News: Mildenhall Rally Latest
The campsite at this year's Mildenhall Cycling Rally is full.
The campsite for caravans and family-sized tents is in the grounds of the Rally venue, which is based at the town's Riverside Middle School. The three-day cycling extravaganza attracts cyclists from across the UK for the August bank holiday weekend (Saturday 29th - Monday 31st August 2009).
"It normally does fill up before the event, but not quite this far ahead of the Rally. We do still have a few spaces for cycle campers but I don't think it will be long before they're snapped up too" said Mark Burchett, on behalf of the organisers, Mildenhall Cycling Club.
"We do have an accommodation leaflet available which lists local B&B's, guest-houses and hotels, as well as the few campsites in the surrounding area," he added.
The Mildenhall Cycling Rally, now in its 23rd year, has a range of cycling events on offer from a gentle 5-mile walk and touring routes, to the thrills and spills of top grass-track racing. There is very strong emphasis on events for the family and children on the self-contained site, with day visitors also very welcome. Entry and parking are free.
Every day there will be the Children's Sports, while on the Sunday and Monday for the younger visitor to the Rally there will be the bouncy castle and face painter. Additionally on the Monday there will be a children's entertainer, Adam Strange, with his Magic and Puppet Shows! All of these are also completely free of charge.
Although there is a small charge of just £2 per rider if entered before 22nd August (after which it will be £3), the Children's Skill-Tests now offer much more. Aimed at the under 16 year olds, they have been re-vamped and the ‘Skilful Riding' will now be run under British Cycling's the Go-Ride banner, by Bury St Edmunds based West Suffolk Wheelers.
Although the Rally is based on and around a tried and tested line-up of events, with the grass-track forming the centrepiece of the Rally, there is an exciting development for 2009 that will see Roller-Racing return to Mildenhall after a ten-year absence.
"Keen to see the rollers back at the Rally, Maldon and District CC spent the winter restoring our set of rollers so that they could once again be used for competition. We are really delighted by what they have done and cannot wait for what is sure to be an exciting evening's racing," explained Mark Burchett.
Other competitive events will include an early season Cyclo-Cross, run on a Madison basis where the teams of two ride alternate laps, while especially for the under 17's there will be the ever-popular Children's Duathlon.
Despite the economic downturn organisers are still expecting a very good take up of trade-space available in the two-day Trade Show (Sunday and Monday) making it one of the biggest in the UK open to the public.
On the touring front, Suffolk DA (District Association) of the Cyclists Touring Club will be organising 100, 200 and 300km Audax Rides on the Saturday. For those that want something more relaxing, the Mildenhall Club will be expanding the range of touring leaflets, it introduced so successfully in 2008.
Other attractions will include the ever-popular Cycle Jumble and Quiz Night. All the details about the Rally can be found on www.mildenhallrally.org.uk.
