Biathlon Yukon is trying to bring attention to the sport year-round.

That desire has driven the organization to hold its first-ever Mountain Bike Biathlon Invitational, held at the Grey Mountain range last night.

"We really have a mission at Biathlon Yukon to expose people to the sport more, just for fun, summer and winter, and to make use of our trails more,” said Mary-Jane Oliver, vice-president of administration with Biathlon Yukon.

Twelve competitors took to the Grey Mountain trails after an orientation and safety session.

The riders raced a total of six kilometres, shooting prone after every two-kilometres loop, and took a 150-metre penalty for each target missed.

Jonah Clarke came out flying to take first place, followed by second place finisher Ben Lochridge and third-place finisher Jenn Roberts.

Top gun was shared between newcomers Carrie Burbridge (adult) and Hanna Jirousek and Cayley Sparks (youth women) with only two misses out of 10 shots.

"They were pumped when they were finished,” Oliver said. "They were all over it.”

She explained that Biathlon Canada sent the territorial club rules for mountain bike biathlon two years ago.

"But we hadn't followed up on it until this summer,” Oliver said.

This year, Biathlon Yukon decided to go ahead with the summer version of the sport.

Oliver stressed the importance of volunteers to help run the sport in the Yukon.

The next orientation session will take place July 18 starting at 6 p.m. at the Grey Mountain Biathlon Range.

The next race will take place July 25 at 7:30 p.m. with an orientation session starting at 6 p.m.

To pre-register or to volunteer with Biathlon Yukon, email Oliver at oliver.maryjane@gmail.com or call 332-5075.