Tour shows the sport has plenty of promise

IF THE results of the mountain bike tour of Guernsey are anything to go by, the future of the sport looks good. The form and enthusiasm of the youngsters competing in the de Beauvoir (CI) Financial Consultants and White Rock Bicycle Shop-sponsored event were great to watch.

Jimmy Carling and Tobyn Horton took first and third spots in the expert class, while Andrew Colver and Michael Serafin led home the sports riders.

In addition, there was a strong ride from James Roe and Chris Norman in the under-16 and under-14 classes.

Carling won four of the seven events in the expert class, losing to Nick Mann on the prologue, downhill/uphill and short cross-country, where he had a mechanical problem.

Horton consolidated his third-position finish by gaining four second places.

Special mention should go to Dan Thwaite and Steve James who completed the whole tour on single-speed bikes.

In the sports class, Colver gained three wins, with Serafin, Jason Le Page, Lars Persson and Jon Osborn taking one apiece.

Bob Duquemin had to settle for fourth spot on the downhill but won every other race in the veterans' class while, regrettably, Amanda Briggs had no competition in the women's event.

Roe gained the most wins by coming in first in all the under-16 events, while Norman won five of the under-14 events, with the other two being taken by Ryan Langlois and Gary Robert.

The tour culminated with a fun event and presentation on the Idlerocks fields at Jerbourg.

The younger members of the club had their opportunity for glory and the winners were Adam Sunderland (U12), Alex Wilson (U10) and Michael Mann (under eight).

Tone Persson won the race for mothers, girlfriends and partners, while Andy Wilson won the fathers' race.

There was a grand parade and race for those in fancy dress or on highly modified bikes and while the race was declared null and void, Craig Massey and Serafin gained the awards for best outfits.

Gary Wallbridge and Neil Stanford, of de Beauvoir (CI), together with Richard Ogier, of the White Rock Bicycle Shop, presented the awards and the MTB Committee agreed that Colver gained the trophy for most improved rider.