Despite the bad weather the Fat Face Night Ride attracted huge crowds on Saturday night, who watched in amazement as downhill cyclists shot down the castle embankment and along the South Bay, jumping over manmade obstacles and negotiating tough downhill sections.

Ian Williams, event manager, said: "We decided to come to Scarborough as it is such a beautiful town. We were looking for somewhere centred around a hill, and somewhere reasonably north and this proved the perfect location.

"Scarborough Council have been amazing, we have had nothing but support from them which has been a huge help as it means we can organise events like this much quicker. They have probably been the most proactive council I have ever worked with."

The event, which is the last stop on the tour for the Fat Face Night Series, brought 300 riders – amateurs and professionals – to the town, including top names such as Fat Face Team Rider Scott Beaumont, Matthew Simmonds, Helen Gaskill and current Masters World Champion Lynda Davies.

Welsh First Place Master Sion Jones, 32, was one of the riders who was visiting Scarborough for the first time. He said: "It is a good venue here, definitely better than Edinburgh. The track itself is not too challenging, but the wind has made it very difficult today."

Rachel Anning, event communications manager, said: "Despite the wet weather 300 riders still turned up. And there was quite a crowd on the finish line and up near the castle.

"Scarborough has been a fantastic event location. We've had a very warm welcome here. We will definitely be thinking of bringing the Fat Face event here again."

Due to the nature of extreme sport, and the steepness of the descent, there were a number of casualties, some of whom were taken to Scarborough Hospital with suspected broken limbs.

Lance Harland, 35, from Sleights, near Whitby, usually rides at Dalby Forest. He said: "It is a good track here. It has a good mix of challenging and easier parts to it. The wind has been the most challenging aspect though, especially up at the castle where it is really strong."

The Fat Face Night Series also included skiing, sailing, surfing, mountain boarding, wake boarding and windsurfing at a number of locations around the country.

Mr Williams said: "While we have been in Scarborough we noticed a surfing event. We had never thought about Scarborough as a surfing location before as we normally hold our events in the south, but we will definitely keep it in mind for the future."

RESULTS:

Women's main race: 1st Tracy Moseley; 2nd Helen Gaskill; 3rd Katie Curd

Men's main race: 1st Dan Stanbridge; 2nd James Hughes; 3rd Neil Donoghue