DYLAN Kerfoot-Robson (Team USN) and Ffion James (100%ME) were crowned senior champions at the 2016 Welsh Mountain Bike Cross-country Championships at Fforest Fields, Builth Wells on Sunday May 8.

The Championships, promoted by The Bulls Cycling Club brought the best of Welsh mountain biking to Builth Wells. The tough and challenging course was made more difficult by the weather conditions, a mix of pre-race thundery showers and hot sunshine during the event.

The day before riders practised on a dry and totally rideable course but heavy overnight showers meant that, come Sunday morning, they were faced with wet tree roots and slick mud, that had them struggling for traction and sliding out, and which forced the closure of the A line on the Terrible Hollow descent for the morning races. A testing course had become even more so.

Clwyd-rider Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Team USN) comfortably retained his Senior Men’s title and Abergavenny’s Ffion James (100% ME) added Senior Women’s to her collection. Simon Price (Graham Weigh Racing) triumphed in the Junior Men’s race, adding to his 2015 Youth title.

Although looking strong, a puncture halfway through the race, put paid to Phil Morris’s hopes of regaining the Master Men’s title; a strong ride by local rider Dave Evans (Cycle-Tec) saw him secure this for 2016. Sarah Barnwell (Clwb Beicio Mynydd Dyffryn Conwy) took victory in the combined Master Women’s race.

Anthony Malarczyk looked to have the Veteran Men’s title in the bag but a fast final lap by Roy Davies saw Malarczyk overhauled and Davies snatch the honours. Ross Porter (Cwmcarn Paragon) claimed the Grand Veteran title after an early tussle with Martyn Hughes-Dowdle (Urban Cyclery).

Craig Rogers (Birkenhead North End CC) lived up to expectation and improved on his silver of 2015 in the Youth Boys race and hard work paid off for Katie Hesden (Dreigiau Coed y Brenin Dragons) as she won the Youth Girl’s race.

Another impressive performance by club-mate Tim Freeman, that saw him mixing it with the Youth Boys, was rewarded with the Juvenile Boy’s title and Josie Nelson (M & D Cycles) overhauled Eluned King (Towy Riders) on the final lap to win in the Juvenile Girls.

Griff Lewis (Ystwyth CC) put in a determined performance to open up a commanding lead over Huw Buck-Jones (Dreigiau Coed y Brenin Dragons) and claim the Under 12 Boy’s title and Madeleine Osborn held off Freya Evans (The Bulls) to retain the Under 12 Girl’s title.

Alfie Davies and brother Finn (Cycle-Tec) and Anwen Nesham (Cardiff JIF) and Aelwen Davies (The Bulls) were winners in the Under 10 and Under 8 races respectively.

John Lloyd Racing Events will be promoting round four of the British Cycling Mountain Bike Cross Country Series at Fforest Fields, Builth Wells June 11 and 12.

If you want to get into mountain biking, contact The Bulls Cycling Club or find your local cycling club with Welsh Cycling.