Not only as a race but held in scorching hot conditions, race organiser Daniel Raffaele said.

“We started at 7am but it was scorching hot by the time the last rider came in about 11am,” Raffaele said.

180 riders braved the scorching heat to compete in the first Keepit Real 100 mountain bike race at Lake Keepit State Park.

“The race kicked of at 7am at a cool temperature of 18 degrees, before reaching a top of 36,” Raffaele said.

“Riders chose either 50 or 30km races or a 10km dash. 

“The race started on the shores of Lake Keepit, before riding over the dam wall and into the difficult technical forest, before a sprint finish to the line.

“It took overall winner Sam Spokes (Tamworth) just under  two  hours to complete the 50km mountain bike course. Holly Harris won the 50km female race.

“It was a great success.

“I was blown away by how many people rode. 

“And we had people from all over  –  from Brisbane, Sydney, the North Coast.

“It has given us something to work on.

“I’m sure we can only make it bigger next year.

“There’s no other marathon race like it in the area.”

 Raffaele said a Dawn To Dusk marathon race was being planned for February at Lake Keepit as well.