fourth Bermuda Bicycle Association Mountain Bike Series race of the winter.

Hill was also helped by the misfortune of his nearest challenger, Peter Matcham, who had duelled with him for the first four of the six laps.

A stick got wedged in Matcham's front chain ring and Hill was able to open up a gap of nearly two minutes, which he held to win in 50 minutes, 19 seconds.

The 8.4-mile course was slippery, making for a more technical contest than the series race at the same venue three weeks earlier.

Matcham finished second in 52:02, one-and-a-half minutes ahead of Tim Marshall.

Top riders McInnis Looby and Steve Sterrett were absent, as was series leader Duncan Simons, who was with the Regiment.

In the three-lap junior race, Brian Steinhoff placed first in the 14-15 age group, finishing in 28:50, a minute ahead of Chris Conway. Matthew Herring (36:01) was first in the 11-12 age group.

The fifth of the eight-race series will take place this Sunday over eight laps at Hog Bay Park, starting at 9.30 a.m.

Before that, starting at 9.00 a.m., there will be the only downhill race of the season over a short course, with competitors setting off at one-minute intervals.

PEDAL POWER -- Milton Hill negotiates the tricky Ferry Point Park course on his way to victory in Sunday's Mountain Bike race.