Brutally long climbs, technical descents and strong gusting winds did little to deter the islands mountain bike racers at Fort Scaur yesterday

The Male A race, the seventh of the nine-race Flying Colours Mountain Bike Series, got off to a predictably fast start with Matthew Oliveira, Robin Horsefield and Dylan Hill setting the pace, shadowed by Kaden Hopkins, Gary Raynor and Chequan Richardson.

It was not long before Oliveira and Horsefield opened up a gap over the rest, with Oliveira looking confident in the 50-minute event. With leg-draining climbs, which would later see many riders having to dismount and run with their bikes, the 16-year-old looked like he would ride away with another victory until disaster struck on the fifth lap.

Negotiating a tight turn he lost control and crashed heavily and was forced to retire.

Never too far behind, Horsefield suddenly found himself in the lead and quickly took control extending the gap over the chasers with each lap. However, it was what was going on behind that got everyone’s attention.

Having dropped off the lead group, Hill was battling it out with Hopkins for second place with Raynor unchallenged behind them. Side by side the two fought, lap after lap, for the advantage and it was Hill who finally got the upper hand late in the race, taking second with Hopkins rounding out the top three.

In the veterans race, Hans Hirschi continued his dominance of the category, but not before Dexter Smith had made a bid for his second win of the season. Smith challenged early, but was hauled in by Hirschi, who eventually won by more than a minute. Peter Dunne finished third.

In the men’s B category all eyes were on Arthur Pitcher. However, it was Adam Kirk and Andrew Hern, both winners this season, who set a blistering pace at the start, recording the two fastest lap times of the day in any category.

Pitcher was not far behind, and after the second lap the three were close enough to have each other in sight.

Unable to maintain the intense pace Hern slipped back, while Pitcher and Kirk pressed ahead. Ultimately, Kirk’s speed on the fast downhill section made the difference with his closest rival unable to keep up.

In the male novice category, Ziani Burgesson finally met his match after a series of wins this season.

However, Burgesson should not be too disappointed as it was Ricky Sousa Jnr, a former Sinclair Packwood Memorial Road Race winner and National Team rider, who took the win on his return to cycling.

Burgesson rode strongly for second and Larenzo Ratteray came in third. Elizabeth Stewart found herself in the winner’s circle again in the women’s novice category ahead of Andrea Proctor.

Alex Miller won the boys 13-15 race, with Tommy Webb winning the under-12 race