TOM Gibbs capped a dominant Lakeland Lanequest Series with victory in the final event in Staveley to take the title.

The Backbarrow rider claimed his fifth win from six contested events to ensure the overall title headed back home with him.

Ulverston’s David Heffernan – who won the only contest Gibbs did not take part in, at Sizergh – finished as runner-up, ahead of consistently fast duo David Sproston and Dave Hollingham.

Road racer Helen Jackson took the title in the women’s solo class after a ding-dong battle with orienteer Jo Cleary. Both riders won three stages apiece – with Cleary triumphing at Staveley – but their points tallies – gained from visiting checkpoints within the two-hour time limit – diverged by 17, in favour of Jackson.

Former champion Anne Plant finished in fourth, behind Cleary’s daughter, Hannah Cleary-Hughes.

Competitors were left with much head scratching when it came to planning a route for the final ride of the summer.

Devised by series organisers Rachel and Mike Toyn, it was a route of cunning, with many steep climbs to trick the unwary into being stranded out on the course with no time left.

Against such a backdrop, the two most hotly contested classes were settled after flat-out efforts from the top three in each.

In the generation pairs, it was all to play for between Michael and Matthew Fell, and Sharron and Briege Hutchinson, the former duo holding a slim advantage going into the last event. But it was not to be for them, as a mechanical malfunction saw the Fells slip down the leaderboard, losing points heavily.

Unaware of their rivals’ misfortune, Sharron and daughter Briege went for the win, and with it the 2017 title.

In the adult pairs/threes class, it was a similar story. Robin Everingham and Tim Seddon went into the final event leading the class, only to end as runners-up for the title to the Procter brothers, Barrow teacher Ben and elder statesman Lee.

In the end, a mere 38 points separated first and third places, the latter occupied by the Toyns themselves.

Money raised from the event went to the North West Air Ambulance.