To refer to yesterday’s race at the Arboretum as a battle royale would be an understatement, as the Island’s best off-road racers fought for the top spot in stiflingly humid conditions.

Joining Matthew Oliviera, the winner of the first race in the series, on the start line were fellow 15-year-olds, Dylan Hill, Robin Horsefield and Kaden Hopkins.

With the addition of Dominique Mayho, Bermuda’s top road racer, and Dan Hugo, the South African professional X-terra triathlete, into the mix it was clearly going to be an explosive race.

Mayho set an early blistering pace, but had a mechanical problem on the second lap, which was followed soon after by a puncture, and he was forced to retire.

Lap after lap, Oliviera, Hill, and Horsefield continued to drive an unrelenting pace. Hugo, who had been gapped for a few laps, remained calm and gradually pulled himself back into contention with the four riders leaving the rest of the field in their wake.

With just two laps remaining Horsefield and Oliviera managed to break away, with Hill, and then Hugo, both dropping off the lead.

With nothing separating the two leaders they fought tooth and nail to the finish, and with a sharp left turn immediately before the end, Oliviera took the inside line and won in 50min 47.546sec, with Horsefield a fraction of a second behind.

Flora Duffy, who was riding alone in the female A division, finished in 50:23.527.

In the next race, the Male veterans, Hans Hirschi continued his dominance of the category, securing his second win in succession, with Dexter Swan his closest rival.

Hirschi took an early lead in typically clinical fashion, winning in 40:09.404, with Swan 52 seconds behind. Chris Roque had a strong ride to finish in third, more than two minutes behind the winner.

The men’s B race was a repeat of the first stage at Southlands, with the top three riders, Andrew Hern, Jenai Robinson and Adam Kirk all in contention.

Hern took charge on the third lap, opening up a lead that he worked tirelessly to maintain, with Robinson and Kirk desperately trying to close the gap.

With only seconds between them on each lap time Kirk picked up the pace, but it was a little too late as Hern held on for the win in 41:53.272.

Robinson came in second in 42:31.490, with Kirk a further five seconds back and Tim Fox in fourth.

Alyssa Rowse again impressed everyone with her ride in the women’s B race, as her lap times were comparable with most of her male counterparts.

Clearly not content to just contend for women’s honours, Rouse completed eight laps, with second place finisher Ashley Robinson also riding well. Cassy McPhee rounded out the top three.

Chase Toogood battled torrential rain in the two novice categories, and his name pretty much summed up his performance, as he won the male race some three minutes ahead of Zianni Burgesson and Knut Heinz third.

Belinda Castree was a clear winner in the women’s event, ahead of Elizabeth Stewart and Andrea Proctor.

Nick Pilgrim set a blistering pace in the male 13 to 15 category, and led from start to finish in impressive fashion, ahead of Manning Smith and Alex Miller.