Tunstall – That’s a wrap!
Wow what a fantastic weekend!! It was great to see so many riders come and support the first round of the 2012 MSG series and it made all the work me, Graham and TROG’s put in over the winter more than worth it!!
Graham has written a great piece on MSG as a whole and where we are going – please read the attachment.
Results can be found here: www.timelaps.co.uk
Race Report can be found here: velouk.net
Race Photo’s can be found here: TROG MTB
Number Boards
If you raced at Tunstall you are now the proud owner of an MSG number board. Please retain your number board for all future MSG events as a replacement will cost you £10!
Should you have a number board and pre register for upcoming MSG events you still need to visit registration to receive your coloured sticker. This applies to everyone with a number board – no coloured sticker on the appropriate round box then as far as we’re concerned you either haven’t visited registration or worse haven’t paid!
Series Entrant Prize Winner
As many of you are aware we had a prize draw for all the people who entered the series before the 28th March. The lucky recipient of all the great prizes was Gary Byford!!
Evaluation for MSG round 1
If you competed in MSG round 1 then we want to hear from you! Please click on the link MSG Round 1 Survey to complete the online survey; it will only take a couple of minutes. We want to hear anything and everything both good and bad!
Hylands Park
We are only 3 weeks away from round 2 of MSG at Hylands Park and as we received such a large entry for Tunstall Forest I would suggest getting your entry in so to avoid disappointment!!!
Enter here: Hylands Park entry
Stay Connected
To keep up to date with everything Mud, Sweat and Gears visit the website and sign up to the newsletter.
To receive information on special offers from our sponsors and to keep up to date with all the news from the trails ‘like’ our Facebook page and visit the blog through the website. Stay in touch via Twitter @MSGEast.
Event Details
Round 1: 1st April – Tunstall Forest, Suffolk
Round 2: 29th April – Hylands House, Essex
Round 3: 13th May – Thetford Forest – Incorporating Regional Championships, Norfolk
Round 4: 3rd June – Codham Park, Essex
Round 5: 17th June – Ickworth House, Suffolk
Matt and Graham.
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Hello and welcome to the MSG March Newsletter – Part 2!
There’s so much going on in the world of MSG we’ve had to put together another newsletter just to keep you all updated as we approach the first round in 11 days time!!
1 Week to go!!!
Pre online entries for Tunstall Forest are open for just 1 more week. Entries close at 11:59pm on Tuesday 27th March. All pre-entered riders will receive the pre-race information pack via email on Wednesday 28th March with race times, directions and event village details.
To enter online please visit: British Cycling - online entry.
Get your series entry (4 race entries) in before 11:59pm on the 27th March to be with a chance to win this fantastic prize!!! (Anybody entering 4 races after this date will still qualify for the overall series result but won’t be eligible to win the raffle prize).
Prize draw will take place Tunstall Forest during the podium presentation at 1pm.
The prize fund for one lucky series entrant to win is growing by the day, at present we have:
• The Mountain Bike Skills Manual by Clive Forth
• Hardnutz helmet – kindly donated by Hardnutz Helmets
• Tyres
• Tools
• Nutrition
• More to follow!!
New Sponsor
We are very please to announce that Intrepid Apparel has joined MSG as a co-title sponsor for the 2012 season. Intrepid Apparel will be present at every MSG round throughout the year giving you the opportunity to try and buy some of their excellent clothing and also providing expert advice on technical mtb clothing!
Intrepid Apparel is a British owned and operated mountain bike clothing company. Intrepid clothing is built with attention to detail, focus on quality and commitment to durability for the most discerning mountain bike rider. Intrepid strives to design items of clothing without compromise that blend style with optimum performance.
Intrepid was brought into being to develop a collection of clothing that would celebrate the adventure of mountain biking. Intrepid was originally envisioned by a group of riders who wanted to create the finest mountain bike clothing for people who shared their passion. Intrepid’s clothing collections are designed and developed by riders to be the best performing and most stylish for people who participate in one of the most challenging and rewarding sports in the world.
http://www.intrepidapparel.co.uk/
Round 1 Gridding
With the space available to us at Tunstall Forest we have decided to grid the starts (top 16 riders). Your grid position will be based on last year’s series standings. If you did not compete in lasts year’s series and feel you deserve to be gridded then please email me with you best 5 results from the 2011 season and a decision will be taken accordingly.
Weather Forecast
Straight from BBC Weather for the week 26th March to 1st April.
The balance of probability currently favours a return to anticyclonic conditions, leading to yet another week of predominantly dry and settled weather across the bulk of the UK.
This will continue the run of above-average temperatures, the likes of which we would normally see during early summer. Again the daytime values will depend on amounts of cloud, and the persistence during the morning of any overnight fog. Under clear skies, night-time values could fall low enough for frost.
Stay Connected
To keep up to date with everything Mud, Sweat and Gears visit the website and sign up to the newsletter.
To receive information on special offers from our sponsors and to keep up to date with all the news from the trails ‘like’ our Facebook page and visit the blog through the website. Stay in touch via Twitter @MSGEast.
Event Details
• Round 1: 1st April – Tunstall Forest, Suffolk
• Round 2: 29th April – Hylands House, Essex
• Round 3: 13th May – Thetford Forest – Incorporating Regional Championships, Norfolk
• Round 4: 3rd June – Codham Park, Essex
• Round 5: 17th June – Ickworth House, Suffolk
Matt and the MSG team.
1 Week to go!!!
Pre online entries for Tunstall Forest are open for just 1 more week. Entries close at 11:59pm on Tuesday 27th March. All pre-entered riders will receive the pre-race information pack via email on Wednesday 28th March with race times, directions and event village details.
To enter online please visit: British Cycling - online entry.
Get your series entry (4 race entries) in before 11:59pm on the 27th March to be with a chance to win this fantastic prize!!! (Anybody entering 4 races after this date will still qualify for the overall series result but won’t be eligible to win the raffle prize).
Prize draw will take place Tunstall Forest during the podium presentation at 1pm.
The prize fund for one lucky series entrant to win is growing by the day, at present we have:
• The Mountain Bike Skills Manual by Clive Forth
• Hardnutz helmet – kindly donated by Hardnutz Helmets
• Tyres
• Tools
• Nutrition
• More to follow!!
New Sponsor
We are very please to announce that Intrepid Apparel has joined MSG as a co-title sponsor for the 2012 season. Intrepid Apparel will be present at every MSG round throughout the year giving you the opportunity to try and buy some of their excellent clothing and also providing expert advice on technical mtb clothing!
Intrepid Apparel is a British owned and operated mountain bike clothing company. Intrepid clothing is built with attention to detail, focus on quality and commitment to durability for the most discerning mountain bike rider. Intrepid strives to design items of clothing without compromise that blend style with optimum performance.
Intrepid was brought into being to develop a collection of clothing that would celebrate the adventure of mountain biking. Intrepid was originally envisioned by a group of riders who wanted to create the finest mountain bike clothing for people who shared their passion. Intrepid’s clothing collections are designed and developed by riders to be the best performing and most stylish for people who participate in one of the most challenging and rewarding sports in the world.
http://www.intrepidapparel.co.uk/
Round 1 Gridding
With the space available to us at Tunstall Forest we have decided to grid the starts (top 16 riders). Your grid position will be based on last year’s series standings. If you did not compete in lasts year’s series and feel you deserve to be gridded then please email me with you best 5 results from the 2011 season and a decision will be taken accordingly.
Weather Forecast
Straight from BBC Weather for the week 26th March to 1st April.
The balance of probability currently favours a return to anticyclonic conditions, leading to yet another week of predominantly dry and settled weather across the bulk of the UK.
This will continue the run of above-average temperatures, the likes of which we would normally see during early summer. Again the daytime values will depend on amounts of cloud, and the persistence during the morning of any overnight fog. Under clear skies, night-time values could fall low enough for frost.
Stay Connected
To keep up to date with everything Mud, Sweat and Gears visit the website and sign up to the newsletter.
To receive information on special offers from our sponsors and to keep up to date with all the news from the trails ‘like’ our Facebook page and visit the blog through the website. Stay in touch via Twitter @MSGEast.
Event Details
• Round 1: 1st April – Tunstall Forest, Suffolk
• Round 2: 29th April – Hylands House, Essex
• Round 3: 13th May – Thetford Forest – Incorporating Regional Championships, Norfolk
• Round 4: 3rd June – Codham Park, Essex
• Round 5: 17th June – Ickworth House, Suffolk
Matt and the MSG team.
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
Hello and welcome to the MSG March Newsletter!
This is our first newsletter for the 2012 season with this and future newsletters containing information on MSG activities, special offers from our sponsors and all things Eastern Region MTB!!
Top Story
We are very please to announce that Cycle Evolution has joined MSG as a co-title sponsor for the 2012 season. Cycle Evolution will be present at every MSG round throughout the year providing expert advice on all types of bikes and accessories.
Conceived from 25 years experience of riding, racing, upgrading and serving riders just like you, comes the next level of bicycle store. We’re creating an un-ashamedly serviced focussed experience where attention to detail is the mantra. In a new purpose built space let us work alongside you to personalise, fit and tune your riding experience – true value epitomised.
www.vivelaevolution.co.uk
Entries
Entries are coming in thick and fast and with only 4 weeks to go until out first round at Tunstall Forest I would get your entry in to save any disappointment!! Pre-enter online to save money as on the day entries are subject to a higher fee as explained in the FAQ’s on the website.
Series Entrants Prize Draw
The prize fund for one lucky series entrant to win is growing by the day, at present we have:
The Mountain Bike Skills Manual by Clive Forth
Get your series entry (4 race entries) in before the 27th March to be with a chance to win these fantastic prizes!!!
Prize draw will take place Tunstall Forest during the podium presentation at 1pm.
Codham Park Adult MTB Courses
I’ve received some exciting information from John Stockwell (BC Go-ride coach) for anyone interested in improving their MTB skills or maybe for anyone interested in trying MTBing for the first time. John has arranged for a number of coaching sessions to take place at Codham Park and should you want to either brush up on your riding or learn some new skills before the racing starts then please visit www.atbcoaching.co.uk for more information.
Update from the Trails
The guys and gals at TROG’s have done a great job and created a fantastic new course for the opening round of MSG 2012. Video of the course to be released shortly via Facebook and Twitter!! Tweeks to the Hylands Park route are underway to give us the possibility of running the course in reverse to previous years. I and G explored Ickworth House over the weekend and we were pleased with what we found!! It promises to be a course suitable for everyone to find a challenge on with the hills and the vast woodland!!
Women’s Race
Many of you will have noticed that the female start times have changed. The reasons for this are that when evaluating the 2011 season we saw that average female attendance across the series was very low. With the old format the women were spread throughout the day and always placed at the back of the male races, this led to sometimes only 2 or 3 women taking the start.
By placing the women all together (all be it still categorised separately) it is hoped that we can encourage more women to take part, increase the competition between them and to provide them with their own identity.
To keep up to date with everything Mud, Sweat and Gears visit the website and sign up to the newsletter.
To receive information on special offers from our sponsors and to keep up to date with all the news from the trails ‘like’ our Facebook page and visit the blog through the website. Stay in touch via Twitter @MSGEast.
Event Details
Round 1: 1st April – Tunstall Forest, Suffolk
Round 2: 29th April – Hylands House, Essex
Round 3: 13th May – Thetford Forest – Incorporating Regional Championships, Norfolk
Round 4: 3rd June – Codham Park, Essex
Round 5: 17th June – Ickworth House, Suffolk
Matt and the MSG team.
Series Entrants Prize Draw
The prize fund for one lucky series entrant to win is growing by the day, at present we have:
The Mountain Bike Skills Manual by Clive Forth
- Hardnutz helmet – kindly donated by Hardnuts Helmets
- Tyres
- Tools
- Nutrition
- More to follow!!
Get your series entry (4 race entries) in before the 27th March to be with a chance to win these fantastic prizes!!!
Stay Connected
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Welcome to Mud, Sweat and Gears 2012!!
I have the pleasure in announcing Mud Sweat and Gears 2012! We hope you are as excited as we are about what we have planned for this year and we look forward to seeing you on the start line at the first round in April. Our new Mud, Sweat and Gears website is live with all the information you require to enter online and compete in our races!
Eastern Region MTB Series
Eastern Region MTB Series offers riders of all abilities the chance to test their fitness, nerve and bike handling skills at five great courses throughout Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. The series brings together established venues such as Thetford Forest and Tunstall Forest alongside exciting newer courses, so whether you like free flowing trails or a tighter, more technical circuit, there is something for everyone.
Mud, Sweat and Gears 2012
• 1st April – Tunstall Forest, Suffolk
• 29th April – Hylands House, Essex
• 13th May – Thetford Forest – Incorporating Regional Championships, Norfolk
• 3rd June – Codham Park, Essex
• 17th June – Ickworth House, Suffolk
Please note that dates and venues are subject to change.
Changes
With the feedback we received on last years series we have made some changes to the categories and the start procedures.
For 2012 the Warrior category has be renamed as the Open category for both male and female riders. The Open category is aimed at those new to racing and those of us who have other commitments on a Sunday. The Open race will last approximately 1 hour with a race start of 10am.
We have added both a Junior (17 to 18 years) and a Master (30 to 39 years) categories, both male and female, after listening to feedback and the growing demand for these categories.
Sponsors
We are pleased to retain the support from Chelmer Cycles and Health Muscle and Fitness and welcome a new sponsor in Human Performance Unit (Essex University). We expect to announce new sponsors in the coming weeks and together we believe we can continue to improve and grow MSG into one of the best regional MTB series in the country!
Stay Connected
To keep up to date with everything Mud, Sweat and Gears visit the website and sign up to the newsletter.
To receive information on special offers from our sponsors and again lots of info on MSG ‘like’ our Facebook page and visit the blog through the website. Stay in touch via Twitter @MSGEast.
Look forward to seeing you all at a Mud, Sweat and Gears event soon!!
Matt and the MSG team.
Eastern Region MTB Series
Eastern Region MTB Series offers riders of all abilities the chance to test their fitness, nerve and bike handling skills at five great courses throughout Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. The series brings together established venues such as Thetford Forest and Tunstall Forest alongside exciting newer courses, so whether you like free flowing trails or a tighter, more technical circuit, there is something for everyone.
Mud, Sweat and Gears 2012
• 1st April – Tunstall Forest, Suffolk
• 29th April – Hylands House, Essex
• 13th May – Thetford Forest – Incorporating Regional Championships, Norfolk
• 3rd June – Codham Park, Essex
• 17th June – Ickworth House, Suffolk
Please note that dates and venues are subject to change.
Changes
With the feedback we received on last years series we have made some changes to the categories and the start procedures.
For 2012 the Warrior category has be renamed as the Open category for both male and female riders. The Open category is aimed at those new to racing and those of us who have other commitments on a Sunday. The Open race will last approximately 1 hour with a race start of 10am.
We have added both a Junior (17 to 18 years) and a Master (30 to 39 years) categories, both male and female, after listening to feedback and the growing demand for these categories.
Sponsors
We are pleased to retain the support from Chelmer Cycles and Health Muscle and Fitness and welcome a new sponsor in Human Performance Unit (Essex University). We expect to announce new sponsors in the coming weeks and together we believe we can continue to improve and grow MSG into one of the best regional MTB series in the country!
Stay Connected
To keep up to date with everything Mud, Sweat and Gears visit the website and sign up to the newsletter.
To receive information on special offers from our sponsors and again lots of info on MSG ‘like’ our Facebook page and visit the blog through the website. Stay in touch via Twitter @MSGEast.
Look forward to seeing you all at a Mud, Sweat and Gears event soon!!
Matt and the MSG team.
Monday, 24 October 2011
Mud, Sweat and Gears 2012 Dates!
Its with great pleasure that I can announce the dates for Mud Sweat and Gears 2012. We have a slightly shorter, compact season this year as we have the Summer Enduro and National XC Series round 5 in July with the Olympics arriving in August!
Mud, Sweat and Gears 2012
Summer Enduro
British Cycling National XC Series
Please keep an eye on the blog for exciting news about the MSG Series and Summer Enduro and a new look website coming in the New Year.
Looking forward to seeing you all in 2012!!
MSG Team
Mud, Sweat and Gears 2012
- 1st April - Venue TBC
- 29th April - Hylands House, Chelmsford, Essex
- 13th May - Thetford Forest - Incorporating Regional Championships
- 3rd June - Venue TBC
- 17th June - Venue TBC
Summer Enduro
- Saturday 30th June - Thetford Forest, Thetford MTB Racing.
British Cycling National XC Series
- Round 5 - 15th July - Langdon Hills, Essex
Please keep an eye on the blog for exciting news about the MSG Series and Summer Enduro and a new look website coming in the New Year.
Looking forward to seeing you all in 2012!!
MSG Team
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
An Introduction and an Invitation
Dear Riders
An Introduction
As many of you are aware I have now taken over the fantastic work that Alistair has done in establishing MSG as one of the best regional series in the country. As someone who has been involved with competitive cycling for many years its with great excitement and enthusiasm that I'm looking forward to 2012 and the anticipation that the series is going to grow even further!
I would welcome any feedback from you on this years series so that if necessary we can make changes for 2012. Please feel free to email me on matt.ewings@essex.gov.uk.
An Invitation
After discussions with the Essex Legacy Team, MSG would like to extend an invitation to you to attend a guided walking tour of the Olympic Mountain Bike Venue at Hadleigh Farm.
The tour will take place on Saturday 22nd October at 10am and last approximately 1 hour. Please note that this is a walking tour only and no bikes will be allowed on site, therefore appropriate clothing and footwear should be worn.
Meeting place will be in Hadleigh Country Park at the end of Chapel Lane, Hadleigh, SS7 2PP. Parking available. There are 30 spaces available on a first come, first served basis.
To book your place on this free tour please email me on matt.ewings@essex.gov.uk.
I look forward to hearing form you all soon
Matt Ewings and the MSG Team.
An Introduction
As many of you are aware I have now taken over the fantastic work that Alistair has done in establishing MSG as one of the best regional series in the country. As someone who has been involved with competitive cycling for many years its with great excitement and enthusiasm that I'm looking forward to 2012 and the anticipation that the series is going to grow even further!
I would welcome any feedback from you on this years series so that if necessary we can make changes for 2012. Please feel free to email me on matt.ewings@essex.gov.uk.
An Invitation
After discussions with the Essex Legacy Team, MSG would like to extend an invitation to you to attend a guided walking tour of the Olympic Mountain Bike Venue at Hadleigh Farm.
The tour will take place on Saturday 22nd October at 10am and last approximately 1 hour. Please note that this is a walking tour only and no bikes will be allowed on site, therefore appropriate clothing and footwear should be worn.
Meeting place will be in Hadleigh Country Park at the end of Chapel Lane, Hadleigh, SS7 2PP. Parking available. There are 30 spaces available on a first come, first served basis.
To book your place on this free tour please email me on matt.ewings@essex.gov.uk.
I look forward to hearing form you all soon
Matt Ewings and the MSG Team.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Mission Complete for 2011. Plans for 2012...
Dear Riders,
What a season...
With Mud Sweat and Gears complete for another year, I would like to thank you all for you support and enthusium. With the warm up series, the eastern region mtb series,
weekday rides, schools events, and the all new summer enduro complete - its been a busy one with over 2500 participants taking part.
Looking forward...
Plans for 2012 are already in full swing with dates being confirmed as we speak for the Eastern Region MTB Series and the Summer Enduro. We are also very excited about hosting a round of the British Cross Country Nationals at Langdon Hills, Essex - which will mean that the Eastern Region will be hosting regional, national and with the Olympics at Hadleigh, Benfleet - international mountain bike races next year! Not bad for a region with no mountains...
Onto a personal note, with sadness but excitment for the future, this years series will be my last as i am emigrating to Australia in a few weeks. As mentioned however, Mud Sweat and Gears will continue to get bigger and better next year with Matt Ewings leading on the series. As many of you may know, Matt has played a key role in the series this year - leading on the courses at Hylands, Danbury, and stepping in at last miniute to run the Tunstall event. With this change in management and the series in full planning mode for 2012, Matt is really keen to hear from you via matt.ewings@essex.gov.uk on your feedback from this year and your thoughts for next year.
Special thanks...
With my departure - i would like to pay special thanks to those organisations and people who have supported me and helped grow MSG from its one off event in 2008, to what many regard as the largest regional MTB series in England: sportessex, Essex Outdoors, Danbury Outdoors, Essex 2012 Legacy, Essex County Council, Chelmsford Borough Council (Antony and Matt), British Cycling (Mark, Keely, Brian, Rachel and Sara) Adam Johnson, Graham Elliot, Phils Bike Company (Phil), Chelmer Cycles (Jon and Andy), Herogate Cycles (Dave), Moore and Large, Helath Muscle and Fitness (Ant), Trailnet (Geoff), Timelaps (Matt and Martin), Army Cadets, TROGs, Thetford MTB Racing (Paul, Mike and Debs), Codam Park (Sharron, Jason, Josh, Ben and Pete), , Roger Powell, Tony Williams, Gino Howe, James Price, Craig and Ross, Linzi Wood and Linzi Carlton.
Winter events...
Mud Sweat and Gears will be back in April - but in the mean time please check out the below events happening this winter:
Many thanks again. Wooop Wooop...
Alistair
alistair.russell@essex.gov.uk - until Friday 23rd September 2011
alyrussell@hotmail.com - there after
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