JACK SUNDERLAND was surprised to have beaten Rob Smart in the Savills Private Finance 2006 Mountain Bike Tour of Guernsey. The 17-year-old who has just completed his A-levels at the Grammar School took the gold in the expert class from the star attraction, Melbourne Commonwealth Games competitor Smart.

Sunderland started in the sport only two years ago.

‘I was surprised,’ he said.

‘I didn’t think I was going to beat Rob.’

In a tight week of competition, the leadership changed hands a number of times, although Smart can pinpoint where it all went wrong for him.

‘I won four out of seven events but I still didn’t win overall,’ said the 28-year-old.

‘I lost loads of points in the downhill and I crashed in the motocross. That meant I didn’t make it to the final so the best I could do was finish seventh.

‘That’s where I really lost it but it was an enjoyable week.’

Sunderland also had his favourite events.

‘The long cross-country at Chouet was my favourite,’ he said.

‘I prefer the more technical long races. I enjoyed the downhill as well.

‘My least favourite was the criterium.’

Smart was impressed by Sunderland’s performance over the tour.

‘He deserved his victory,’ said Smart.

‘He was so consistent. The lowest he finished in an event was third.

‘He’s got the all-round package and he deserved it.’

The tour had suffered a dip in entrants over the last few years. But according to organiser Chris Carter, the tournament, in its 10th year, enjoyed a bumper number of riders.

‘It’s been absolutely brilliant,’ he said.

‘It’s probably one of the best ones we’ve had. It’s been a fantastic week and the weather was kind to us.

‘It’s been a better turnout than the last few years. Everyone was really complimentary about the courses.

‘The mountain bike sub-committee of the Velo Club puts in a ridiculous amount of hours of course preparation.

‘A very big thank you must go to the land owners and the Environment department for allowing us to use their land.’