The Isle of Man's mountain biking talent shone on the national stage as Manx MTB Enduro riders secured a flurry of overall podium positions at the final round of the British National Enduro Series.

Newly-crowned British national champion Oliver Kennington arrived in Scotland only 15 points adrift of the series lead. But Fort William's notoriously brutal tracks took a heavy toll during Saturday's final practice, leaving Kennington’s bike damaged beyond repair.

In a true sporting gesture, his father sacrificed his own race, handing over his bike so Oliver could compete on Sunday.

Battling hard on an unfamiliar setup, he fought his way to a gritty fifth-place finish on the day, scoring enough points to seal an excellent second place overall in his debut national series attempt.

Fresh off a class victory at the local Manx MTB Enduro series the previous week, Ramsey’s Joey Huyton stepped up to make his national round debut and adapted instantly to the step up in competition, delivering four flawless timed stages.

Port Erin's Coral Heginbotham (left) finished an excellent second overall in the under-21 women's class
Port Erin's Coral Heginbotham (left) finished an excellent second overall in the under-21 women's class (-)

Despite a minor error on his final run, he claimed a superb second place in the round, signalling immense potential for a full championship assault in 2027.

Ramsey’s Max Hitchen entered the finale only five points off the championship lead following a stellar season of round wins and podiums.

After sharpening his lines on the legendary World Cup downhill track during early practice, Hitchen started race day in high confidence. Despite a field flooded with local Scottish wildcards, Hitchen secured fourth on the day, safely locking down third place in the overall series.

Port Erin's Coral Heginbotham, the island’s sole female representative, continued her exceptional run of form.

Having already gained valuable international experience alongside Hitchen at a world-round event in Italy earlier this year, Heginbotham demonstrated her signature consistency.

She raced to a brilliant second place on the day, securing second overall in the final championship standings.

The veteran 40 category saw a thrilling season-long, head-to-head battle continue between Laxey's Russell Moore and Douglas’s Tom Dawson.

Having pushed each other all year, including an impressive second-place finish for Dawson at his home round in the Isle of Man, the duo rode together in practice to dissect the technical tracks.

The teamwork paid dividends, Dawson claimed second on the day and Moore took sixth, meaning the local rivals secured an impressive second and third overall respectively in the national series.

In the e-bike masters category, James Hinchcliffe was well-placed to wrap up a podium campaign after strong performances throughout the year. Unfortunately, the unforgiving Fort William terrain struck again, with a heavy crash causing irreparable damage to his bike.

Forced into a DNF, Hinchcliffe narrowly slipped to fourth overall in the championship, still an outstanding national achievement.

Local duo Tom Dawson (left) and Russell Moore (right) both finished on the overall podium in the men's veteran 40-49 class of the national series
Local duo Tom Dawson (left) and Russell Moore (right) both finished on the overall podium in the men's veteran 40-49 class of the national series (-)

Following a brilliant 2026 campaign, the island’s riders have firmly established the Isle of Man as a powerhouse for British mountain bike enduro talent.

Backed by a thriving local event scene, the team will look to return even stronger for the 2027 season.

DAVID KENNINGTON

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