The Tyneside Vagabonds have organised the Mountain Time Trial since 1947: This classic event has taken place each year from 1947 to 1963 (excluding 1953), and from 1971 to the present (excluding 1987 and 2020).
Initially run over a course of 67 miles (starting from Kenton Bank Foot), the Mountain Time Trial was a ground-breaking event for the North East. It took place in a different era when racing was in much more secretive conditions than today: “Naturally you will want to know the route for the race. I cannot tell you. These races on public roads are only permitted on the condition there is no advance publicity.“
In fact, the route was similar to the course currently used, taking in the climbs of Coldrife and Bilsmoor, but returning over the Ottercops on the A696 rather than over Winter’s Gibbet.
Today the course is 47 miles, starting and finishing near Belsay. It is held in May each year and entry is via the Cycling Time Trials website filtering for Course ‘M47’
Previous Winners
| Year | Name | Club/Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lewis Wake | Team Kirkley Cycles |
| 2022 | Andrew Duggan | Muckle Cycle Club |
| 2021 | Lewis Wake | Team Kirkley Cycles |
| 2019 | Adam Wild | G.S. Metro |
| 2018 | Adam Wild | G.S. Metro |
| 2017 | Carl Donaldson | G.S. Metro |
| 2016 | Richard Handley | One Pro Cycling |
| 2015 | Danny Grieves | G.S. Metro |
| 2014 | Rob Carter | TS Racing – Vankru |
| 2013 | Jon Sturman | Activ Cycles |
| 2012 | Richard Handley | Rapha Condor Sharp |
| 2011 | Andrew Wilkinson | Port Sunlight Wheelers |
| 2010 | Chris Newton | Rapha Condor Sharp |
| 2009 | John Tuckett | A W Cycles |
| 2008 | Dominic Munnelly | KB Cycles |
| 2007 | Julian Ramsbottom | Scunthorpe Poly C.C. |
| 2006 | Wayne Randle | Planet X |
| 2005 | Keith Murray | Team Scott UK |
| 2004 | Martin Gibson | Houghton C.C. |
| 2003 | Paul Dotchin | Science in Sport.com |
| 2002 | Dave Cook | Middridge C.R.T. |
| 2001 | Dave Cook | Middridge C.R.T. |
| 2000 | Dave Cook | Middridge C.R.T. |
| 1999 | Graeme Stirzaker | Angliasport |
| 1998 | Russell Thompson | G.S. Metro |
| 1997 | Russell Thompson | G.S. Metro |
| 1996 | Russell Thompson | G.S. Metro |
| 1995 | Russell Thompson | G.S. Metro |
| 1994 | Russell Thompson | G.S. Metro |
| 1993 | Jeff Wright | North East R.T. |
| 1992 | Ian Norris | Ridley C.C. |
| 1991 | Russell Thompson | G.S. Metro |
| 1990 | Russell Thompson | G.S. Metro |
| 1989 | Ian Norris | Barnesbury C.C. |
| 1988 | J Sinclair | Tyne Electric |
| 1986 | Ian Norris | Barnesbury C.C. |
| 1985 | D Pike | Middridge C.R.T. |
| 1984 | Billy Mitchinson | Ashington R.C. |
| 1983 | Arthur Caygill | Richmond and Darlington C.C. |
| 1982 | D Horton | Halifax R.C. |
| 1981 | Arthur Caygill | Richmond and Darlington C.C. |
| 1980 | Arthur Caygill | Richmond and Darlington C.C. |
| 1979 | Joe Waugh | G.S. Strada |
| 1978 | Mick Bradshaw | Thornaby C.R.T. |
| 1977 | Mick Bradshaw | Whitley Bay |
| 1976 | Arthur Caygill | Richmond and Darlington C.C. |
| 1975 | Arthur Caygill | Richmond and Darlington C.C. |
| 1974 | R Taylor | Cleveland Coureurs |
| 1973 | K Sinclair | V.C. Electric |
| 1972 | D Reay | Houghton C.C. |
| 1971 | D Reay | Houghton C.C. |
| 1963 | Wes Clayton | Tyne R.C. |
| 1962 | N Taylor | Cheviot R.C. |
| 1961 | N Taylor | Cheviot R.C. |
| 1960 | N Taylor | Cheviot R.C. |
| 1959 | N Taylor | Cheviot R.C. |
| 1958 | Joe Lee | Tyneside Vagabonds C.C. |
| 1957 | Hugh Harrison | Tyneside Vagabonds C.C. |
| 1956 | J Nicholson | Durham City Rovers |
| 1955 | L Shields | Barnesbury C.C. |
| 1954 | Ron Longstaff | Tyneside Vagabonds C.C. |
| 1952 | N Moore | Weardale R.C. |
| 1951 | N Moore | Weardale R.C. |
| 1950 | N Moore | Weardale R.C. |
| 1949 | J Connoly | Dunston Coureurs |
| 1948 | Ron Longstaff | Tyneside Vagabonds C.C. |
| 1947 | Stan Bain | Barnesbury C.C. |