WATCH - Speyside cyclist wins Strathpuffer 24-hour challenge at Contin
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GEMMA Baird powered her way to victory to win the women's solo title at Strathpuffer at Contin on Sunday morning.
The Knockando athlete was too good for the chasing pack as she claimed victory by completing 16 laps of the 12.5km course in the 24 hour cycling challenge.
Baird (40) recorded a time of 24 hours 33 minutes and 47 seconds to win the title for the first time in her career.
The mountain bike coach won the race by six laps with Catherine O'Brien and Catriona Wheeler finishing in joint second place with a time of 23 hours and 21 seconds in 10 laps.
Clare Taylor was in outright third place with a time 24 hours, 17 minutes and five seconds in 10 laps.
Baird says she was pleased with her performance to win the women's title in such convincing fashion in difficult conditions.
She said: "It was tough conditions, it was very muddy and the laps went slower as it went along.
"With every lap, the mud changed consistency so it was varied.
"But the thing I really enjoyed was the exciting music, lights and people cheering me on.
"I didn't feel that sleepy, I just kept going and there was enough people cheering me on.
"It was such a buzz, it kept me going the whole way."
Five years ago, Baird previously competed in the Strathpuffer as part of a team of four and made the change to compete solo in 2023.
She says it was a different experience in a number of ways.
"Five years ago it was frosty and there was hardly any mud, it was more a case of trying to avoid the black ice," she said.
"This year, there was nothing quite as dangerous as black ice and I was thankful for that."
Baird says she usually cycles for fun rather that competitively, but when she does take part in competition, she does well in endurance events.
"I have done a bit of competitive cycling, but more for fun or a bit of a challenge.
"More recently I have done endurance challenges and I seem to better at going slowly for a long time rather than going fast for a shorter time.
"I enjoy just getting in the rhythm."
Baird does not know if she will come back to defend her title in 2024, but she is not ruling it out completely.
"At the moment I am saying that is it," she said.
"I kind of feel that I have done it, but we will see.
"I would like to come back to the event."
WATCH - Durness athlete wins men's title
