Mud Sweat & Gears, Tunstall, Sunday 5/6

It was fantastic to see so the CYCC so well represented at the Tunstall forest round of Mud Sweat and Gears on Sunday. The red and white shirts are becoming a common sight on the starting grid.

The race was hosted by the Tunstall & Rendlesham Offroad Group (TROG) who had clearly spent some time piecing some great singletrack making up a totally new course from that raced last year. The circuit was not the only difference, last years race was a complet mudfest in the pouring rain, this year however, the trails were dry and dusty making for some excellent fast racing conditions.

John, Olly, Jordan, Alex & Harvey showing no pre race nerves!

First up was the challenger race, the club being represented by Joe Pitt, Alex Salmon, Harvey Jennings & Jordan Beighton. With some tough competition, the four of them were left battling for forth place going down the start straight into the first bend. In the thick of the action, Alex was unfortunate to come off on the loose surface, twisting his ankle in the process resulting in his early retirement. Early into the second lap, it became clear just how fast the boys were riding as both Jordan & Joe passed firstly myself and then John racing (riding at a sedate pace according to Jordan!) in the aduilts catagories. In the end, the win was taken by Ben Morris of Welland Cycling Club, Jordan came in fifth, Joe sixth and Harvey brought up the rear with a very respectable tenth.

Olly Ford in the lead!

Olly Ford and Fern Beighton represented the club in the Grommets U12 race. Earlier in the morning, the pair had enjoyed a coaching session including tips on riding on loose surfaces. The course itself was made up of a fireroad straight which then went into the trees around some of the same twisting single track raced on by the Challengers. Thomas Timberlake of Cyclelife Dunstable led from the start closely followed by Olly around the first lap. Olly then managed to take the lead as he crosssed the line after the first lap, a position he held through to the last couple of corners where he was knocked off whist overtaking a back marker letting Thomas through to take the win. Olly managed to get up and take a well deserved if slightly disappointed second place.

Fern on the singletrack

Meanwhile in the Girls race, Fern came in seventh place having completed all three laps.

Olly again represented the club on the podium having had two second places in successive races.

Olly & Thomas Timberlake on the podium

The next race is on July the 24th at Danbury Outdoors............