All things thetford...

EASTERN REGION: Next stop - the iconic Thetford Forest - Sunday 8th May!

Sponsored by: Phils Bike Company, Chelmer Cycles, Health Muscle and Fitness and Moore & Large

If round 1 at Hylands Park is anything to go by - round 2 at Thetford Forest is set to be an epic day of racing for all. The guys at Thetford MTB Racing have evolved the course from last year - with its running in reverse and with some exciting new sections - which encapsulates everything from fast open fire roads to tight rooty singletrack!

With over 100 riders already registered - we strongly suggest you register as soon as possible. We were close to capacity at the last round (espeically in the racer race), and with round 2 at such an iconic venue we are expecting our largest field to date! To secure your place please click here

WEEKDAY BLAST: Join us for a weekday ride around the Thetford course

As mentioned, the guys at Thetford MTB Racing have evolved the course from last year and we would like to invite our new and regular riders for a weekday blast around the new look course on Wednesday 4th May from 6pm. The ride will give you an opportunity to check out the course, discuss the elements of the course and the event with the organisers and to socialise with riders.
Unfortuntely, as much as we would like to offer the ride free of charge, due to insurances we have to charge £3 per rider. Please register your place by clicking here. 

SUMMER ENDURO: So you think your fit? Here is your chance to prove it!

Sponsored by: Cycle Revolutions and City College Norwich

With 6hr, 8hr and 10hr races available - the all the new Summer Enduro will test your fitness, skills and sense of humour to the max!  

Taking place in the imfamous Thetford Forest on Saturday 9th July, the 8 mile summer enduro course (designed and built by the Thetford MTB Racing), promises to serve up the perfect mixture of tight twisty trails, with a number of super-fast fire roads; strategically placed for over taking and dare we say it - a breather! But be warned a multitude of dips and hollows on the forest floor provide further challenges to both new riders and experienced racers alike. Not to mention the inclusion of the endless stream of 'whoops' that litter the single track like a series of speed humps, to ensure both your fitness and skills will be tested to the max!

If the challenge of the race was not enough for you - make a weekend of it with family and friends - with Friday and Saturday night camping, post race BBQ, demos in the latest gear from Cycle Revolutions, sports massage from city college extreme sports unit and guided rides on Sunday morning for anyone that still has any energy!

With over 100 riders already signed up, the Summer Enduro is quickly becoming the 'one to race'  in the enduro calendar and to ensure your part of the festival weekender please click here to register

MSG Eastern: Hylands Race Report

By Sara Flatt - British Cycling

Set in rolling parkland, better known for hosting the Essex end of the annual V Festival, the MSG summer series got off to a fine start under clear blue skies and ideal course conditions.

MSG have extended their event programme this year to include mid week pre-rides of the course and 2 hours of race day Go-Ride coaching and racing for under 12’s. The timing of the Go-Ride events means that parents are free to race the mornings events while their offspring are being entertained and educated by Go Ride coaches. No more excuses then Mum & Dad!

Pre-entries were at their highest level and were boosted on the day by racers tempted out by the fine weather and opportunity to pick up valuable early season points.

The mornings racing covers juvenile, youth and senior fun/sport categories (Warriors). In the Warrior race it was first year senior, Daniel Barford who took the win, having a nervous race knowing that Paul Cooper (Basildon Timber) was never far off his wheel. John Heaney (Flitchbikes) came home in 3^rd with Victoria Gee 1^st woman.

Hargroves Cycles picked up 1^st places in the Juvenile and Youth boys races with Daniel Tulett and Harry Franklin. Behind Harry, Sean Dunlea (PCA Ciclos Uno) and Liam Cowell (Artic Premier) kept each other honest, finishing just 6 seconds apart. Imogen Buick (Salsa Factory Racing) was 4^th overall and 1^st girl.

The Go-Ride races fitted in neatly after the morning racing had finished. After a 1 lap gridding race the 23 Grommets lined up for a 3 lap blast around a specially laid out circuit. Ben Tulett took the narrowest of wins from Josh Peters, with Ben Clarke in 3^rd. Sisters Gemma and Zoe Whiffen took 1^st and 3^rd in the girls race with Imogen Pitcher grabbing 2^nd.

As the picnic blankets were spread out and families got down to some serious lunch action the Elite and Expert racers got ready to tackle the fast, narrow singletrack course. On the day entries made it possible to run an elite male category and these guys lined up on the front row of the grid with 63 experts packed tightly behind them. The race got away without incident and the starting loop around a grassy meadow ensured that by, the time the field dived into the first section of singletrack, hold ups were kept to a minimum.

Stephen James (AW Cycles), Billy Whenman (Whyte Bikes) and George Budd (Salsa Factory Racing) quickly formed a leading trio and were locked together for the first 4 of the 7 lap race. James and Whenman made Budd suffer on the fastest and tightest section of singletrack towards the end of the lap, with Whenman using his compact stature to good effect leading Budd  through some improbably narrow gaps. At the end of lap 5 James and Whenman came through the start together with Budd 12 seconds behind. But on lap 6, a problem with his rear wheel saw Whenman lose a minute and a half on James and get caught and passed by Budd. Two scorching laps by James secured his win, with Budd in second and Whenman 3^rd.

Just off the back of the first 3 elite riders, Jason Boutell (Revel Outdoors) put in a storming 1^st lap to secure his place at the head of the expert field. Although he faded a little toward the end he had done enough to hold off Shaun Aldous (Team CCN) and junior Hugo Robinson (XRT Elmy Cycles) who spent the entire race together, finishing 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

The women’s elite/expert field saw 6 senior and 4 veteran riders line up. First into the woods was Anna Buick (Salsa Factory Racing) followed by Hollie Bettles (WXC) and Amelia Cambridge (Velo Club Rutland), this order stayed the same until the finish with Buick taking the win by just over 2 minutes after 5 laps. Sue McIntyre (Newdales Giant) lead home the 40+ women.

Andrew Manning (Team CCN) was the early leader in the veterans race but Lloyd Bettles (Numplumz)caught him on lap 5, Bettles lost a little ground again on lap 6 but came back to take the win on the line. Jason Peters (Cycles UK) finished 3^rd.

Dennis Dix (Chelmer Cycles), Philip Buick (Salsa Factory Racing) and Ian Robson (MTS Cyclesport) took the podium positions in the grand veterans race.

Fabulous weather, a great atmosphere, a good venue and a competitive turnout of riders made this a superb start to the 6 race series. Next round is at Thetford Forest on May 8^th – if last years course is anything to go by it’s guaranteed to be another top venue and a top days racing.

MSG Eastern: Hylands Park Post Event Info

Thank you for supporting the Mud Sweat and Gears: Eastern Region MTB Series!

Results
To find out where you came click here

Photos
Click here to check out the photos from Hylands Park

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday 8th May in Thetford...

MSG Eastern: Hylands Pre Event Info

Online registration is now closed for MSG Eastern Region MTB Series: Hylands Park (Sunday 10th April 2011). We have receive a record amount of pre entries with over 200 riders, however there is still space for a few more on the day. Payment will be by cash only.

- To find out the specific location and other pre event information click here

- To check your entry and find out who has pre-registered click here

Look forward to seeing you this Sunday,

MSG Team