Young Isle of Wight rider Finley Manser-Grundy secured an impressive top-5 finish on his Southern Enduro debut as Charis Jones starred in Mallorca.
7-year-old Finley Manser-Grundy took on his first-ever Southern Enduro race at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, competing in the Under 13 category against older and more experienced riders.
Despite being the youngest competitor in the field, Finley tackled a demanding course featuring rooty off-camber corners, slippery chalk sections and technical terrain similar to conditions often found in Brighstone Forest.
The event consisted of 5 stages, with riders’ times combined to determine the overall standings.
Finley excelled across both the technical downhill sections and the physically demanding pedalling stages, later describing the race as a “big day out” and exactly the type of riding he enjoys most.
At the finish line, he secured an impressive 5th place overall from a field of 13 riders — a standout achievement considering it was both his first Enduro event and an age category above his own.
Dad Jack said:
“A confident and encouraging start to Enduro racing for Finley, and an exciting sign of what’s to come as he continues to enjoy anything on two wheels.”
Meanwhile, fellow Isle of Wight rider Charis Jones travelled to Spain to take on the iconic Mallorca 312 on 25th April.
The gruelling sportive covers 312km and around 5,000m of climbing through Mallorca’s Tramuntana mountains, attracting more than 8,000 riders from across the world.
Charis finished 20th female overall, as well as 2nd British female and 12th in her age group, recording an official time of 11 hours and 32 minutes.
Reflecting on the challenge, Charis said:
“It was an unforgettable day with big climbs and descents, and an atmosphere that fully lives up to the hype.”
The Mallorca 312 marks Charis’ second major European Gran Fondo following the Marmotte last year, further showcasing her climbing ability on some of Europe’s toughest cycling routes.
