STUART Bowers (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott) secured two victories from two races over the holiday period.

Bowers, whose only other appearance in the local Wessex League was at Newbury last year when he took second place, started with a win at the Crabwood CC promotion which took place at the popular Southampton Sports Centre course.

Bowers went head-to-head with Jamie Newall (Evans Cycles RT) for the majority of the race. As well as being extremely fit, Bowers is also a good race tactician and used his knowledge to his benefit.

Charlton Marshall-based Bowers said: "We were at each other right from the start with plenty of attacking by me, but Newall always countered and closed gaps strongly. I could ride a steep, tricky bank in the trees, which he wasn't able to.

"I kept dismounting like him until the last few laps when he was tiring, then I used it to my advantage so I could get a good gap."

Bowers enjoyed further success at the Tatchbury course on New Year's Day where he won convincingly from Ian Legg (Red Kite Cycles/Torq Bar).

Both races were all part of Bowers' preparation for the up and coming Cyclo-Cross National Championships which return to the familiar surroundings of Sutton Park in Birmingham.

Bowers added: "Both races were part of a pretty hard few weeks that included a very hard interval session on Christmas Day.

"I have been putting training first, which has meant racing with less than fresh legs these past few weeks, but it's all about the bigger picture. In fact, I rode over two hours to the Tatchbury event as all part of that training."

Looking forward to the national championships, Bowers added: "I am really up for Sunday, and I am where I need to be in terms of form.

"A podium place is by no means unachievable if it all goes to plan, especially as there is a world championships place up for grabs"

Not to be outdone, Boweras' young team-mate Luke Gray (Hargroves) also did the double, winning both events in his build up for the Championships.

Gray's extra training included doing an extra lap at the end of each youth race to try and give him the extra edge going into his event tomorrow.