It wasn’t picnic weather this weekend but that didn’t dampen riders’ enjoyment at the Innerleithen Vattenfall Classic Enduro.

The race was held over two days on a 30km circuit, with times recorded for completing special stages during the day and added together to find the event winner.

After day one, it was clear that the battle was back on between local man Gary Forrest and former world class downhiller Crawford Carrick-Anderson.

Twenty seconds separated the pair at the Winter Enduro in January, and at close of play on Saturday only 4 seconds lay between them, with Forrest sharing fastest time with Chris Buchan.

Saturday night entertainment was provided by the Dual Slalom, a short, sharp style of racing where two riders take each other on over the grassy course in an elimination contest.  David Winton took the victory for the seniors and Niall Morrison the juniors.

On Sunday there were some tired legs in the carpark, but nothing could keep the riders back from the challenge of the Aim-up, Traquair Arms and Innerleithen MTB Racing stages, and it was all smiles as they finished at the bottom of the hill in the sunshine.

Forrest took the victory in the overall with a finishing time of 28.51, while Carrick-Anderson settled for victory in the vets race in 28.59, while Morrison took the juniors in 34.50. Emma Guy was fastest woman of the weekend with a time of 39.06.

“I had a great race, rode pretty clean and only made one mistake when I lost my bike on a corner so happy with that,” said Forrest. ” It was good to race on some nice natural trails, Steve [Deas] at i-Cycles designed a cracking course.”

Cash prizes and bike clocks went to the fastest male and female riders and vouchers from Alpine Bikes for the rest of the podium places.  Full results are available here on the Innerleithen MTB Racing website.

Vattenfall’s UK head of onshore wind development Colin Ormston said: “Vattenfall are really pleased to get behind this event which provides such a unique mountainbiking experience.

“It has been a fantastic weekend and by supporting the Vattenfall Innerleithen Classic Enduro, as part of our continued commitment to the community, we hope to contribute to success of building sustainable tourism in the Scottish Borders.”

The next event at Innerleithen is the Tweedlove Crosslove race at St Ronan’s Primary School on June 17. Check the Tweedlove website for details.