Clinton makes it a perfect ten - The Leamington Observer

Clinton makes it a perfect ten

Leamington Editorial 9th Jul, 2014 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

KENILWORTH’S Matt Clinton grabbed his tenth win of the season at the Coventry CC 25-mile time trial at the weekend as he set a new course record with two laps of the Princethorpe circuit.

As winner of the event for the previous four years, the Mike Vaughan Cycles ace was last seeding, with his target being to break the course record he had set in 2012 of 50:45.

With the rain holding off and the afternoon warming up, he set a blistering first lap – clocking the first ten miles in 19:14 (31.2mph) – almost 2mph faster than the course record.

Perhaps setting out a little too fast, Clinton faded into his second of two laps, but was still averaging well over 30mph.




Into the final few miles, the course record was firmly in sight, but just how fast could he go? Hitting the line just outside of Princethorpe, he smashed the course record by 1:39, finishing in a time of 49:06 (30.54mph).

This was enough for Clinton to win the event for the fifth consecutive year, with second placed James Ratcliffe (Fred Williams Cycles) exactly two minutes down in 51:06 and third placed Jon Simpkins (Drag2Zero) another 1:17 in arrears.


This time gave Clinton the 16th fastest 25-mile time completed in an Open event so far this season – a fine achievement for such a demanding course as Princethorpe.

There is now less than a month to go until his first attempt at the National 25-mile TT Championships in Cumbria and his form is building nicely as Clinton aims for an outside chance at a medal.

Advertising

Advertise with the Leamington Observer to reach your audience

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Leamington Observer newspaper.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.