Sunderland's Games hopes improving with every race

YOUNG Jack Sunderland mastered the mud to boost his Island Games prospects with victory in the experts' section of the Velo Club's penultimate race of their MTB cross-country season. With riders competing for Island Games team selection, the 17-year-old used all his technical ability to take control and win from class newcomer Josh Gosselin, with Nick Mann finishing in third.

The ever popular course around the campsite and woods in Fauxquets Valley really comes into its own after heavy rain, making it a favourite of the more technically skilled riders.

This season saw an addition of another course around the Rocquettes Cider orchards, creating a 10min. lap, making it the longest used in the race calendar. However, after the sports race, a slight course change was made as parts just became impossible to ride.

Dan Thwaite took top honours in the advanced category.

Proving that one gear is all you need, he beat Josh Owen by a good half a lap.

Steve James, also riding singlespeed, took third place.

With the absence of Peter Miller, Thwaite and Miller go into the last race of the season in Herm level on points and everything to ride for.

There was quite a battle throughout the veterans' race, with Mick Owen managing to take the win ahead of Andy Wilson.

Despite the rain, the sport class saw one of the best turnouts all season and Craig Addlesee took the top spot with Ryan Langlois in second.

Within the same race, Nathan Baudains won the under-16s' category.

With many categories going right down to the wire, the last race in Herm Island on Friday should be very exciting.