Round 1 of the Guernsey Velo Club Summer Mountain Bike Series Sponsored by Ian Browns was held at Delancey Park on Sunday. The course was the first featuring the newly built trails in the lower woodland area of the Park. Although the Park is not large it offers tight twisty sections as well as fast descent’s and some tough climbs which make a fun and energy sapping course.
The adults race saw good numbers with 39 riders on the start line with sport and Junior riders racing for 35 minutes and adults racing for an hour plus. Pre-race favourite John Mapley was again pushed hard by Mark le Page until Lap 9 where Mapley made a break and was a clear 30 seconds ahead at the flag after 13 laps. Youth rider Charlie Tourtel kept with the leading pair for the first 3 laps but lost ground through the race finishing in a credible 3rd after a late tussle with Adam Torode who had a strong end to his race.
Youth Academy rider Seth Davey also had a great race in the Advanced category after a strong race with James Shorto and new rider Emile le Compt, the latter unfortunately had a spill in the early part of the race but fought back to chase Shorto and Davey to the line. Always the favourite is the Veteran Category which saw anther strong ride from Mark Smith to take the honours with the ever-improving Wayne Piercey in second with Mark Naftel 3rd. In the ladies we had the return of Hannah Brehaut to the MTB scene with her first race since the Island games and first mountain bike race for several years. Despite being a bit rusty off road she took the honours ahead of Jamie Petit-Fulgoni and Franky Middleton.
In the Youth races Remi le Compt had a great race edging out Sam de Garis and Bailey Smaldon to take the flag for the U14s. The ever improving Amy and Holy Smith battled with the boys each lap with another great race in which Holly eventually finished ahead of Amy.
Although the juniors race here on Wednesday evening in Flyers raving league this was a much longer & tougher course which brought out some great rides in the junior categories as the course gave no time to rest in the hot conditions. The early race saw 19 junior riders race on the shorter course the U12s and U10s raced together with Jacob Piercey going one better than his father and getting the win. Freddie Martel pushed Piercey but got edged out on the last lap in a good battle just ahead of Luka Robilliard making up the podium for the U12s. In the U10s Freya Harvey took the win ahead of the boys who were swapping places behind her in another strong race.
The next local XC race will be held on the 9th June although we will have both Junior and adult riders competing off island in the Southern series race in the New Forest and National race in Cannock Chase prior to the next race.