Guernsey’s Tobyn Horton and Ann Bowditch defended their Island Games Town Centre Criterium gold medals, and Bermuda’s Karen Bordage claimed silver just eight months after undergoing hip surgery, on an exciting night of riding on the streets of Hamilton.Bowditch finished in 40 minutes, 10.841 seconds, while Bordage took silver with a ride of 40:11.445, and Kerry MacPhee of Western Isles won bronze in 40:11.828. Bermuda’s Nicole Mitchell finished seventh in 41:01.827 after taking a spill, while Earlena Ingham finished 13th.Horton crossed the finish line in 59:36.691, while his Team UK Youth team-mates Richard Tanguy and Greg Mansell of Jersey claimed silver and bronze. Tanguy finished in 59:39.141, while Mansell — the son of former Formula One world champion Nigel — had a time of 60:05.653.Team UK Youth is owned and funded by the elder Mansell.Andrew Roche of Isle of Man, the fourth member of a four-strong pack that broke away early in the race, claimed fourth in 60:06.209. Geri Mewett was the top Bermudian finisher, claiming ninth place in 60:58.787, while Johan Vivier was 13th, Shannon Lawrence finished 15th, Dominique (Sidney) Mayho was 20th, and Darren Glasford finished 26th. Thirty riders started the race.The men’s race was a 50-minute ride around the .69 mile course that started at the flagpole on Front Street, curled around the birdcage and back to Burnaby Hill, went along Reid Street, then south on Court Street and then back along Front Street to the finish line at the birdcage. When the 50 minutes had elapsed, the riders completed an additional five laps of the course to finish the race.The women’s ride was 30 minutes, plus five laps.The top men were completing a lap in approximately 1:45, while the top women were doing so in approximately 2:15.In the women’s race, a pack of nine riders set the early pace — but gradually, three dropped off the pace, leaving the eventual top six finishers to battle for the medals with one lap to go.The final sprint started just outside The Beach, said Bordage, who won two individual silvers and a team gold medal in the Games.“I’m thrilled, absolutely thrilled,” Bordage said. “It was unfortunate that Nicole took a spill because that meant we couldn’t work together to control the race. I just tried my best to keep up with the other girls, get through the final corner and then sprint to the finish. Because it was just me, I stayed in the first three to be prepared for any moves.”After surgery on her left hip, the 46-year-old Bordage only returned to riding in March. “I didn’t know I’d be able to participate, but I worked hard and had a great doctor,” Bordage said, being congratulated by her son, Alex. “To do this while representing Team Bermuda is a dream come true. We are so happy.”“She was a very good patient,” said her physician, Dr Annabel Carter. “She was still on crutches when she put her name down for the race, but she stuck to the post-op protocol and followed it religiously. She is such a great athlete.”Mitchell was icing a sore right hip after the race, and had some contusions on her knee and lower leg. “I came around the birdcage and clipped a pedal and slid out,” she said. “I got back up as fast as possible — and the chase began. I never thought of stopping. I trained so hard to represent Bermuda. Dropping out was not an option.”Bowditch has won two individual gold medals, one individual bronze, a team gold medal and a team silver medal in the Games.“I told myself I’d win gold before the race,” Bowditch said. “That was a bit bold, but sometimes you have to go in believing you can win. There were some really strong riders tonight — a few could have won it. Karen is a great rider. It has been nice to meet the Bermudian riders this week because I don’t race much off the island (Guernsey) any more. I ride with the guys on Tuesday night — that is like a race for me.”Horton and Tanguy separated from the two other members of the leading pack after 49 minutes, and it was a two-man battle for the gold at that point. As the two riders crossed the start/finish line with a lap to go, they shook hands.“We were just saying ‘good luck, mate’,” Horton said. “The last five laps, I was on the front setting the pace. It came down to who had the best legs at the finish. That suited me because I am an explosive rider. The courses here have suited me all week, so thanks to the course selector from Bermuda.”