FROM chauffeur to commissar, Brian Whitfield has come a long way since driving his mountain bike-mad lads to competitions.

For since giving his sons Chris and Ged a lift 10 years ago, Whitfield has now been handed the chance to give the sport its biggest lift as mountain bike competition manager in the Commonwealth Games.

Whitfield's rise has been as sharp as one of the climbs on his Rivington Pike course -- a course voted even better than the one at the Sydney Olympics by the sports governing body, Union Cycle International.

And that came from supremo Ray Godkin, an Aussie himself!

Going back a decade, Whitfield must have wondered what he was getting himself in to.

But marshalling followed the lifts before he helped set up his own British Cycling Federation sanctioned series in the North West.

That landed him a position as a National Grade A Commissar -- responsible for checking courses, up-holding rules and making sure everything runs smoothly -- mountain bike police if you like.

Not bad for a builder from Foulridge.

"I suppose it is quite unique what I have achieved," said Whitfield, 54, who openly admits he is still overwhelmed at landing the post.

"A lot of people get into the sport through their children but I suppose I went that one step further. I have been lucky because I was in the right place at the right time.

"There are a lot of people who are equally as qualified as me but it helped that I lived in the area. And when the British Cycling Federation approached me and asked if I was interested I jumped at the chance."

Last week's visit from the UCI and the GB mountain bike team put Whitfield and his deputy Jack Aspden in the spotlight for the first time.

However, the hard work has been going on for more than two years.

"There have been a lot of environmental issues we have had to address. That has included meetings with local residents and environmentalists and working closely with land owners United Utilities and Chorley and Bolton councils.

"I would like to think we have been very aware of their needs."

The course itself makes the most of its natural surroundings and apart from a little pruning, the area has been left largely unspoilt.

Designing a course with riders from the far flung corners of the Commonwealth in mind was a bit more tricky.

"Normally you would design a course for a field of elite riders. But that is not the case when it comes to the Commonwealth Games because you may have riders who have little experience of top class events.

"So while the course is tough it is not dangerous. After all, these are known as the Friendly Games."

The four mile circuit near Bolton takes in single tracks, climbs and descents with sections such as the Chinese Gardens and Snake Bite Alley for riders to negotiate.

So far, the turn out of riders has been slightly disappointing -- South Africa have not even entered a team.

But that has not dampened Whitfield's commitment to making sure everything runs smoothly.

"As the Games get nearer the pressure gets stronger. When I started it was one day every fortnight, then once a week. Come June, I will be working on this four days a week.

"I think you would be fair to say that my business has suffered!"

The recent visit from the UCI finally brought it home to Whitfield as to the size of the event.

"The spotlight is going to be really on us. It is the first time mountain biking has been in the Commonwealth Games so this is really a showcase event. The BBC will be beaming live pictures across the world so I am just hoping everything goes as smooth as possible."

Come July 29, Whitfield's mountain bike affair will have come full circle.

For the boys he ferried around as youngsters -- Chris, now 27 and Ged, 22 -- will be riding the course opening and course closing bikes -- motor bikes to let everyone know the race has started and finished.

Well, it's the least they could do!