AN Appleton motorcyclist has achieved his goal to be among the best civilian motorcycle riders in the country.

Gordon Blackshaw, of Hatfield Gardens, passed the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) prestigious masters riding test.

And he even gained a distinction making him one of only 19 out of the IAM’s 15,000 riders to hold the top score.

Speaking about his qualification Gordon said: “This has been a magic year for me, having personally won the IAM’s very high profile Lord Strathcarron Award last year and being congratulated by the Duke of Kent, getting married earlier this year, and now to achieve this is just the best, the icing on the top of the cake. How can I better this?”