Gary Raynor turned in a spectacular performance yesterday morning at Southlands in Warwick to take the Bermuda Bicycle Association’s National championship title in the Open male category.

Raynor, the veteran category leader in the Flying Colours MTB Series and an accomplished road runner, finished ahead of Che’quan Richardson in a close finish for first place, with Raynor winning in 1hr 20min 43sec while Richardson was close behind in 1:21.08.

Countering a first lap pace set by Deshi Smith, Raynor made his way to the front of the pack and gradually built-up a lead that his competition could not overcome.

Though chasers Neil de Ste Croix, Mark Hatherley and Richardson made up some ground on the last two laps of the 11 lap contest, Raynor crossed the line comfortably for his first off-road cycling title. Richardson finished second, with Hatherley right behind in third.

Earlier in the day Wawick Academy teacher Sarah Bonnett outpaced the women’s field to earn the title ahead of Karen Bordage and Karen Smith. Bondage and Bonnett separated from the rest of the field to set up a battle of Bordage’s strength and Bonnett’s technical skills, with skill coming out on top as Bonnett won in 43min 17sec while Bordage was second in 44.11. Smith crossed the line third in 48.46.

The Junior male race was the realisation of the highly anticipated matchup between Matthew Oliveira and Robin Horsfield as they have been duking it out in the local mountain biking series all season.

The pair quickly built-up a lead over chasers Dylan Hill and Kaden Hopkins and went head-to-head for nine laps, pushing up the climbs and taking risks on the fast downhills.

Eventually Oliveira was able to get a gap on Horsfield and powered home for the title for the second year in a row. Rapidly improving Hill rounded out the podium.

With only two competitors in the Junior female race it was just a question of whether it would be Cassy McPhee or Tristan Narraway, but McPhee outclimbed her competitor and then pushed to extend her lead to take her first national title.

Competitors and spectators enjoyed the Southlands property which, thanks to hard work by the Parks Department and race organisers, was cleared enough to show off many of the property’s unique features. Pools, a tunnel, numerous stairways and densely wooded sections showed just a glimpse of the potential the property hold for future sporting activities.