Competitors and equipment were pushed to the limit in three distances on offer at the event.

Many from the local Gunnedah contingent tackled the full 50km circuit at Lake Keepit on Saturday, negotiating steep descents, searing heat and more than their share of bike troubles.

Gunnedah rider Joe Blackburn was one of the front-runners for about the first 25km until a few unlucky tyre punctures blew out his chances of a podium finish.

“The new track bailed a few up with punctures,” local rider Garry Turner said.

“But the heat didn’t seem to worry us too much.

“It was warm enough to keep you going.”

Race co-ordindator Daniel Raffaele said competitors started on the shores of Lake Keepit, before riding over the dam wall and into the difficult technical forest stage, before a final sprint to the finish line.

Fellow Gunnedah rider Rudy Molenkamp hit a good pace in the short 10km sprint to finish second in the men’s division.

European road rider Sam Spokes from Tamworth took out the overall line honours in the 50km event.

He finished in a little under two hours,just ahead of fellow elite riders, Andrew Lloyd, who placed second in the Wembo World 24hr Race and Peter Selkrig from Newcastle, a winner of many mountain bike events around Australia.

In the women’s division, Target sponsored rider Holly Harris from Armidale won the 50km event.

Next up on the North West mountain bike calendar is the Copeton Dam six-hour challenge on Saturday, February 8, followed by the Dusk-till-Dawn 12-hour challenge in Tamworth on February 14.