National Championship 10-mile silver for Clinton

Following on from the disappointment of coming fifth in the National 25-mile Championships, the out-and-back course on Cloudsley Bush Lane was much more to Clinton’s liking.

With only four rides under 20 minutes recorded on the course in 20 years, two of which were set by Clinton, his own course record of 19:43 was the target when he was one of the last to go out.

In his fourth ride on the course inside a month, the 30-year-old hit the turn at 5.5-miles in fifth place and some 15 seconds down on record pace.

However, he pushed hard on the way back to Wolvey to set the fastest return leg of the day, crossing the line in 19:41 (30.5mph).

It was not enough to take the lead, though, as Richard Bussell (RST/Aerocoach) had already obliterated the course record by clocking 19:36.

With National 25 Champion Ryan Perry having a mechanical at the turn, there was only one man still capable of impacting the top three, with reigning champion Matthew Bottrill out on the course.

But it was not to be his day, with the Drag2Zero rider coming home in a time of 19:45 to take bronze.

Having taken silver medals at the 2015 championships at 50 miles and ten miles, Clinton is now targeting the National Circuit Championships on September 13 near Milton Keynes.

A non-standard distance race of around 20 miles, it is set on a rolling course.