NEWS FOR AUGUST 2003

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GREAT WEEKEND AHEAD AT MILDENHALL

This year’s Mildenhall Cycling Rally has attracted just about all of the countries top track riders. Only James Taylor, still recovering from a broken collarbone, will be missing.

The highlight of the packed three days of racing will be British Cycling’s National 8km Championships on the Sunday, which will be strongly defended by Evan Oliphant, who won the crown for the first time of asking at last year’s Mildenhall Rally. Track organiser, Max Pendleton, predicts the young Scottish rider will receive some stiff opposition, saying "the first two placed riders in this year’s National 8km League, Leigh Haigh and Jason Benham, as well as the Streather brothers are all due to ride. To add more spice, both Dean and Russell Downing are entered"

The Rally, organised by Mildenhall Cycling Club, also plays host to the penultimate round of the National 800m Series, where it is expected current leader Richard Kennedy will be challenged by all of the above riders, plus his brother Steve!

With the rise in popularity of women’s grass racing this year, there will be races for them on each of the three days, while the under 16’s will race as normal on Saturday and entries will be welcome from both riders on free and fixed wheels. Max’s daughter, the highly rated and talented Victoria (VC St Raphael), will be riding at Mildenhall fresh from her exploits in the recent World Track Championships in Germany, as well as winning the new National Ladies Kierin title!

This is the 17th Rally and continues to be the largest event of its kind organised by one Cycling Club and second only to the Cyclist Touring Club’s York Rally. It takes place over the August Bank-Holiday (Saturday 23rd – Monday 25th August 2003) at the Town’s Riverside Middle School, whose playing fields become a temporary home for over 300 families in tents and caravans.

As well as the grass-track, which forms the centrepiece of the Rally, it includes all the regular favourites. These range from Cyclo-Cross, Audax Rides, Off-Road Challenge (Bicycle Orienteering), Touring Routes, Led Rides, Cycle Jumble, a Slide Show ‘Andean Delights’ by CTC tour organiser Peter Crofts, Family Evening Entertainment with local Rock ‘n’ Roll tribute band Real Rock Drive, to the alternative Quiz Night. There are extra attractions laid on for the children including Children’s Sports, Children’s Duathlon, British School’s Cycling Association (BSCA) Children’s Skill Tests, as well as a face painter and bouncy castle.

After last year’s stunning display by stunt cyclist Jez Avery, the Rally will also on both the Sunday and Monday afternoon’s include the Elmy Cycles Trials Display Team, a group of very competent teenagers from Ipswich who will provide a demonstration of cyclo-trials and their skills.

"The Rally continues to go from strength to strength and with the Trade Show also bursting at the seams, we are expecting another highly successful weekend" says Mark Burchett one of the organisers from the Mildenhall Club, who are celebrating their fiftieth year in 2003.

"The Trade Show is one of the largest for the public in the UK, with free entry on both days. There will be over 40 stands representing a cross-selection of the cycling industry. Mildenhall is ideally placed in the centre of East Anglia and is no more than two hours from anywhere in the region, so is a must for any cyclist" he enthuses.

"For many communities such as Mildenhall who don’t have their own bike shop, the Trade Show provides a unique opportunity on their doorstep to stock up that component or even complete bike at amazingly low prices" he added.

At 2pm on the Monday the winners of the Children’s Word Search Competitions, to win a mountain bike, supplied by the Bike Factory of Chester, will be announced.

There is a free car park and with free entry for spectators, it is a cheap day out for all the family. The Rally campsite is full, but the organisers have listed local alternate caravan/campsites and B & B’s on their website at www.mildenhallrally.org.uk, which also includes full details for the rest of this cycling extravaganza. Email enquiries can be sent to info@mildenhallcc.org.uk.