RECORD 85 WOMEN TAKE TO THE START LINE FOR NEWCASTLE WOMEN’S AID

On Saturday 26 September 2026, Blaydon Cycling Club hosted a women-only cycling time trial to raise funds for Newcastle Women’s Aid, a local charity supporting the female victims of domestic abuse and their children.

The event was originally scheduled to take place on 26 June 2026 with a maximum field of 120 women having signed up. Unfortunately, despite it being one of the driest summers on record, that event had to be cancelled due to rainfall described by many as “biblical” or “torrential” just an hour before the first rider was due to set off.

Despite the date change, Saturday’s rearranged event had attracted 115 entries of whom 85 started and finished the 12.2 mile course out of Stamfordham, Northumberland. Many of them had never taken part in a time trial and there were some understandable nerves. However, the smiles and buzz back at HQ were testament to just how much everybody enjoyed the morning.

The previous record locally for female participation was just 27 so that record was absolutely obliterated. Representatives of Blaydon Cycling Club are pretty sure that the record for a club event nationally, was set by Kernow Racing with an astonishing 74 women having entered its event a few years ago.

However, 85 is now the new benchmark and the gauntlet has been thrown to the floor for other clubs to take on the challenge of encouraging more women into time trialling.

Most importantly, the event has, to date, raised well over £3,000 in support of Newcastle Women’s Aid.

Anybody wanting to support Newcastle Women’s Aid with donations can do so at: