Mildenhall celebrate Club Champions of 2009

Mildenhall Cycling Club have celebrated members' achievements of 2009 at their recent Annual Dinner & Prize Presentation.

Mandy Cook took the top award, the Super Champion, which is based on points awarded for competing in a Rough Ride, a two-lap Circuit Time Trial*, Grass Track, Road Race, Hill Climb, Off-Road Championship, Cyclo-Cross, Club Night attendance (from September to March) and Club Run attendance. She also pushed Club Chairman Barry Archer very hard in the Senior Off-Road Championship, forcing him to share the award that he won out-right in 2008!

There was, once again, no real surprise who the winners of the Hill Climb and Grass-Track Championships were in 2009. A former National 8km Grass-Track Champion, Max Pendleton comfortably saw off younger members Keith Richardson and Sarra Boyd on the track at last year's Mildenhall Cycling Rally, while on Primrose Hill in Moulton the father of Olympic and World Sprint Champion Victoria Pendleton MBE, had a clear ten-second margin ahead of his closest rival Richard Carrington. Carrington though showed his prowess against the clock on the road, to be the fastest club-member over 10 and 25 miles.

There was a very welcome return of Anthony Preece to the competive arena in 2009 and was rewarded by becoming the Club's Senior Cyclo-Cross Championship.

It is very pleasing that the Mildenhall Club is once again, as a result of it's Go-Ride programme, starting to attract younger members. One of those Adam Gough, was missing from the presentation, as he was in Great Longstone, Derbyshire competing in the British School's Cycling Association (BSCA). However, on the day both felt they might have done better to have attended the dinner instead.

Adam's father Adrian said "it didn't go too well. We battled through the snowy conditions to get there, but had to leave the car about half a mile from the venue and walk the rest of the way as the road was too slippery."

"We took Adam's usual bike, but left the one the Club had lent him on the back of the car, which was a bad call!. Unfortunately by the time his race started the course was very slushy. His bike had no traction. The one we left with the car with proper 'cross- tyres would have been far better. We're not sure yet where he finished as we left to get home before the results were posted, to get home in the best of the weather." he added.

Adam from Cambridge, finished 10th in the Under 12 age category. But a very philosophical Adrian, said later "It was a shame for him ..... but that's racing! We both learnt a lot about having the right tyres and bike for the conditions."

He was the Club's Youth Cyclo-Cross and Grass-Track Champion in 2009 and is pictured right, proudly showing off the trophies in the Mildenhall Club's headquarters.

For all complete list of all the awards and placings by Club members in 2009 click here

Younger member not put off by the weather - part 2!

Colin Mantle went to Kettering in search of more Go-Race competition on Saturday in his age group. But the re-appearance of the snow again, resulted in lots of cancellations, so there was only Colin, two 9-year-olds and an 11-year-old.

Colin came 1st overall with no handicaps. Dad Matthew, said afterwards " It was heavy going with a few inches of snow and they found it was quicker to run with their bikes in a lot of places! But they all had a good time though!"

Younger member not put off by the weather - part 1

A cold and foggy day did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the participants in West Suffolk Wheelers & Triathlon Club Go-Race, held in Moreton Hall in Bury St Edmunds. They included Mildenhall's Colin Mantle, who at just nine was also the youngest!

In the 11-&-under group (yellow vests) Colin received a medal for being 2nd boy and was third overall. The twelve riders did though escaped the rain, sleet and snow that came afterwards.