The B.C. Cup downhill mountain bike series doesn't have any easy races, but last weekend's annual Arduum Challenge in Mission stands on its own with a long, steep, rooty and rough course through an old-growth forest. Despite some improvements to the course the top part remains a white-knuckle experience where a controlled skid is sometimes your only option to make the next corner.
The top Whistler rider in the Elite category was Harry Armstrong, who placed 10 th in 4:08.35. Reuben Miller was three spots back in 4:10.77, J.S. Therrien four spots back in 4:12.57, James McSkimming 18 th after a crash, Scott Halvorson 21 st and Berend Boer 26 th . Whistler's Bethany Parsons won the women's Elite race in 5:51.32, followed by Squamish's Miranda Miller in 6:25.12.
In the 30-plus Citizen Men, Sean Nicol of Pemberton was fifth in 5:05.98.
In Junior Men 17 to 18, Craig Campbell of Squamish was second in 4:00.01. Connor McDougall was 12th in 4:29.20, Jesse Ballhausen 14 th in 4:32.23, Kyle Quesnel 21 st and Leo Brandvold 29 th .
In Master 30-plus women Meghan Illingworth was second in 6:02.78 and Whistler's Kari Mancer was third in 6:09.08.
In Master 30 to 39 Men, Cory Leclerc of Squamish was third in 4:35.96 and Clark Lewis was seventh in 4:43.23.
In Senior Women 19 to 29 Pemberton's Jaime Hill was second in 5:58.31.
In Under 17 Men, Whistler's Max Horner was fourth in 4:00.12, Kip Shortreed of Squamish was eighth in 4:31.69, Jordan Gosteli 10 th in 4:33.56, Owen Scully 15 th in 5:00.16 and Jonny Dempsey 22 nd in 6:01.88.