THE prosecution case against organisers of a mountain bike event at Llangollen in which a woman spectator died after she was struck by an out of control bike in 2014 is expected to close tomorrow (Thurs).

The event organiser, an alleged marshal and the British Cycling Federation deny health and safety failings led to death of Miss Judith Garrett

The jury at Mold Crown Court had been told that Miss Garrett was propelled backwards into a tree when a mountain bike rider lost control during a race – which the prosecution say was “completely avoidable”.

She was left with a fractured skull and devastating brain injuries after she was struck during the Borderline Downhill Series Mountain Biking race at Llangollen in August 2014.

Despite immediate medical attention from an off-duty paramedic at the scene and treatment at a specialist trauma unit, Miss Garrett, 29, from Prudhoe, Northumberland, died.

Michael John Marsden, 41, of Gressingham Drive in Lancaster, denies failing to conduct the event in such a way that people including Miss Garrett were not exposed to risk.

Kevin Ian Duckworth, 42, of Addison Street, Accrington, Lancashire, is alleged to have failed to ensure that his health and safety duties as an alleged marshal were complied with.

The British Cycling Federation faces a charge of failing to conduct its undertaking in such a way as to ensure the health and safety of people attending the event.

The jury has now heard details of the response given by Marsden to Denbighshire Council which has brought the case.

Marsden, trading as Borderline Events Management, said he ran mountain bike events and weekend practice sessions in the UK including national championship events, the UK regional series, Enduro events and grassroots downhill events.

A travel agent, he had been running British Cycling affiliated events since 2008.

He said he wished to express his sincere condolences to Miss Garrett’s family and her partner Peter Walton.

The biking community was very close knit and everyone had been devastated by her death, he said.

The Llangollen course at Tanygraig Farm was considered to be one of the most challenging downhill mountain bike courses in the UK, which accounted for its popularity.

In advance he produced a risk assessment which had been sent to British Cycling and no adverse comments had been made.

He appointed Kevin Duckworth as course manager who had more than 20 years of experience. There were nine marshals and a commissaire.

The course was taped in the same way it had for other events. It had been used for many previous events and photographs from other events showed that spectators covered its length including the corners.

It was not possible for an organiser to avoid situations in which spectators were in close proximity to the riders, he said.

When the collision occurred, immediate assistance was provided and the event was abandoned.

It remained unclear to him how Miss Garrett had accessed the area in which she was standing.

The scene was not an area that was considered to posed any greater risk or an area where spectators would normally stand. It was difficult to access.

He said the course had been taped in the same way that national events were prepared. He was committed to organising safe events.

A specific risk assessment had been prepared and an experienced team of race officials had been appointed.

The course had been carefully assessed, the race officials considered taping to be appropriate.

Kevin Duckworth, previously a member of the British Mountain Bike team who competed in the 1993 world championship, said he had assisted with organising events for many years.

He had significant experience of downhill events and was asked to assist as course manager.

He had no concerns for the safety of the course or in the way it had been taped.

Shortly before the incident involving Miss Garrett he was mending a damaged area of tape on the course.

The marshal at that point had been requested by others to move to the bottom of the course to assist with timing.

He rested on a crash mat but had an excellent view of the course and was able to see every rider descend.

He saw rider Andy Cody lose control and immediately went to the scene within seconds expecting to find him winded.

But he immediately saw Miss Garrett lying on the ground with injuries to her face and she had difficulty breathing.

He prioritised her airway and was about to turn her when he was joined by an off duty paramedic and deferred to his superior knowledge and training.

The event medical team arrived within minutes.

He said he was an experienced mountain bike event organiser and took safety extremely seriously.

Duckworth denied that he had left his post to lie down – he had his full attention on the course and the riders, he said. He saw the cyclist lose control and immediately went to assist.

Proceeding.