Shropshire Star

Golden glory for Nova ace Matt Gibbons

Matt Gibbons continued his winning streak by claiming gold and the Gordon Davies Trophy in the Coaching Revolutions Shropshire Championship 10, writes Dave Fletcher.

Published

The Nova Raider made the most of the super-smooth surface on the Nesscliffe bypass in the first solo event held on this course in eight years, to post his second win on the trot in the Friction Hydraulics Series.

A strong effort of 21 minutes eight seconds saw Gibbons take a clear win of 18 seconds, leading his club to team gold in the process.

An ecstatic Gibbons said: “I thought it would be a fast course and went for it from the off. I’m delighted to have won a trophy and medal in my first season of racing.”

Gibbons received strong back-up from Scott Harris and Tim Beardmore to win the team event – based on a club’s fastest three riders – in a combined 1:05:43.

Harris, Gibbons’ 2-Up partner, finished fourth overall in 21:57 while Beardmore (22:29) was sixth.

Gibbons’ nearest challenger was long-distance specialist Victor Chetta, who took overall silver with a fine effort of 21:26, just outpacing Hafren CC’s Bryn Davies by a single second.

Davies made it a brace of bronzes with his 21:27 converting to a +4:46 in the Veterans’ championship.

Davies wasn’t the only rider picking up two championship medals, with Pauline Hughes winning both the Ladies 10 Championship and The Gordon Davies Ladies Trophy as well as the Veterans’ in +5:03.

Hughes dug deep to set a new personal best 24:11, pushing out Charlotte Chapman by just two seconds to take the Ladies’ spoils.

A thrilled Hughes said: “It was my first time on the course and I really liked it. I did not expect the win, but I am absolutely delighted with winning the trophy, and a personal best.”

Challenging Hughes for the respective championships were a pair of Paramount riders, with 2016 champion Ceris Eslava taking bronze this time with a fine effort of 25:12.

Meanwhile, going one better in the Veterans’ Championship Gary Duncan posted an excellent +4:51. Unexpectedly Hughes and Davies weren’t the only riders making it a double with Sam Morris not only taking the Junior 10 Championship with a great ride of 22:54, but also sealing the Friction Hydraulics Junior Series.

Morris’ effort was good enough for ninth spot overall, and despite lamenting a lack of youngsters willing to take him on Morris was not for easing up.

“It was a shame there was no more junior competition, but I was happy with my overall place too. I felt like I’d had a bit of a shocker out on course so it was a pleasant surprise to break 23.”