkowska (Outlands)               1:15.16

5 Eleanor Dixon (Outlands)        1:17.39

6 Vicky Cuthbertson (Sun City Tri)          1:19.51

7 Jane Massey (Tyneside Vagabonds CC)            1:22.32

8 Andrea Simmons (Gosforth RC)           1:24.07

9 Anita Dabbs (VO2MAX Race Team)    1:25.24

10 Tracey Sample (Alnwick & District Triathlon Club)   1:25.34

Road bike

1 Oliver Walker-Hayes (Tyneside Vagabonds CC)           1:02.07                                                               

2 Malcolm Steer (Zurbaran Racing)       1:02.11

3 Richard Napper (Sitwell Cycling Club)              1:06:38                                                               

4 Kyle Hodgson (North Tyneside Riders CC)      1:07.46                                                               

5 Jamie Marshall (North Tyneside Riders CC)   1:08.29

6 Phil Travers (Derwentside CC)              1:19:43               

Women

1 Sarah Allen (Outlands)             1:13.55

2 Agnes Wolkowska (Outlands)               1:15.16

3 Eleanor Dixon (Outlands)        1:17.39

4 Jane Massey (Tyneside Vagabonds CC)            1:22.32

5 Andrea Simmons (Gosforth RC)           1:24.07

6 Anita Dabbs (VO2MAX Race Team)    1:25.24