Mapley comes out on top

Wednesday 16th July 2008, 2:29PM BST.

ONE bad event and it was all over for Ben Walden in the 2008 Tour of Guernsey.

The 25-year-old had taken top spot in the senior class of the week-long series after getting the better of the leader, John Mapley, in the fourth event, the criterium.

But a dreadful showing in the next race on the motocross track, which saw him finish 11th, was enough to hand Mapley overall victory on Sunday despite Walden winning the remaining two events – the epilogue and the long cross-country, both at Chouet.

Walden was philosophical about missing out on the title. ‘I’m a little bit gutted but that’s part of racing,’ he said. ‘I can’t dwell on it too much. I finished all right.’

In the fifth crucial race, James Mapley (pictured) took the honours ahead of his brother, John, in second while Gary Robert was third.