The Club awards a number of trophies to competitors in our annual Mountain Time Trial, some dating back to the first event in 1947.
Winter’s Gibbet Trophy
The Winter’s Gibbet Trophy is awarded to the fastest man on a road bike.
This trophy is named for the summit of the climb out of Elsdon, the last major climb on the course (3,680m with a height gain of 153m)
The Impromptu Trophy
The Impromptu Trophy is awarded to the fastest woman on a road bike.
This trophy is named for the Impromptu Cafe which was run by Allen and Marion Graham in the village of Elsdon for 46 years.
Marion Bunton Memorial Challenge Trophy
The Marion Bunton Memorial Challenge trophy is awarded to the fastest rider in the Mountain Time Trial.
Marion Bunton Marion Bunton was an 18 year old member of Tyneside Vagabonds in 1948, when she suffered an accident whilst cycling with a friend near Bellingham. Marion had joined the Vagabonds two years earlier, and had gone on to win prizes in open competitions the following year.
Dorothy Dent Memorial Trophy
The Dorothy Dent Memorial Trophy is awarded to the fastest woman in the Mountain Time Trial.
Dorothy Dent and her mother ran a very popular tearoom at Elsdon, just a few hundred yards up the hill from the present tearoom. Prior to 2006 the trophy was awarded to the rider with the fastest ascent of Bilsmoor, for which the Russell Thompson Memorial Trophy is now awarded.
Russell Thompson Memorial Trophy
The Russell Thompson Memorial Trophy is awarded to the rider with the fastest ascent of Bilsmoor.
Russell Thompson (G.S. Metro) dominated the Mountain Time Trial during the 1990s, winning the event a record seven times. He passed away in his sleep at a relatively young age in 2005. The trophy was donated by friends of Russell and was presented for the first time in 2006 by his family.
Ron Steele Trophy
The Ron Steele Trophy is awarded to the woman with the fastest ascent of Bilsmoor.
Ron Steele was a lifelong Vagabond since joining the club in the late 1940s. In the early years he raced for the club, and latterly rode with the club on club rides and supported those racing.
J K Marshall Memorial Trophy
The J K Marshall Memorial Trophy is awarded to the fastest veteran on standard.
John joined Tyneside Vagabonds in 1957 and contributed to the club’s very successful racing year in 1958. He was a powerfully built rider and could be relied upon to produce consistently good results. He also enjoyed hostelling with the club during the winter months.
Ian Vaughan Memorial Trophy
The Ian Vaughan Memorial Trophy is awarded to the fastest junior in the Mountain Time Trial.
Ian Vaughan was a young local rider, a member of Barnesbury C.C., aged just 25. In a tragic accident during the Mountain Time Trial in 1991, Ian was hit head-on by one of two cars supposedly racing each other. This happened on the long straight just outside the Waggon Inn between Ponteland and Belsay, the event starting and finishing in Ponteland that year.