PORT ANGELES — More than 500 downhill mountain bikers from the Pacific Northwest, Canada, California, New Mexico and as far away as Vermont descended on Dry Hill this weekend, battling both the mud and gravity in the first stage of the Northwest Cup.

Dry Hill marked the first of eight races this summer in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon. The NW Cup returns to Port Angeles May 4-6 for the second stage of the series.

Despite the rain over the weekend, the weather cooperated on Sunday, with a muddy track creating exciting races.

The only problem with the mud is that “it made it hard to read the numbers on the plates,” organizer Scott Tucker said.

Tucker said there were some very tight races this year, with two races especially close.

The women’s professional category was incredibly close. Kialini Hines of Seattle won that race in 3 minutes, 6.25 seconds, beating Kaytlin Melvin of Sammamish by 1/100th of a second (3:06.26).

The 0-18-year-old girls race was another razor-close one. First, second and third place were separated by a mere 0.25 of a second with Sydney Haberman of Redmond winning in 3:24.00.

Tucker said one thing he was happy with in this year’s races is that only a couple of Port Angeles racers participated as recently as five years ago. This year, nearly 30 locals participated.

The best local finishes were by Harley Dachs, riding in the Cat 3 boys 11-14 division and Mathew Mangano, who was second in the Cat 2 15-18 division despite being just 14 years old.

Dachs finished second in 3:32.39, just getting nipped by the first-place rider, Tobin Walker of Leavenworth, by .03 of a second. Meanwhile, Mangano, finished with a time of 2:41.63, the second best time of the day for any rider.

Tucker thinks the increasing popularity of the BMX track in Port Angeles has helped encourage more local riders to take on all comers at the downhill races. He said the Dry Hill tracks would like to work more with the Port Angeles BMX track in the future.

And the next Port Angeles race is in just three weeks. Tucker expects a similar big crowd next month.

“Everyone likes Port Angeles,” he said.

Top riders

2018 NW CUP No. 1 GRT

GRT Dry Hill, Port Angeles

Sunday’s Results

Category/rider/hometown/sponsor/place/time

Cat 3 Men 19-39 — Justin Anderson, Puyallup, first, 3:04.26; Kevlar Dupuis, second, Burnaby, B.C., Eticamati, 3:06.19; Sean, Harp, Big Lake, third, 3:16.44.

Cat 3 Men 15-18 — Jackson Kelderman, Issaquah, first, 3:12.15; Jadon Anderson, Shelton, second, 3:18.49; Joshua Laupmanis, Snoqualmie, third, 3:24.90.

Cat 3 Men 40+ — Kerry Pray, Lake Stevens, first, 3:37.64; Brian Osborn, Ontario, Ore., second, 3:55.18; Chris Hendry, Port Angeles, third, 3:56.40.

Cat 3 Women 19-39 — Brooke O’Neill, San Francisco, first, 4:07.11; Nicole Wilkinson, Bend, Ore., second, 4:08.71; Alice Malhan, Seattle, third, 4:21.13.

Cat 3 Women 40+ — Nicola Erbeck, Seattle, AlkiRubiconRacing, first, 3:52.76; Tracy Greanya, Calgary, Alberta, Drift Racing/Leatt/Fox/Schwal, second, 4:30.29; Grace Jackson, Caldwell, Idaho, Joy Riders, third, 4:43.27

Cat 3 Boys 11-14 — Tobin Walker, Leavenworth, first, 3:32.36; Harley Dachs, Port Angeles, second, 3:32.39; Cody Parsons, third, 3:36.76

Cat 3 Girls 11-18 — Mica Erickson, Hayden, Idaho, Two Wheeler Dealer, first, 4:27.99; Saylor Jackson, New Plymouth, Idaho, Joy Ride Cycles, second, 4:43.58; Josephine Aubin, Bainbridge, Sweetlines, third, 5:10.50.

Cat 3 Boys 0-10 — Elliot Bravard, Bend, Ore., Cyclepath Racing, first, 3:47.09; Kellan Gary, Issaquah, MTB/Broadmark Racing, second, 3:52.85; Max Mckenzie, Clackamas, Ore., Troy Lee Designs, Gravity Cartel, third, 4:16.03.

Cat 3 Girls 0-10 — Aletha Ostgaard, Selah, first, 4:06.16; Derin Merten, Jamul, Calif., Cissters Racing/Commencal, second, 4:37.43; Nory Klein, Redmond, Sweetlines Jr. Racing, Spawn Cycling, third, 5:38.11.

Cat 2 Men 19-29 — Jake Coon, Bellingham, Fanatik Bike Co., first, 2:49.32; Dillon Thigpen, Ashland, Ore., Bear Creek Bicycle, 2:50.31, second, Danny Manning, Carson City, Nev., third, 2:50.95.

Cat 2 Men 30-39 — Daniel Phipps, Whistler, B.C., 2:46.19; Josh Ramharter, Anchorage, Alaska, second, 2:49.96; Wallace Barr, Whistler, B.C., third, 2:51.48.

Cat 2 Men 40-49 — Andy Crocker, Gresham, Ore., first, 3:01.61; Cameron Piercy, Snohomish, Tim’s Bike Shop, second, 3:02.76; William Medcalf, Albuquerque, N.M., Elevate PHW/Bikeworks ABQ, third, 3:02.89.

Cat 2 Men 50+ — Jason Gibb, Redmond, FSA GHY Bikes, first, 2:54.86; Larry Jackson, Caldwell, Idaho, Joy Riders, second, 3:03.70; David Overman, Vancouver, Wash., 3:09.52.

Cat 2 Boys 15-18 — Patrick Laffey, Qualicum Beach, B.C., first, 2:38.71; Mathew Mangano, Port Angeles, Olympic Dirt Society, second, 2:41.63; Chase Coffey, Bellingham, Morpheus Bikes, third, 2:42.72.

Cat 2 Women 19-39 — Meghan Dahl, Bellingham, first, 3:28.10; Kristen Faris, Pasco, DVR/Maxxis, second, 3:31.73; Anna Surowiecki, Woodinville, third, 3:32.79.

Cat 2 Women 40+ — Tracy Taylor, Silverdale, Silverdale Cyclery, first, 3:56.86; Kindahl Reed, Seattle, Tim’s Bike Shop, second, 4:01.32; Susan Walsh, Burien, Epic Racing, third, 4:11.53.

Cat 2 Boys 0-14 — Jackson Goldstone, Squamish, B.C., TREK, FOX racing, Fox Suspension, first, 2:46.65; Evan Medcalf,

Albuquerque, N.M., Elevate PHW/Bikeworks ABQ, second, 2:49.15; Joseph Mantis, Preston, third, 2:50.87.

Cat 2 Girls 0-18 — Bailey Goldstone, Squamish, B.C., Juliana Bikes, 3:20.83; Rebecca Sasten, Duvall, B-Line Racing, second, 3:25.51; Zoë Wood, Big Bear Lake, Calif., Every Trail Leads To Home/Spy O, third, 3:28.82.

Cat 1 Men 19-29 — Andrew Boxold, Walnut Creek, Calif., first, 2:52.13; Aiden Casner, Montpelier, Vt., POC/ONZA/DEITY, second, 2:52.53; Jack Hill, Eugene, Ore. Team Scraper, third, 2:53.26.

Cat 1 Men 30-39 — Tom Power, Vancouver, B.C., first, 2:57.98; Michael Klenz, Hillsboro, Ore., second, 3:00.51; Sam Larson, Bellingham, Oprah, third, 3:02.57.

Cat 1 Men 40+ — Brian Parker, Newbury Park, Calif., Knolly/Mynesweepers/Trucker C, first, 3:05.85; Arden Greanya, Calgary, Alberta, Drift Racing/Leatt/Fox/Polygon, second, 3:08.28; Brad Delzer, Gresham, Ore., Todd Olson, third, 3:08.85.

Cat 1 Women 19+ — Linnea Rooke, Fall City, Melvin Racing Family, first, 3:29.17; Connor Shae James, Bellingham, Liet Unlimited/Kona Bikes, second, 3:38.66; Christine Stivers, Mount Vernon, third, 3:48.63.

Cat 1 Girls 0-18 — Sydney Haberman, Redmond, Sweetlines JR Racing, first, 3:24.00; Aleda Toronitz, Brentwood Bay, B.C., Santa Cruz/Cowichan Cycles, second, 3:24.14; Bryce Bassett, Wenatchee, Jr. Progression Racing/Pivot Fact, third, 3:24.25.

Cat 1 Boys 0-18 — Ethan Shandro, North Vancouver, B.C., Trek BC Devo, first, 2:34.76; Matt Sterling, San Jose, Calif., Commencal USA, Maxxis Tires, second, 2:37.65; Gideon Bender, Duvall, Kona/RaceFace/Fox/B-Line Racing, third, 2:42.34.

Pro Women — Kialani Hines, Seattle, Troy Lee, Shimano, Stans NoTub, first, 3:06.25; Kaytlin Melvin, Sammamish, Santa Cruz/DHaRCO/Maxxis, second, 3:06.26; Britney White, Glacier, Shimano/Fox/Deity/Profile/TLD, third, 3:10.37.

Pro Men — Magnus Manson, Victoria, B.C., Canyon Bikes, first, 2:29.71; Kiran MacKinnon, Santa Cruz, Calif., Santa Cruz Bicycles, second, 2:31.83; Austin Warren, Alpine, Calif., Yt. Industries, Fast House, third, 2:32.60.

Erik Gray of Yakima makes his way toward the finish line at the NW Cup downhill racing competion in Port Angeles on Sunday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Coming into the last big corner of the race down the Dry Hill course west of Port Angeles on Sunday are Joseph Mantis of Preston (409) and Jameson Raymond of Bonney Lake (463). The two were racing in the 14 and under boys category. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)