The final round of Mildenhall CC's year long Off-Road Championship took place on Sunday with Garth Collier taking the honours in the senior race ahead of Matthew Mantle.

Like the penultimate round held on a testing circuit at Emily's Wood, this was organised by younf Club member Colin Mantle and his school friend Barnaby Seaman.

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The latest member of the Club to organise a round of Mildenhall CC's year long Off-Road Championship, Colin Mantle is also the youngest to do so!

He might have had a little bit of help from Mum & Dad Matthew & Diane, also members of the Club, but the Junior member was definitely in charge, as he will be in the final round which takes place next Sunday 2nd December.

Not that there was any bias but it was Matthew, who after seeing Garth Collier lead on the opening lap, who took control of the remainder of the nine-lap race. These two riders lapped the rest of the field at least once and unfortunately for some, a second time.

It was exactly the same outcome in the Ladies section with Diane, finishing well ahead of Mandy Burchett on the testing circuit at Emily's Wood. Colin was ably assisted by school friend Barnaby Seaman, who then rode finishing just one lap behind the winner, in fourth place, in his first ever competitive race!

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Thanks to the Carter family round 9 of Mildenhall CC's year long Off-Road Championship went ahead at Emily's Wood.

Matthew Mantle might have regretted that, as having suffered a puncture on the first lap he found himself in a very unlikely and most unusual poition bringing up the rear! However, he deserves credit for recovering from that setback to finish the race.

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Fordham Circuit Time-Trial

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Held at Emily's Wood.

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Held at Emily's Wood.

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Red lodge Circuit Time-Trial

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Held at Mildenhall Woods, with time-keeping looked after by Dave Bowers and Jean Poole.

Round 5 - Uphill

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Fordham Circuit Time-Trial

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With temperatures above freezing and snow beginning to melt, the decision was made to run the third round of the Club Off-Road Champs' at Fire Route 24.  A bit of work the day before had left a mostly clear path through the snow but the overnight thaw resulted in much soft ground.  11 riders braved the conditions and went home very muddy !

The Senior men set off first with the Juniors & Ladies following ten minutes later.  Garth Collier led the men away, pursued by David Robb, Matthew Mantle & Marc Bowers.  Marc was making a welcome return to the Off Road Champs' after several years away !

After a lap the riders settled into new positions on the wet tracks.  David was closely followed by Marc, with increasing gaps to Garth and Matthew as the going got harder.  After 40 minutes the final lap ended in a sprint between David & Marc, with the former taking the victory by less than a bike length ! (Pictured right - from L to R, Marc Bowers, David Robb & Garth Collier)

Although a junior Alex Robb chose to ride with the seniors as training for the Mud Sweat & Gears series.  He finished ahead of Dave Bowers who managed to find a wet puddle to break his fall on one slippy corner.

Mark Burchett followed behind, carefully pacing his effort on the energy-sapping climbs to stay below his heart rate limit.

The Junior race was won by Colin Mantle, followed by Alex Robb who was making the most of a rare 'day off' from rugby. Judith Robb finished first in the Ladies race after mastering her narrow commuter tyres in the slippery conditions.

Everyone enjoyed it but agreed it would be nice to have a drier course next time - roll on Spring !

Matthew Mantle

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