It was a bright sunny day at the MTB XCO season opener at Southern XC at Checkendon, where there were large fields across all categories with eager MTB riders from from all over the country raring to go.
Katie Alsop won the U12 girls and Leon Atkins won the U14 boys with Fin Woodliffe in 9th place. Leon and Fin started strongly both in the top three in the first few hundred meters. Oscar Amey took the front and Leon went over the top to lead end of lap 1 by 11secs with Fin at a minute. Leon built his lead to the line finishing 1:18 clear of Oscar Amey, with Fin holding 9th to the line.