Muddy conditions met competitors at Talbot Valley

Rob Smart made the best of the wet conditions to win the fifth round of the Ian Brown and Arrowsmith Marlow Mountain Bike Cross Country.

Smart was pushed in the early stages by Tom Sherwill, who showed great technical ability but faded, on a testing Talbot Valley course.

The battle for third place was hard fought between a group of five riders.

Stuart Le Tissier broke free from the group and beat Jamie Burtenshaw in a sprint finish for third place.

Leon Ogier held on for fifth place followed by James Roe, Ben Walden, Jon and Matt Osborn, who suffered a puncture, to complete the Elite category finishers.

In the advanced class Adam Sunderland established a good lead through the technical downhill sections and was too strong for Tim Luscombe who chased hard around the remainder of the course.

Competitors raced in six different categories

Steve Smith ended Nick Mann's undefeated reign over the Veteran's class with an excellent win which saw Mann having to settle for second.

In the novice and fun category Frankie Middleton continued to improve her mountain biking skills to take the win in the class with Matt Le Huray in second place.

Michael Mann managed to hold off a strong challenge from Will Falla to take the win in the under-14 class and remain as the only rider with a 100% record.

The under-12 raced a smaller but equally muddy course with Hannah English taking the win followed by Joseph Yeaman who relished the wet conditions.

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