Stratford CC success shows Clinton on the road to recovery

Riding his Trek Speed Concept, Clinton was last man off, battling crosswinds for much of the course to stop the clock in 20min 6sec (29.85mph).

His time was some way outside his course record of 19:27 but was was still enough to give him a 27-second advantage over Jon Simpkins (Drag2Zero.com).

Clinton’s Mike Vaughan Cycles team-mate Liz Powell clocked 23:34 (33rd overall) to win the women’s event by 35 seconds.

Fellow Mike Vaughan rider Fiona Nesfield was fifth woman in 25:39.

Warwick’s Jon Stephenson dominated the final stage of the Tour of the Abberleys Stage Race, held on the Worcester/Herefordshire borders.

The Team Jewson-MI Racing rider broke clear with a small group on one of the many tough climbs and with 12 miles remaining attacked again, taking one rider with him.

Working well together, they rode away from the rest of the field, with Stevenson pulling clear of his companion in the closing stages.

Stevenson’s victory moved him up to second place overall in the final standings.

Jason Haynes resumed his Leamington C&AC time trial racing with an eight-second victory at the traditional Princethorpe circuit.

Haynes’ time of 22min 2sec for the ten miles gave him an eight-second winning margin over Mark Thomas.

Pierre Guern was third in 22:13, with Gavin Fowler (22:35) the only other rider to dip under 23 minutes.

Anouk Molliex (25:25) was again the fastest woman, beating Jennie Hawkins by more than two minutes.

The tandem battle resulted in a 20-second win for Tanis Hand and Roger Gardner over Chris and Steve Walker.

The previous week, Pierre Guern proved the strongest rider for the 25-mile time trial setting off from Offchurch.

Riders faced strong headwinds and two trips down the Fosse Way, with Guern finishing more then a minute clear of second-placed Gavin Fowler in 62:19.

Fowler clocked 63:24, with Lee Jackson (63:39) and John Pitman (63:55) filling the next two places.