Steve Roberts has made a strong start to the Tamworth Mountain Bikers' racing season taking the elite division honours in the first two rounds of the spring/summer twilight series.
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In the most recent round he had a hard-fought battle with younger brother Justin, Justin making him very nervous right up to the fourth lap when he finally managed to get around him to come in very sweaty and red on the finish line. Justin was second and Chris Shaw third.
The ride times were up there in A grade with Tristan Rutter having to put in 59 min and four laps to take the top position. Nathanael Sharples finished second in just on one hour. Annie Buchan was back for the first time this season and managed to beat Terry Balla over the line for first in the ladies and third overall.
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B grade provided a race within a race. Spectators watched the determined and red faces of Nick Reid and Rob McGilvray tail gate each other all race until on the line Nick finally managed to break Rob and slip through. The honours though went to Anthony Daniels 44.19 (three laps) with Ben Marsh second and Laurie Willis third.
Harry Fairfull with three laps in 48.00 took the win in C grade with Jay Keam second and Owen Robinson third. Liza Mackay flew the flag high for the girls with two solid laps in the humid conditions in 36.38.
The junior elites saw 10 riders take to the starting line. Jock Barwick was literally unstoppable, riding as many laps as the adults at three laps in 54:41. Angus Hobson came second while Kaitlin Burgess rocked two laps in 47.22 which gave her third position overall.
Meanwhile 10 little dirtmasters got to spin the legs for 15-20 minutes and it was great to see the girls back on the start line. Harry Arndell showed plenty of heart to slowly shake off the determined train of bikes hot on his wheel - Orlando Follington, Henry Crittle, Jake Reading and Rory Simm, while Claudia and Ruby Eason smashed out the Hillside, shortcut to Yellow Brick Rd route with a bit of sibling rivalry onto the finish line.
A big shout out to the littlest crew of Gravity Groms, with Fletcher and Brady Sipple, Xavier McKenzie, Eliza Lockwood and James Willis all a picture of determination and smiles.
The previous week had seen lots of old and new faces milling around the TMTB central picnic area for what was a great start to the series.
In a nod to the upcoming 10th Birthday Race and Come'n'Try day, event riders were all given the same race loop of the Roll'n, Roll'n, Roll'n track.
Ross Aylwin claimed the top spot on the podium in A grade from Rutter and Sharples, all 11 riders hitting the three lap mark and with times not far behind the elite riders.
In B grade Marsh was first ahead of Eason and Jack Mackay, while Fairfull took out C grade in a time that will see him rapidly moving up the grades. Robinson was second with Keam just pipping Andy Blair for third at the post.
A growing number of junior riders gave experienced junior elite riders Barwick and Ben Shaw some extra competition but the pair pumped out two laps and ridiculous fast times. Liam Marsh was third.
