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It took a lung-busting performance in treacherous conditions at wind-swept Ferry Reach Park, but ultimately Garth Thomson was once again crowned as Bermuda's national mountain bike champion.

Powering through the slick rocky trails and steep grassy climbs of the remote ocean side course, Thomson held off a challenge from closest rival Dave Padega to reclaim his title.

After the seven-lap,15.4 mile race on Sunday the Canadian cyclist, his face and riding gear splashed with mud, was able to celebrate a comfortable win.

But he said victory was far from easy with the capricious nature of the course, at times, his biggest rival.

"When it rains like it did this weekend Ferry Reach turns into a mud bath and the rocks become like glass.

"That makes it a totally different course from anywhere else I've raced in the world.

"I heard there were some spectacular crashes. I came off a couple of times, which was a bit unnerving, but I was able to get back on and maintain my lead."

He said some of the steep downhill sections of the course had sent the adrenaline level through the roof.

"Everybody was really pushing back the envelope. I know Dave (Padega) would have been flying through those downhills trying to make up time.

"I saw some blood out on the course which is usually a sign of a good days riding." He said he had made an early break to put some distance between himself and the competition, giving him the opportunity to be more cautious on the deadliest parts of the course.

Padega closed the gap to 15-20 seconds on the third lap, but Thomson had left enough in the tank to power away, leaving his rival instead to concentrate on his battle with Mark Hatherley and Grant Goudge for top spot in the winter series.

The three-way battle for the points standings, an interesting sub plot to the championship race, saw Padega, come out on top by seven from Hatherley.

Kim McMullen, a top level Canadian mountain biker, was the only contender in the Female Open.

And she survived a spectacular fall on the last downhill section to finish the six-lap race impressively and claim the women's crown unchallenged.

Wayne Scott in his first season in mountain biking held off a challenge from the impressive Tim Fox and Paulo Madeiros, in his best run of the season, to win the five-lap intermediate race.[[In-content Ad]]

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