Mark Hatherley’s hill climbing prowess proved too much for the open field as he captured honours in race seven of the Bermuda Bicycle Association/Conrad’s Mountain Bike Series at Admiralty Park last Sunday.

Point series leader Dave Padega set a hard pace early on with Grant Goudge and Hatherley in hot pursuit. The three riders traded the lead in what was the tightest racing the open division has seen this season.

Hatherley was able to take advantage of the long hilly climbs in the latter stages to break free of Padega and withstand a late charge from Goudge to claim victory.

Wayne Scott exacted revenge on the previous week’s intermediate winner Paul Jacks to take his sixth win of the season. Scott and Jacks set a blistering pace, exchanging the lead for almost the full 40 minutes before Jacks succumbed to a flat tye on the penultimate lap — allowing Scott to cruise home.

Ed Jordan held off Peter Dunne and improving Paulo Maderios for third while Manny Packwood, Ian Fox, and David Day rounded out the field.

Meanwhile, Keith Bernhard rode to victory in the male novices division, distancing himself from points leader Jeff Amaral, Dion Tucker and Phil Hill.

Sarah Jordan and Louise Wakefield conquered the difficult and long course by finishing one and two in the women’s novices division while Nathan Amaral rode to an uncontested victory in the 13/14 boys division. Mark Godfrey outlasted Tadhg O’Shaughnessy to win the 11/12 boys while Gabby Arnold took advantage of Elizabeth Jordan’s mechanical problems to win the 11/12 girls with Laura Salmon placing third.

Justin Ferreira was victorious in the nine-strong ten and under boys’ field. Josh Robertson was second ahead of first time racer Daniel Oatley.

Nick Lines, Daniel Hetzel, Lucas Salmon, Ryan Day, Sebastian Dil, and Joshua Stephenson rounded out the field with all of them looking to unseat Ferreira at the next race this Sunday on the fast Hog Bay Park course.