Mountain biker Milton Hill hopes to turn his job into sporting success when he competes in the penultimate race of the Bermuda Bicycle Association's series at Hog Bay Park tomorrow.

Hill, who works for the Government as a park ranger, took up the sport after using his mountain bike in his job last summer and has since picked up two wins in the inaugural event. A third victory would clinch him the title.

"In the last few years I'd been using a mountain bike just for transport because it was cheaper than buying a motorcycle,'' the 34-year-old explained, "and once the Railway Trail became part of our department I started patrolling that. By the end of the summer I found I was quite fit.'' That propelled him into a more competitive environment when he met fellow mountain biker Duncan Simons at BBA president Greg Hopkins' Winner's Edge Shop on Church Street.

"I'd never been competitive before -- apart from when the road racers came past me on the street and I'd give chase,'' he said.

"Then Duncan said he was trying to get an off-road series going. When he mentioned it, it was the middle of summer when I was fit and game for it.'' Hopkins added: "He became very enthusiastic and really began to get into it.

"He was very nervous at the beginning of the season but has gained his confidence since getting his first win in December.'' Hill followed that up by winning the next cross-country outing at Hog Bay by two minutes and snatched a third place in last weekend's downhill race at the same venue.

However, tomorrow's race may supply him with his toughest test to date, with 24 demanding climbs to be surmounted in a 12-lap nine-mile race, the longest of the series so far.

And the other series race winners, MacInnis Looby, Steve Sterritt and Simons, the latter fresh out of Regiment recruit camp, will be looking to outlast Hill in what Hopkins promises will be the most exciting race of the series.

"This weekend is going to see a really great race,'' he said. "Simons has missed the last two races because he's been with the Regiment and we're hoping to get Looby out. It should be a great battle.'' The appropriately named Hill remains confident, but not overly so. And he isn't contemplating a move into road racing just yet.

"Everybody has been trying to get me into road racing and has said that if I competed as a novice I would do quite well. But I like being off-road and having to deal with the niggly bits of terrain. It's a lot more fun.

"To be honest, I've surprised myself. I've done better than I thought I would but I have still got a lot of good competition and some really fit guys to beat and all I want to do right now is continue winning.'' Upwards of 25 riders are expected to line up for the race, which begins at 9.00 a.m.

"We're building the sport up,'' said Hopkins. "Bearing in mind that this is the first year we've held the series, that's pretty good.

"The courses are rather tight and technical because there are not miles and miles of off-road riding in Bermuda, and the numbers are manageable.

"But as the sport's popularity grows we may have to start digging out some longer courses.'' Race registration forms for the first Winner's Edge National Championship are available at the shop. The entry fee for the one-off event that does not count towards the race series is $10 and the deadline for registration is 5pm on Friday February 5. The race is at Ferry Point Park on February 7.

MOUNTAIN MAN -- Newcomer Milton Hill sets his sight on his first race series victory at Hog Bay on Sunday.