Whatever else can be said of the top finishers in the Hammerfest Enduro mountain bike race near Errington in April, it would be unfair to claim they didn’t earn their victories.
The 25th running of the Hammerfest drew a record field of riders to Englishman River Falls Provincial Park April 22, said Kebble Sheaff, president of Arrosmith Cyling Club, which began the Island Cup racing series 15 years ago.
“We’ve never sold out an Island Cup race before, but this race is sold out,” said Sheaff. “We’ve got a waiting list of people who wanted to get into this race that couldn’t. This is the biggest enduro race on Vancouver Island to date.”
Takota Crawford of Parksville, a top semi-pro rider, nearly kept the title at home with a runner-up finish in the Expert Division.
The win was claimed by Victoria’s Max McCulloch, with a cumulative time of 20 minutes, 48 seconds over four timed descents. Crawford followed in 21:29, 41 seconds back.
Daniel Martel, another Parksville rider, was sixth overall.
The enduro event April 22 was the first of two Hammerfest events scheduled for 2018. In May, the Arrowsmith Cycling Club will host its cross-country event — also part of the Island Cup series, on a newly configured, one-lap course.
The enduro race involved timed descents in categories for youth, beginner, intermediate and expert riders.
“The races are mostly on the Island and are attended by mostly Island riders,” Sheaff said. “But I know we have some Lower Mainland people who are here today.”
For complete results of the Hammerfest Enduro or to learn more about the upcoming cross country race, visit online at www. islandcupseries.com.