Carling sixth in Sherwood Forest race

JIMMY CARLING put behind him the problems of the two previous rounds to finish a fine sixth in round three of the National Points Series in the picturesque Sherwood Pines near Mansfield. The race saw the riders competing over three laps of a 6.8-mile loop through Sherwood Forest, along fast fire roads and through technical single track.

The threat of rain just about held off which meant that the course was extremely dusty, but nonetheless incredibly fast, allowing the riders never to have to change out of their biggest chain ring.

Defending national youth champion Carling soon passed GVC team-mate Tobyn Horton, who had gained a fantastic start and propelled himself into the top eight.

Carling continued to work his way through the field until he became part of a five-strong group, consisting of 2003 national junior champion Richard Firth, current series leader Ian Bibby, 2003 National Points Series champion Ian Legg and another English representative, Sam Thomson.

These five continued to maintain terrific speeds in hot pursuit of Irish rider Andy McCullough and English rider Ian Field, who had broken away right from the start of the race.

By the second lap Carling had settled into his rhythm and was sitting comfortably within the group, who were still trying to catch the leaders.

Come the final lap, it looked set to be a close finish between Carling and his fellow chasers.

Halfway around it the Grammar student hit the front of his group and began to put the power down on the technical sections, opening a very small gap, which he soon allowed to close.

But coming into the final single-track sections Carling eased off the pace slightly and was held off by the ever-strong Bibby, Legg and Firth.

Meanwhile, Horton was giving it everything he had and came home in 25th place.

The next major event is the national championships on 17-18 July at the World Cup course at Fort William.