Maiden win for talented Mapley

JOHN MAPLEY highlighted just why he has won a place in the national Talent Team squad with a fine win in the sixth round of the Southern Cross-Country MTB series at Surrey Hill. On an energy-sapping course and in scorching temperatures, Mapley overcame the championship leader, David Sinclair.

Several short steep climbs on a loose surface tested the riders' ability to ascend, while one rocky, rooty descent also required good technical skills to stay on two wheels.

Mapley and Guernsey team-mate Michael Serafin tackled two laps of the course and after the first, the former looked comfortable and led the field by 35 seconds.

The Guernsey youngster still had work to do, though, as Sinclair was chasing hard in second place.

But Mapley was never to be caught as he came flying out of the woods into the finish arena with a clear margin to take his first victory of the series.

Sinclair lost further time on the second lap to finish over a minute down, while Serafin maintained his position on the final lap to place sixth.

David Harry, president of the Velo Club, was not surprised by the 16-year-old's maiden victory.

'He is progressing well as they do in the Talent Team.

'Hopefully, he will follow in the footsteps of Jimmy Carling. He has very good potential,' added Harry.

Nick Mann competed in the masters' race over four laps and a steady first lap saw him in 12th place, still in contention for a top 10 placing.

But Mann's luck ran out on lap two as a puncture and a crash caused him delay.

Starting his third lap he was in 14th spot, but a second puncture lost him more valuable time.

He eventually finished in 17th spot in a time of 1-55.39, a respectable result considering his problems.

The temperature was still rising to 30 degrees as Rob Smart and Tobyn Horton lined up for the elite race over five laps.

The pair gained a good start and crested the first hill in the top 10.

After the initial lap, Smart was in 10th position and Horton 16th.

The pair held similar positions after the second and on the third Smart started to suffer and lose contact with his group, while Horton was still working well in 16th spot.

However, Horton retired from the race on lap four as the field rapidly reduced in size due to the increasing heat, but Smart continued over the latter stages to finish in 12th position in a time of 2-20.29.

The final round takes the riders to Wrinsted Court Farm on 26 September.