Peter Matcham captured mountain biking's King of the Downhill title again on Sunday in an event which he has virtually made his own since its first running seven years ago.

Matcham has won five of the seven contests so far and was runner-up in the other two.

Sunday's race, however, was a close affair with young Ricky Sousa threatening to dethrone the champion.

Sousa's first run on the treacherously slick course was a fast 1:05.89 and he was then followed by Matcham who was able to better that time by less than a second, recording 1:04.92.

The only other riders with a realistic shot at the title after the first run were Mannard Packwood with a time of 1:11.30 and Neil de Ste Croix (1:12.16) but they both needed Matcham and Sousa to suffer poor performances in the second runs in order to snatch victory.

And that was not to be as Sousa blazed down the course at an even faster rate, recording the quickest time of the day, 1:04.61, for a combined time of 2:10.50.

Matcham followed his rival and while unable to match Sousa's second run, he did just enough to hold onto the title with a finish 1:04.80 and a combined time of 2:09.72, less than a second ahead of the junior rider's time.

Packwood recorded his fastest ever time on his second run and captured third place (2:19.59) ahead of de ste Croix who placed fourth in 2:22.95.

Veteran Paulo Madeiros enjoyed two good runs to take the fifth spot with a combined time of 2:25.38, less than three seconds behind de ste Croix.

Turn-out on Sunday was less than in previous years with many of the regular riders having already left the Island on vacation and some less interested in competing as, for the first time, points were not awarded towards the current Conrad's Mountain Bike Series.

Organisers are already rethinking that decision for next year in addition to considering awarding prizes in the Open, Veteran and Junior categories to help revive interest.

The next mountain bike cross-country race will be held on Sunday, January 2 at Admiralty House Park. Racers should register by 8.30 a.m. for 9 a.m. start.