What a fun night! Racing puts a whole new twist on our favourite trails, and a number plate seems to double everyones competitive streak!

People went fast, points were awarded, good times were had. Below is a report written for the Whakatane Beacon

See you next Wednesday for more of the same!

"Wednesday evening saw 17 fit and fast looking mountain bikers gather at Rawhiti Mountain Bike Park to contest the King and Queen of Rawhiti race series.

The first race of the series, a short course cross country race took racers on a loop of the lower Rawhiti trails. Starting with a grind up Access Road, the participants then traversed Stage Right and Rat Run before climbing Heartbreak Hill. The descent back to the finish line included Mayhem, Swamp Thing and Exit Trail.

At 6pm sharp the green light was given for racing, with Andy High, Rex Humpherson and Aaron Mallet leading the way. The three were caught by Bradley Jones towards the top of the first climb and the four put a convincing gap on the chase group. Three snapped chains on the first climb soon thinned the peleton and left some open track for fast racing.

High and Mallet made a break half way through Stage Right, but were reeled in again by the top of Heartbreak Hill when a navigational error saw Jones fall from the group. Further back David Milne, Bernie Hopkins, Karen Hanlen, Warwick Farmer and Andrew Torrens jostled for the minor placings. Torrens was consistently dropped on the climbs, only for a tactical error to allow him to jump three places on the final descent.

High was first across the line and secured maximum points to start his campaign off on the right track. Humpherson and Mallet secured second and third with Milne and Torrens rounding out the top five. Hanlen took the womans victory leading home Amy Hurren, Ashley Graham and Sandy Clark.

Racing continues every Wednesday evening until December 9 and is open to everyone."