By Fergus Muir

Spectators basked in sunshine as they lined Ixworth High Street for an afternoon of cycle racing promoted by Bury club West Suffolk Wheelers on Bank Holiday Monday.

The red vests of children who take part in the club’s Tuesday evening Go-Ride cycle training at Priory School were prominent among those watching the quick-fire sequence of eight races run off in perfect conditions.

However it was black vests – of the Rapha Condor Recycling team - that dominated the chase for the £500 first prize in the race for Elite riders. Graham Briggs, Simon Holt and Rhys Lloyd steamed round in a demonstration of teamwork that ended in a sprint won by Briggs. Only Phil Hetzel of Ipswich Bicycle Club, eventually fifth, could offer a local defence.

The day started with a win for Phil Hargreaves of Velo Club Norwich who won the Masters race in the most convincing way possible – a lone break lasting almost the whole race.

“I thought I would give it a go, and soon realized no-one was with me” said Hargreaves

Watched a large crowd, he made full use of the closed roads to take the fastest line around the tight-cornered circuit eventually gaining over a minute’s lead.

On the last lap Lee Rowe blasted up the finishing climb to inch ahead of Craig Stevens  (Ciclos Uno) to take second place and  make it a one-two victory for the Fitt Signs-sponsored club.

Ipswich rider Emilie Fisher (www. Elmycycles.co.uk) took 4^th place among the women.

A spirited ride from Tristan Price won the Under 10s race for the Chelmer CC rider.

Racing at the same time, the Under 12s event went to Jake Poole of VC Lincoln, but as Poole lives outside the Eastern Region the Championship went to Sean Dunlea of Ciclos Uno. Jack Hardwicke of Plomesgate CC took the Under 12 bronze medal, just ahead of Edward Ballam, who lead his group out of the last corner and gave West Suffolk Wheelers men their highest placing of the day.

Hugo Robinson (Ipswich Bicycle Club) took the Under 14 regional championship with a lone breakaway. There was no stopping Ester Coleman who took the women’s Under 14 championship and 7^th place among the men.

Red vests were conspicuous in this race with West Suffolk Wheelers members Alan Trulove (9^th), Nick Garrad (11^th) and Ben Sturman (12^th).

Josh Edmondson from Leeds won the Under 16 race with Luke Newby (Diss & District) getting 3^rd  overall and second in the championship.  Robinson, having hardly paused for breath after his Under 14 win, finished fourth, and Will Adams of Mildenhall CC 10^th.

The race for third and fourth category seniors was run off at a furious pace with Ben Nicholson and Dominic Schils (both Lotto/Interbike) and Robert Hunt (API/Metrow) constantly attacking. Eventually Schils, who had already taken fourth place in the Junior race, established a secure lead. Beccles rider Nicholson, riding his first race of the season and on the strength of just lunch-hour training, seized second place just ahead of Hunt, who is from Yaxley, near Diss.

David Nichols (Glendene/Biketrax) was the strong man of the Junior race, leading team mate Nathan Edmondson in a race-long break and gaining a well-deserved victory.

The tricycle national championship went to Geoff Booker (Oxonian CC) with Roger Akers (TA East) in 3^rd, and Mick Madgett (Diss & District) 4^th