Eastern Region Mountain Bike League

Events July - Sept 2009

After an absence of many years, the Eastern Region is once again going to have its own series of MTB races in 2009. Although there have been the hugely successful Thetford and Beastway series and assorted standalone events at Langdon Hills, Danbury and Letchworth, these four brand-new events are a welcome addition to the riding options in the area.

Essex being chosen to host the 2012 Olympic MTB event, there is a real impetus to promote both competitive and leisure events for riders of all ages and abilities. With the goal of developing a long-term off-road cycling legacy, the British Cycling Regional Go-Ride Team and sportessex have been working to establish an Eastern Region Mountain Bike League (ERMBL). The league will give riders the opportunity to compete over a range of existing and new race venues across Essex and Cambridgeshire with the following events signed up for the inaugural season:

Event 1: Sun 19th July www.mudsweatgears.co.uk Danbury Outdoors, Danbury, Chelmsford, Essex
Event 2: Sun 9th August www.mudsweatgears.co.uk Codham Park, Beazley End, Braintree, Essex
Event 3: Sun 23rd August St Ives Cycle Club, Hinchingbrooke, Cambridgeshire
Event 4: Sun 20th September www.mudsweatgears.co.uk Langdon Hills, Corringham, Essex

Entry to any one of these events will make riders eligible for a League ranking that will be determined by points awarded according to their finishing position in each race. Final League standings will be based on a rider's best four point scores and trophies will be awarded to the highest place riders in the following categories:

Juvenile/Youth (12-16)
Junior Men (17-18)
Senior Men (19-39)
Veteran Men (40+)
Women (17-39)
Veteran Women (40+)

Entries for the three Essex events can be made via the Mud Sweat and Gears website www.mudsweatgears.co.uk - Entries for the St. Ives event are via the post. Please see the relevant websites for details. www.londoncyclesport.com has very kindly agreed to host the race results and league positions. The partnership with this excellent website will help to promote the league to riders throughout the East, London and South East.

Nigel Hampton, the British Cycling Eastern Regional Manager said "the ERMBL is an exciting development for the region that should appeal to all those that have been inspired by our Olympic successes."

Alistair Russell, Events Manager of sportessex said 'sportessex are very proud to have been integral to the formation of the Eastern Region MTB League. Often with all the talk around the Olympics, it is hard to see where the true legacy is, the establishment of the Eastern Region MTB League however provides a real opportunity any rider from across the UK to get a slice of the action!'