Over one hundred riders lined up for the start of the fourth round of the Manx Mountain Bike Clubs XC Winter series,on Sunday . The venue was a freezing cold Archallagan Plantation, and 10.15am saw the start with the Elite class of 13 riders led by Nick Corlett take off up the hill and out onto the 5km course. Elliott Baxter as usual took over the lead and was never matched. From then on, the main fight was between Rob Sorby ,Nick Corlett, and Jake Kelly. On the last lap Sorby had pulled out from the two sixteen year olds but Kelly pulled in at the start/finish area ,leaving Corlett to try and take the fight to Sorby but alas he was too far away and was on survival mode after the ding-dong battle with Kelly.This left Julian Corlett and Ben Corkill to slug it out, Corkill taking the honours. Andy Oram and Simon Skillicorn took the next two places leaving young Nick Corlett to settle for seventh.
The next wave of riders was the popular four lap Sports class. Mark Tuson is making a habit of taking first place in this class from Mark Noon and Paul Flanders who had an unfortunate off at the start when several riders got tangled up! Paul rode the race with a chest injury and wasnt feeling one hundred per cent at the end. Sports Women went to Olympian Marie Morgan, from Paula Gelling and Dawn Kinnish. The two lap novice class was won by Mark Madsen-Mygdal,with John Kneale second and Manx rally champion John Corlett third in his first mountain bike race. The Novice Womens race went to Joanne Glassey from Gaby Cooper and Selena Bostock.
The Youth Boys 14-16 event was the best race of the day. Set over three laps and run alongside the adults race the top three were never more than one hundred yards apart. Jo Haddock led the charge with Leon Mazzone and Nathan Draper close behind. On their second lap they started to reel in the Adult Elite class . To show how quick they were circulating, Jo Haddock posted a fastest lap time of 17.11,only bested by Elliott Baxter and Rob Sorby both Elite riders. At the last hill it looked like a bungee elastic conected these three but Draper got the break into the final single track with Mazzone and Haddock clashing handlebars to fight for second place. The closest finish the MMBC has ever had after 15km of racing these three lads crossed the line all on the timing matt at the same time!!! The Manx timing solutions electronics say that Draper took the win but Mazzone and Haddock tied for second.
The 2 lap ,12-14 year old Boys race was once more dominated by Owen Dudley who looks to have the championship within his grasp.Mathew Draper gave chase but his totally ridgid bike against Dudleys full suspention bike put him at a diadvantage on the rocky descents of Archallagan.He took a terrific second,pushed hard by Brody Hewison on his new Cannondale 29er.
The under sixteen girls race was went to Elizabeth Holden who is proving to be a talent on both road and forest track.Second went to Sophie Black from third placed Breeshey Cain.
The Manx Mountain Bike Club would like to thank all the riders,Marshals ,First Aid,
and of course Dan for laying out a very fast course.
The full results can be found on manxtimingsolutions.com.