Mud only added to the fun and excitement

THERE was a thrilling finish to the experts race in the penultimate round of the 2005 MTB series at Fauxquets Valley. Rob Smart was among a few celebrated non-starters, but their absence did not detract from a good contest between James Mapley and Jack Sunderland from start to finish.

Mapley was in the lead at the end of the first lap and although he was not to relinquish the position, Sunderland ensured that he could not rest, with only a second separating them at the finish. Although sections of the course were a little muddy, it only added to the fun and excitement.

Velo Club organiser Brian Stanford said it was still too early to tell whether the decision to run with one long series, from March to November, instead of separate summer and winter programmes has been successful.

'We'll find that out when they come back in March,' said Stanford, keeping his fingers crossed that the rest period would not lead to riders losing interest and the number dropping off.

He said that in an Island Games year, most were looking forward to a break and the increasing number of juniors was an encouragement.

'We had 15 this time including some new ones from our Go-Ride series at Delancey.'

On this occasion, the sports category saw the biggest turn out of the day and as usual there was close racing throughout the field.

Leon Ogier started at a fast pace, being pushed by Ben Burtenshaw and Dan Owen as well as Darren Goupillot and Chris Carter, who continue to improve.

By the end of the first lap Ogier held a slight lead over Burtenshaw but as the two leaders finished the second lap the places had been reversed.

Paying for his fast start, Ogier struggled on the third lap and as he crossed the bridge over the stream leaving the wooded section, he could hardly push the pedals and was being passed by the rest of the field.

In the same category, the veterans were having their own contest and by mid- race Paul Setters had pulled out a slight lead over Dave Pinchemain with Keith Brown further back still.

Although Setters was able to extend his lead over Pinchemain, Brown was riding a good race and moving up through the field.

On the final lap, Brown pushed hard to catch and pass Pinchemain and eat into Setters' lead dramatically.

The advanced category had a fast and close race.

Josh Owen set the initial pace and was up with the experts at the end of the first lap.

Drew Blatchford and Matt Osborne were close behind but by mid-race Owen was paying for his fast start and was passed by both his main rivals.

Owen was eventually forced to retire with severe cramp at two-thirds distance while Osborne rode consistently to pass Blatchford for the lead by mid race and hold on to win.

Third place went to Dan Thwaite, who, along with having to compete with the rest of the field, was struggling with mechanical problems that forced him to change bikes part-way through the race.

Nathan Baudains continues to go from strength to strength in the under-16s and finished ahead of Peter Lee and Ryan Langlois.

In the under-14 category, Adam Sunderland led from start to finish, followed by James Cameron and James Mapley in second and third.

The under-10s and under-12s competed over two laps of a shortened course, while the under-8s completed one lap.

In the under 12s, Alex Falla stretched his lead in the series by winning. However. he did not have it all is own way nor was he able to slow the pace, with Stuart Sunderland and Craig Robert, who finished second and third respectively, pushing him all the way.

In the under-10s, Michael Mann claimed another win.

The final race of the series will be held on 6 November in Herm.