The cadets race took place on the old airport road towards the garden centre and back for a lap of just under a mile. The youngest cadets in the 5 - 6 years category did one lap of the course. The oldest boys in the 11 - 12 and 13 - 14 year old categories did 3 laps while the 7 - 8 and 9 - 10 year old boys and all the girls completed 2 laps of the course.

First over the line for the one lap course was 6 year old Alex Fountain in 5 minutes and 22 seconds followed by Noah Cottreau in 5:50. For the two lap course, the first over the line was John Cullimore in 7 minutes who took the win in the boys 9 - 10 years category and Sam Foote won the boys 7 - 8 years category in 7:32.

All the girls completed two laps of the course. The fastest girl was Angelica Pini in 8 minutes 18 seconds and she won the girls 9 - 10 years category. Ella Tekeli won the girls 7 - 8 years category and Tallulah Kinkead was second over the line giving her the win for the girls 11 -12 category in 8:30.

In the 3 lap cadet course, Jude Kinkead was first overall in 9 minutes 4 seconds and took the boys 13 -14 category win. Forth overall was Ajaplee Malme in 11:11.which also gave him first place in the boys’ 11 - 12 category.

In what was described by the organisers as “a fabulous turnout for the first Mountain Bike Race of the season”, 32 adults, earlier, had started the main race, a 4.1 mile route taking in Long Bay beach trails and salt pond, the old airport road and the trails on Beef Island.

Leaving from the gravel road leading to Trellis Bay and heading west on the airport road to the salt pond track to Long Bay Beach, cyclists had to negotiate sand, vines and prickly bush before exiting back onto the airport road and taking the turn off to Well Bay.

A short way along this road, a left hand turn took the mountain bikers along a trail running parallel to the airport road and joining the old airport road on the way to the garden centre. Another left took the cyclists along "Rusty's Trail" and back to the start. The cyclists participated in a controlled warm up lap to familiarize themselves with the route and then a further 3 laps to complete the course.

The overall winner who completed the full 4 lap course in 50 minutes was Andrew "Tubes" Thompson, Anthony Spencer took second place in a time of 53 minutes 41 seconds with Alston Hanley just 26 seconds later taking third place overall.

Henk Veergeer rode a fast race placing him first in the Masters category in a time of 54:15 and forth overall. In a very respectable 8th place overall Carolina Pettigrew was the first woman in a time of 56:18. Barney Nockolds took first Junior male in 11th place overall in 57:38 and Steve Marsh was the first in the Senior Masters in 57:47 and 12th overall. Mike Masters in 23rd place took first in his Grand Masters Category and Asphil Robertson took first Junior female.

There were a few flats, a broken chain and a small mishap, however, flats were fixed and only 2 cyclists did not finish the race.

The next race is the Mineshaft Challenge in Virgin Gorda on Sunday March 25 and a Sunday ride to St. John is planned for March 18.

Final Results:

CADETS- Boys 5 - 6 Years: 1. Alex Fountain 5:22; 2. Noah Cottreau 5:50; Boys 7 - 8 Years: 1. Tai Thomas 9:12;3 2 Gethin Jones 9:27 3 Sam Foote 7:32; 2.(one lap); Girls 7 - 8 Years: 1. Ella Tekeli 8:41; Boys 9 - 10 Years: 1. John Cullimore 7:00; 2. Derek Pettigrew 7:05; 3. Pablo Wells 11:52; Girls 9 - 10 Years; 1. Angelica Pini 8:18; 2. Tola Broderick 11:28;3. Alisha Ayres 11:29; Boys 11 - 12 Years; 1. Ajaplee Malme 11:11;2. John Pettigrew 11:20; 3. Giovanni Wells 13:06 4. Layman Johnny 13:17; Girls 11 - 12 Years; 1. Tallulah Kinkead 8:30; Boys 13- 14 Years

1. Jude Kinkead 9:04; 2. Joseph Wells 10:28; 3. Devonte Prentice 10:33

Main Course Adult Category Placings- Juniors Male;1. Barney Nockolds;Juniors Female 1. Asphil Robertson;Women 1. Carolina Pettigrew;2. Dara Smith;3. Sally Blackmore: Experts;1. Alston Hanley;2. Tim Clipstone;3. Marco Bava. Veterans;1. Andrew Thompson;2. Anthony Spencer 3. Alastair Abrehart. Masters;1. Henk Vergeer;2. Adrian Dale;3. John Shirley. Senior Masters;1. Steve Marsh

2. Jim Cullimore;3. Tom Merrigan; Grand Masters;1. Mike Masters;2. Joe Giacinto;