Bryn Davies and Dan Watts share spoils

The second Nova Raiders Sporting 10 saw Bryn Davies and Dan Watts vying for the course record set a week earlier by Luke Pollard, with both agonisingly missing out by four seconds after hurling themselves across the finish line in 22 minutes 26 seconds.

Davies was kicking himself due to a traffic hold-up that cost him both overall victory and that record, although familiarity with the course helped where to lay down the power.

He said: “It can’t get any closer at the top, it’s turning out to be a great battle. I rode the course a bit better this time and was quicker than last week despite being held up behind a stock trailer. I’m pleased with the result and with knowing I could have gone faster without being held up.”

Watts, meanwhile, was frustrated after failing to snatch his team-mate’s record with a friendly rivalry in play between the two RAF CA riders.

He added: “I was really pleased with the result after a hard training block, though I was gutted not to take Luke’s record. He will have bragging rights for a little longer!”

While Davies and Watts both had the advantage of trying out the course a week earlier it was a first sight for the rider who ended up in third place, Stuart Proctor.

Last year’s bronze medallist in the Coaching Revolutions Hill Climb Series wasn’t far off the pace, just 19 seconds back on 22:44.

Revolutions Racing’s Proctor wasn’t finished there either, taking the maximum 20 points on offer in the Veterans’ Series with a fine +4:01, 13 seconds ahead of Davies on the age-adjusted standard, though Davies stretched his overall lead to 20 points over Nova Raiders Scott Harris, who was third on the night in +2:44.

It was another Revolutions Racing rider who took the honours in the Ladies’ Series too, with Pauline Hughes posting a 50-second win ahead of Jenny Newton with a fine time of 26:44.

Round nine of the Series takes place on June 23 when Oswestry Paragon CC promote their 19 mile hilly on the Queen’s Head-Gobowen-Ellesmere course (7pm).