Matthew Oliveira was clearly on a mission in the fifth face of the Flying Colours Mountain Bike Series at Ferry Reach at the weekend.

The top A category race started in a frantic fashion as the competitors jostled for a good position before they reached a narrow single-track section on the technical course, which proved to be even more difficult after the previous day’s heavy rainfall.

All the top contenders remained close in the early stages, but it was Oliveira and Dylan Hill, both winners this season, who were driving the pace.

On the first steep downhill section, Hill, in second spot, struck a rock and was thrown over his handlebars.

Uninjured he quickly remounted and having lost a few places set to the task of chasing down Oliveira, who was in full flight in his usual head-down aggressive style.

Hill, Gary Raynor and Mark Hatherely were left trying to pull back Oliveira, but despite their efforts it was clear by the halfway stage that, barring a crash or mechanical problem, none of the riders were going to reel him in.

Hill eventually separated himself from the other chasers but by the finish of the 50-minute race, Oliviera, who was consistently completing each of the laps more than 30 seconds faster, took the honours uncontested.

Raynor and Hatherely pushed each other to the end with Raynor taking third by a fraction of a second over his team-mate.

In the veteran’s category there was a continuation of the season-long battle between Hans Hirschi and Dexter Swan.

The two riders quickly pulled away from the rest of the field and lap after lap fought each other for the top spot which Hirschi to date has made his own.

Usually able to pull away from Swan in the later stages in previous races, Hirschi was unable to take control and it was Swan who looked the fresher and more determined as the race progressed.

Chris Roque was having an inspired ride in third but was never a threat to the two leaders who were still neck and neck in the final stages when Swan surged ahead and took the victory some seven seconds ahead of Hirschi.

In the biggest category of the day, 27 riders lined up to compete in the men’s B category, and with Andrew Hern back on the Island after a break, up against Adam Kirk and Jenai Robinson, it looked to be another intriguing race.

Clearly having gained confidence from his win in the previous race, Kirk was in no mood to keep things close between the three as he made a fast start, already opening up a gap by the end of the first lap with Hern working hard to minimise the deficit.

Edging further ahead after each lap Kirk worked tirelessly to maintain his lead and despite all of Hern’s efforts the gap gradually grew to almost a minute and proved to be enough as Kirk recorded a well-earned second win of the season.

Clearly not at his best, Robinson found himself falling further back as Arthur Pitcher, known more for his road racing got quicker and quicker and it was Pitcher who placed third.

In the women’s B race, Alyssa Rowse recorded another dominant win, despite a heavy fall in a slippery steep downhill section. Ashley Robinson was second and Tristan Narraway third.

In the Novice category, Ziani Burgesson proved to be too much for three-time winner Chase Toogood, but only after a tight race between the two.

Jennifer Wilson was a clear winner with Kim Raymond second and Elizabeth Stewart third in the Novice category.

In a thrilling 13-15 boys’ race, Alexander Miller made a very late charge and in the final stages passed Nick Pilgrim to take victory with Kion Richardson third. Kayla Raymond won the girls’ race.

Twenty-seven under-12 riders started the boys and girls’ races, with Christopher Raymond, Azhai Smith and Enshi-nico Davis the top three boys, and Megan Hands, Tatiana Sousa and Zoe Hasselkuss the top three girls.