Fresh Smart hits the winning trail

ROB SMART returned to racing in style when he took the elite category honours at the final event of the Ian Brown's/Arrowsmith Marlowe Winter Series. The Island Games gold- medallist has been concentrating on a winter base-fitness programme and it has obviously paid dividends as he finished almost one minute ahead of the field at Le Guet.

'Paul Brehaut has been helping me out with my training and we basically decided to give my body a rest after a long, hard season and come back fresh,' said Smart, whose main aims this year are the Shetland Games and the Southern Area Mountain Bike Series.

In perfect racing conditions over a new course layout that missed out the big drop-off in favour of a more smoothly-flowing route, he put the hammer down from the start and led after the first lap, closely followed by Chris Le Page and James Roe.

Le Page retired after four laps leaving only Jack Sunderland to try and reel in Smart.

They succeeded in pulling away from the rest of the bunch, but the winner finished 58sec. clear of second-placed Sunderland.

'Obviously it was a good sign to come back and win the race. Jack has been going really well lately, so to come first gave me a confidence boost and it shows the training is paying off,' Smart said.

'It is always very hard up at Le Guet.

'The course was quite tricky and I made a few stupid mistakes early on and came off a couple of times but that is what comes from not racing for a while.'

With only five of the seven races counting towards overall standings in the series, most of the categories had already been decided, but with an Island Games team place unexpectedly becoming available there was plenty which to ride for.

Roe, Andy Colver and John Mapley contested the next three places. All three showed some exceptionally skilful and determined riding to stay in touch.

The sprint for the line was won by Roe by a length from Colver with Mapley crossing 2sec. later.

In the advanced category, Josh Owen led from the start and managed to pull out a good lead over the chasing bunch, who at times made hard work for themselves due to handling mistakes.

Eventually, Byron McClean got away from the bunch and with a clear line to reel in Owen.

However, the latter did not fade and won by 31sec. while Steve James claimed third with veteran rider Pierre Paul fourth.

Robert Teed, Nathan Baudains and James Cameron took the respective honours in the sports race, which includes riders in the under-16 and under-14 categories. Helena Robinson was the only woman rider to complete the course.

The juniors enjoyed a slightly shorter course through the woods with Stuart Sunderland first in the under-12s, Marco Petralia winning the under-10s and Josh Hunter victorious in the under-8s.

At the completion of the series, Mike Serafin came out on top of the expert category ahead of Jack Sunderland and John Mapley.

Dan Thwaite took the advanced class honours while Jonny Dorey was winner of the sports category.

Ryan Langlois, James Mapley, Alex Falla, Michael Mann and George Payne won their respective age categories.

The next race is the first of the summer series and it takes place in Herm on Sunday 6 March.