The Mantle family completed a clean-sweep in the latest and final round of Mildenhall Cycling Club’s Off-Road Championship.

Mum Diane (42), Dad Matthew (45) and their 14 year old son Colin were the quickest riders in the Lady, Senior and Juvenile categories over the one-mile course. Following the previous days rain the course, a mix of single and fire tracks at Emily’s Wood in Thetford Forest was, not surprisingly waterlogged in places making it very hard going.

Closely following Matthew home was David Robb, who also completed seven laps. A further two-laps behind in third was the Club’s chairman Mark Burchett, who rode rather than raced around the circuit. This was only the second time he had ridden the event since his heart surgery in June.

The year-long competition is for all members and of all ages of the Club with the result determined by the best eight rides from all the rounds. It is held within the confines of Thetford Forest and is therefore traffic free making it ideal for children. For details of next season’s competition and more details about the Mildenhall club can be found at www.mildenhallcc.org.uk

The winners of this year’s competition will be announced at the Club’s Annual Prize Presentation, which takes place at West Row Village Hall on Sunday 19th February 2017.

Results:

The latest round of Mildenhall Cycling Club's Off-Road Championships marked quite a significant turning point for the Club.

It was not because there were three sets of father & sons racing, which is quite a feat, but it was the return to the competition for the first time for Chairman Mark Burchett, following open-heart surgery in the summer!

The 54-year-old was admitted to West Suffolk hospital in June and within two weeks was transferred to the world-renowned Papworth hospital, where he underwent successful surgery to repair the mitral valve in his heart. He said afterwards "I was just following the excellent advice from the Cardiac Physio's to ride at a comfortable pace, which is exactly what I did. I certainly was not racing and just ignored the riders who kept lapping me!"

"It felt wonderful to be taking part again and even the rain held off until we'd enjoyed a cuppa afterwards from organiser Sturmey (Barry Archer)"

About his health scare the chairman explained "I just thought I had got a bad dose of the flu or a virus, but it turned out to be Bacterial Endocarditis which had caused some damage to a valve in my heart. I cannot fault any of the NHS staff who cared for me before I left West Suffolk hospital in August when my long-road to recovery started. I have recently been out on my bike a few times with my wife Mandy over short distances, although Sunday's Off-Road event was the first time not on tarmac and I'm feeling okay."

At the competitive end of the Over 18's race it was a tussle between regular Matthew Mantle and Matt Skeats retuning home after finishing his University work placement, with the younger of the two finished first. They were both one lap ahead of Garth Collier. Matthew's son Colin was the fastest in the Under 18's section, whilst his wife Diane, narrowly lost out to Judith Robb in the Women's section.

Judith's sons Alexander and Francis finished second and third respectively, while her husband David was fourth in the Over 18's section.

The year-long competition is for all members and of all ages of the Club with the result determined by the best eight rides from all the rounds. It is held within the confines of Thetford Forest and is therefore traffic free making it ideal for children.

Results:

Nick Banks (Ely & District CC) produced a storming ride up Primrose Hill in Moulton to break the two minute barrier, recording a time of just one minute 50.88 seconds!

Underlining the strength of his performance, he raced up for 930 yard hill nearly 19 seconds quicker than the next rider, club-mate Geoff Brewster (2m 9.49s)! His time was over two seconds quicker than he recorded in 2011 and it's the first time since 2008 that anyone had ridden inside the magic two-minute mark!

The fastest Mildenhall rider was fifth placed Pete Clements who stopped the clock at 2 minutes 26.10 seconds, with Judith Robb the only other senior Mildenhall rider, who finished narrowly over three minutes. Both her sons took part, with 14 year-old Alex recording a time of 2m 48s and 11 year-old Francis stopping the clock at 3m 53s.

The event was held jointly between Ely & District and Mildenhall Cycling Club's for their Annual Hill Climb Championships and in near perfect autumnal conditions.

Results from annual Hill Climb held on Primrose Hill, Moulton on Sunday.

Results:

Results from the sixth round of the 2016 Series, held on the 5 mile Fordham course, with Jean Poole time-keeping.

Results:

Results from the fifth round of the 2016 Series, held on the 9.2 mile Red Lodge course, with Jean Poole time-keeping.

Results:

Results from the third round of the 2016 Series, held on the 9.2 mile Red Lodge course, with Jean Poole time-keeping.

Results:

Round 5 - Uphill

Results from the third round of the 2016 Series, held on the 9.2 mile Red Lodge course, with Jean Poole time-keeping.

Results:

We have now had 3 of the 7 rounds of the 2016 Mud, Sweat and Gears (MSG) Series.

Matthew Mantle (right) set the standard high by winning an exceptionally muddy Open Male race in round one with Garth Collier following in 21st place.

The recent rain had turned the course to thick mud, to the extent that riders were carrying sticks and stopped at regular intervals to clean the mud from their bikes once the accumulation prevented the wheels going round. See below right

Colin Mantle had a solid 13th place in the Juvenile Male category, while Francis Robb was 20th in the Under 12 group. His Dad David managed 42nd in the Veteran's race.

In Round 2 at Henham Park, Matthew Mantle was in pole position in the grid for the Open Male race. He managed to come in fifth with David Robb following in 23rd after his change to the morning race. Alexander Robb (left) was very pleased with his ride in 13th place in the Youth Male category.  

Colin Mantle also managed 13th in the Juvenile race whilst Francis Robb came in 25th in the Under 12 race.

Round 3 was our home race at fire route 24 in Thetford Forest had club members out in force. Some of the course used our own Off-Road Championship course.

Both Judith Robb and Diane Mantle rode in the Open Female race with them finishing in 8th and 6th places respectively. Matthew still maintained his grid position in pole place and rode to a solid eighth in a field of 85 participants. Two of them being fellow club members David Robb (below right) in 25th and Alan Towler in 50th.

Jesse Towler came an impressive 17th in the Sport Male event.

Francis Robb (left) was pleased to gain his first gridding and rode to an improved 19th in the Under 12's. There were also impressive results for Alexander Robb finishing 16th in the Youths race and Colin Mantle was 10th in the Juvenile event.

We are looking forward to round 4 at East London Velo park.

Words & Pictures by David Robb

This round was cancelled due to the weather.

Results:

Results from the first round of the 2016 Series, held on the five-mile Fordham circuit, with Jean Poole time-keeping.

Although a depleted number of riders, those that did ride enjoyed a relatively easy ride weather-wise.

Thanks need to go to timekeeper, Jean Poole and the marshals Bert Woodhead, Dave & Viv Bowers.

Results:

Results:

The first round of Mildenhall Cycling Club's 2016 Off-Road Championship was held recently in Thetford Forest. It was a terrific start to the season for the Mantle family producing a clean sweep in their respective races.

Colin completed four laps of the course at Emily's Wood to finish ahead of Alexander Robb in the Under 18 category. Mum, Diane, finished ahead of Judith Robb in the Ladies section, while Dad Matthew won the tussle with Pete Clements to win the Over 18's race.

This was only the first round of twelve so there is a long way to go before this year's overall winners will be known, which will be based on the riders' best eight rounds. The next round will be held on Sunday 6th March at Emily's Wood.

Before then the winners of the Off-Road Championship for 2015 will be awarded their trophies at the Mildenhall club's Annual Prize Presentation. All of the Club's 2015 Champions will be presented with their awards at the luncheon that takes place this Sunday (21st February 2016) at West Row Village Hall.

Results: