Chris Carter tackles the Talbot Valley course. (Picture by Les Perry, E-motion)

AN UNUSUALLY dry Talbot Valley course greeted the usual mountain bike crowd and also welcomed a number of new faces.

The Delancey Flyers (Years 4, 5 and 6), who have been based at Delancey Park over the summer months, graduated and descended on the Talbot course for their own under-12s race and a number of the parents were also encouraged to race in the seniors.

The course organisers once again did a fantastic job at hosting another great race which included two courses; one for the seniors and under 16/14s and another, slightly less technical one for the under-12s.

The Delancey Flyers race was hotly contested and with 15 riders it was the biggest category of the day. Bradley Smith was the favourite among most of the spectators as he was well known and had been previously racing in the under-14s class. Smith did not have it all his own way, though, and all the spectators were surprised and impressed at just how fast and talented all of the young flyers were.