CALNE Running Club coach Denise Nott is celebrating a double victory at the Bowood Duathlon, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Firstly Helen Gibbs, who recently switched to the club from Chippenham Harriers after moving to Calne, won the super sprint event comprising a 2.5k run followed by a 12k bike ride before another 2.5k run.

Then a cause for real real family celebration for Denise as husband Simon, who the previous weekend added the Wiltshire Half Marathon title to his growing CV, won the sprint duathlon title with two 5k runs book-ending a 21k bike test.

“We have been working hard on getting Helen faster and bringing her times down and it was good that the previous week she ran her fastest half marathon this year at Salisbury,” said Denise.

“She has done the Bowood duathlon a few times before and had never won it until now but she coped with the conditions really well as it was wet and windy while the off-road run was very muddy.

“Winning will give Helen a real boost.”

Simon’s running ability put him in a different class from his rivals so it was a question of how he would cope on the bike section which was going to determine where he finished on the podium.

“Simon likes to enter the event for a bit of fun and has finished second and third in the past so he was really fired up this year to try and win it,” explained Denise.

“He has also got stronger on the bike as we include that in his cross-training schedule now with bike sessions in the gym.”

Victory certainly completed a memorable week for Simon after his county title success in a personal best time in Salisbury seven days earlier and Denise admitted he may try the duathlon more often in the future.

But for now running remains his top priority and he will be working hard in the build-up to the Wiltshire Cross Country Championships, when he will be aiming to retain his senior men’s title.