Mountain Bike News - West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club

Mud Sweat and Gears 2016

2016-08-30T19:21:53Z

Mud Sweat and Gears 2016

Sunday 4th September Ickworth House, IP29 5QE

Round 8 of the 2016 Mud Sweat and Gears MTB Cross Country series is held at Ickworth Park on Sunday 4th September, co-hosted by the West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club. There are races in multiple categories:

Races

10:00 Start

Juvenile men - 13 to 14yrs (45mins to 1hr)
Youth men - 15 to 16yrs (45mins to 1hr)
Open men - 17+yrs (1hr)
Juvenile women- 13 to 14yrs (45mins to 1hr)
Youth women - 15 to 16yrs (45mins to 1hr)
Open women - 17+yrs (1hr)
Junior women - 17 to 18yrs 1hr to 1.5hrs
Sport women 19 to 39yrs (1.5hrs)
Veteran women 40 to 49yrs (1.5hrs)
Grand Veteran women 50+yrs (1.5hrs)
Elite/Expert women Licence holders (1.5hrs)

12:10 Start

Under 12 & Over 9 - 2km

(Under 12's have the option of a pre-race coaching session at 10am)

14:00 Start

Junior men - 17 to 18yrs 1hr to 1.5hrs
Sport men19 to 39yrs (1.5hrs)
Veteran men40 to 49yrs (1.5hrs)
Grand Veteran men50+yrs (1.5hrs)
Elite/Expert men Licence holders (1.5hrs)

Full details of all races on the MSG website: www.mudsweatgears.co.uk/format/

Practice & Coaching

Course usually open for practice round 9am - after the commissaire's inspection. A red flag will fly when the course closed and a green flag when open.

There is an event village with bike stands, refreshments etc.

Steve Manser will be coaching at venue on Saturday for a chance to pick up tips and ride the course - cost approx £20 for whole day. Contact Steve on 07887 543248 for more details or to book. He may do a ladies session if there is sufficient interest.

Parking

There is free parking for the event. Enter Ickworth park through the main gates. At the National Trust kiosk let them know you are here for Mud Sweat and Gears; there will be no charge. Go towards National Trust overflow car park and keep going, staying on the road right until the end - The MSG car park is just off to the right and will be well signed, Car parking is in grassed area and is FREE.

Helpers Required

WSW members are encouraged to help in setting up and/or in marshalling the races.

Saturday from 9am to help set up course -stake & tape and arena.

Sunday from 9am to marshal course all or part of day and clear up, we are usually done by 6pm and have reputation of being best course clearers!!

Everyone is very friendly and helpful. Good spectator sport too - plenty of action at well run event

Mud Sweat and Gears 2016

2016-04-18T21:19:21Z

Mud Sweat and Gears 2016

4th September 2016

The club will again be promoting the Bury St Edmunds round of the Mud Sweat and Gears Mountain Bike racing series at Ickworth park.

Volunteers will be requested as helpers to set up course and marshal on the day.

Contact Helen Ballam (ballam@sky.com)

G8 MTB Series 2016 Final Rounds

2016-03-15T08:20:43Z

Golden Malcolm MacFarlane in Top Finish

Codham Hall Equestrian Centre at Beazely End near Halstead provided a superb venue for the final round of 6 of this season’s G8 Winter MTB series on Sunday 13th March. In marked contrast to the rain and mud of recent weeks, riders faced up to a sunny and largely dry packed course which whilst relatively short at 2.40 miles still packed a punch.

An open and fast flowing first section including a water splash gave way to a novel hard packed area of BMX style sections which lead directly to a final third of steeply wooded banks and climbs, all clearly displaying the hall marks of MotoCross for which the course is mainly used.

Being the business end of the series, West Suffolk Wheelers & Triathlon Club riders were keenly contesting two podium places. Malcolm MacFarlane put in another trademark effort in the 4 hour Grand Vet category, and a superb display of well-paced enduro racing saw him finish 3^rd on the day, enough for 1^stposition overall in the series’ standing. A gold medal was a fitting reward for Malcolm’s tenacity and grit throughout the series.

Meanwhile Chris Hinitt, racing in the 2 hour Male Open category and in his first year of racing, finished 9^th on the day which guaranteed him a hard earned bronze medal and 3^rd overall placing for the series.

The third member of the trio, an off colour Darren Baker, withdrew after 4 laps in the 2 hour Grand Vet race although his efforts still saw him finish 15^th in the overall standings.

MSG Hintlesham

When it rains, it gets muddy-and a combination of heavy rain and deep mud forced organisers of the opening round of this season’s Mud Sweat & Gears MTB race at Hintlesham on Sunday 6th March to introduce a shortened, and, so as to ensure rider concentration, a more technical course. Undaunted, 6 Wheelers made the effort with the evergreen Paul Watson matching conditions with a fine 6^th (5 laps/1:34:37) in the Grand Vet Male category.

Outstanding club rider of the day was undoubtedly Paul Hanks in his debut race outing for the club. Riding in the Sport Male category, Paul powered around the course for 3^rd also completing 5 laps but in a superb 1:28:17.

Junior riders Robin Lines (8^th in Juvenile Male with 3 laps/1:32:22) and cyclo cross specialist Oliver Griggs (10^th U12 boy, 4/0:17:24) rode well although in the Open Category conditions got the better of Chris Hinitt (40^th; 2/0:58:58) and Richard Holland Jones (62^nd; 1/0:38:00).

MTB: MSG Round 6 Thetford Forest

2014-08-10T05:24:48Z

The sixth round of the Mud Sweat and Gears Series was held at Santon Downham (off Fire Road 24) and despite much recent rainfall the course was pretty dry and dusty. Four members were in action and all recorded top 10 finishes in the respective races. Members results: Paul Watson (6^th Grand Vet), Ross McKenzie (4^th Junior Male), Robin Lines (9^th Youth Male) and Rhys Holland-Jones (6^th Juvenile Male).

Well done to all. Next round 7^th September, Shouldham Warren, Norfolk.

MTB: MSG Round 4 Ickworth Park

2014-06-15T14:53:13Z

Almost perfect weather masked the treacherous conditions under wheel which greeted riders at the 4th round of the Mud Sweat & Gears mountain bike race held at Ickworth Park on Sunday.

MTB: MSG Round 3 Codham Park, Essex

2014-05-20T05:38:16Z

A thrilling and very challenging course welcomed the 7 Wheelers who made the trip to Codham Park on one of the warmest days of the year so far. In the morning races, Rhys Holland-Jones finished 8th in the Male Juvenile category. Sam Asker, despite a strong opening lap succumbed to the effects of dehydration and finished 18th in the same category. In the under 12 race, Matthew Whitwell finished 29th. Robin Lines finished 10th in the Youth Category and his father, Dick, finished 66th in the Open Race

In the afternoon race, Paul Watson (Grand Vet Male) put in another gutsy performance, despite having to make a last minute bike change of bike, still placed 8^th. Malcolm Borg finished 23rd in the Sport category

MTB: Mud Sweat & Gears Round 2

2014-04-13T20:16:54Z

Carver Barracks provided a brand new venue for the second round of the Mud Sweat & Gears mountain bike race series. The course featured some tough technical challenges requiring deft skills and strong nerves. There were a total of eight West Suffolk Wheelers & Triathlon Club riders involved of which four claimed top 10 finishes.

In the Grand Veteran race, Paul Watson produced another superb performance finishing 6^th. In the sport male category, Malcolm Borg finished 35^th despite arriving too late for a warm-up/reconnaissance lap and having to learn about course as he raced it. Not ideal!

Earlier in the day, Sam Asker left it to the final lap before making his move to claim a hard fought 3^rd place in the male juvenile race. Rhys Holland-Jones finished 8^th in the same race. Robin Lines finished 10^th in the youth race.

In the Open male category, Garth Collier finished 21^st and Dick Lines 58^th but Richard Holland-Jones had to retire on lap 2.

The series stays in Essex where Codham Park hosts round 3 on 18^th May. Full details on their website http://mudsweatgears.co.uk/

MTB: Nationals Round 1, Codham, Essex

2014-04-03T19:43:22Z

Samuel Asker had a full and varied weekend. A day's racing on the boards at Newport velodrome on Saturday was followed by a trip to Codham, Essex on Sunday to compete in Round 1 of the BC National cross-country MTB Series.

The course was pretty technical and probably uniquely featured a section of BMX pump track. Following a reconnaissance lap, Sam wasn’t too keen on racing but a second lap in the company of a couple of Eastern region mates calmed the nerves and he decided to race.

In only his fourth ever MTB race, this was always going to be a big learning experience and Sam started off at the back of the field. The first lap was slow and tentative, but as the race progressed into the second lap, confidence grew and he began to pick up places eventually finishing 30th overall (male juvenile). Not bad at all for the Nationals and in only his 4^th ever mountain bike race...!

MTB: Rendlesham Forest MSG Round 1

2014-03-17T19:04:03Z

Seven members of West Suffolk Wheelers & Triathlon Club raced in the first round of Mud Sweat & Gears Mountain bike series on Sunday. Held over a fast and largely flat course in Rendlesham Forest, but with enough technical challenges, including what was billed as the largest crater in the east region, to test bike handling skills.

MTB: 5x3 Shouldham Warren

2014-03-11T19:53:46Z

The final round of the winter 5 x 3 Mountain Bike race series was held at Shouldham Warren in Norfolk on Sunday. The course was newly extended, hilly and sandy in sections. The headwind made for challenging climbs as the race progressed.

West Suffolk Wheelers & Triathlon Club was well represented, with 4 riders contesting the U16 race. Finishing 2^nd overall and (first Under 14) Sam Asker, who completed 4 laps in 1 hour 16 mins 53 secs. He was followed by club mates Robin Lines (5^th), Rhys Holland-Jones (6^th), both ever present in this competition and relishing their racing, and newcomer Matt Asker (7^th), all of whom completed 3 laps.

Meanwhile, Paul Watson and Richard Holland-Jones competed in the senior race, with Paul finishing in 18^th position (5 laps in 1 hour 25 mins 45 secs) and Richard 46^th (4 laps in 1:39:53).