LUKE Gray (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Specialized) maintained his impressive start to his National Trophy campaign by finishing in the runner-up spot in the second round.

Gray was pleased that he was able to use his new Zipp 404CX machine in competition for the first time. With little experience of riding on tubs', Gray enlisted the help of team-mate Stuart Bowers to fix the tyres which involves glueing them to the rims.

The course at Chantry Park, Ipswich, suited Gray with hills, slippery turns and a technical section through woods. A slip on the pedals at the start failed to halt Gray's progress and he was soon in second place.

Gray, who lives in Broadstone, struggled through much of the race but sensibly paced himself well to keep the distance from race leader Thomas Moses (SSC Cyclesport) to less than 30 seconds.

The series leader, Daniel McLay (Leicestershire RC), finished third and in doing so maintained his series lead ahead of Gray by two points.

Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Specialized) continued his successful start to his season with an excellent sixth place in the Elite event. Bowers was unlucky to suffer a crash on the first lap, but soon got back in the race with some aggressive riding to give himself a fifth place position overall.

RELIABILITY DATE

THE first of Bournemouth Jubilee's series of reliability trials get underway on November 11 with the 50-mile event.

The start and finish is at the Merley Community Centre with the route taking a clockwise direction on mostly undulating small country roads. The trials are open to everyone with three groups setting off at 9am, 9.15am and 9.30am.

The first rider is expected to finish at noon.

Series organiser Mike Walsh is encouraging club members to wear their club kit. Anyone wearing club kit will be offered a lucky dip to a free entry to another round in the series.

Further information is available at www.bjw.org.uk.