In one of the most dramatic day’s MTB competition seen so far in 2010, Paul and Katie Carmichael from Bonnie Scotland set the two fastest times ever recorded on the Pure Mountains cross country track.

It was a cloudless, sun–baked Friday afternoon in the mountains of southern Spain and our nervous riders, after a couple of practice laps, stripped down to their budget lycra, jettisoned their camelbaks and, one after the other, attacked the famous course.

Paul, the first away, demonstrated smoothness, skill and great power as he flew round, recorded an astonishing time of 4.08 and, in his typically understated way, raised one finger to the skies. (Gaute, the intimidating Norwegian who had held the record at 4.15, was unavailable for comment).

Katie, wife of Paul and world renowned apiarist (look it up), went next. Exuding steely determination and an eerie calm she accelerated away at a frightening pace. Woman and steel hardtail as one as they made light of the hairpins, rock gardens and agonizing climbs, she crossed the line in a superb time of 5.24. Having clearly given everything, she collapsed face down into a home-made ginger cake.

Incredible, heroic stuff from the plucky third worlders.

Unfortunately, the wonderful spirit of camaraderie amongst all the day’s competitors was rather marred by some shocking allegations of jump starts and gear sabotage levelled by Big Paul from New Zealand (possibly Australia).

On a rather sad note, Bob 'the legend' Johnson from Birmingham (though living in Scotland for some mysterious reason), a 98 year old lothario famous for his entertaining range of bodily noises, was in the running for the year's fastest time when, for the eighth time that week, his hip popped out and the devastated crowd pleaser was unable to continue. As he heads for Cornwall to recuperate with the lovely Nics, our thoughts are with him.

Can our Northern friends hang on until the end of the year and claim the coveted greenish jersey? Time will tell.