Claire Hann and Chris Gibbard were crowned winners of the 2021 Welsh 50-Mile Championship after the title race was held near Abergavenny on Sunday morning.

Gibbard, the 39-year-old from Swansea who rides for Bynea CC, clocked 1-40-09 to add the 50-mile WCA title to his 2021 Welsh 10-Mile and 100-Mile Championship crown, and improves on the second spot he secured the last time the WCA 50 Championships were run in 2019.

And 38-year-old Claire Hann (Bristol and District Triathletes) covered the course in 1-55-50 to win the women’s title by 7-48 from Swansea Wheelers’ Louise Burnie, while third was Laura Paine (Socks4Watts RT) who was just 21 seconds slower than Burnie.

“It has been a tough year as I've been rehabbing a running injury, so it's been really great to see my progression on the bike,” said Hann. “I’ve had three goes at that 50 this year and this was the fastest, but there's definitely loads of room for improvement still.”

Gibbard, who was second in this season’s Welsh 25, 30 and 12-hour title races, clocked 1-40-09 to take the win by just 33 seconds from Jake Sargent (FTP Fulfil the Potential Racing), with third male going to Conrad Moss (Primera TeamJobs), another 35 seconds off the pace.

Around a minute further back was Jonathan Shubert (FTP Fulfil the Potential Racing), with Anthony Jones (VMCC powered by Y Beic) fifth.

Gibbard’s time was a new personal best performance over 50 miles, and is the latest in a string of results for the prolific time trial rider.

He was victorious in the Port Talbot Wheelers 25 and second in the Welsh 12-Hour Championship earlier this month, while recent victories going back through the season have included the Welsh 10-Mile Championships, the Ogmore Valley Wheelers 10, the Ross and Wye 10 and the realteam.co.uk 15.

Claire Hann has only ridden two time trials so far this season, finishing as fastest female at the Bike Pace 50 in May on the same course as this title race.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.

Results:

Men:

1. Chris Gibbard (Bynea CC)         1-40-09

2. Jake Sargent (FTP Fulfil the Potential Racing)         1-40-42

3. Conrad Moss (Primera TeamJobs)      1-41-17

Women:

1. Claire Hann (Bristol & Dist Tri)  1-55-50

2. Louise Burnie (Swansea Wheelers) 2-03-38

3. Laura Paine (Socks4Watts RT) 2-03-59

Veterans: Conrad Moss +35.38