Mildenhall Rally 2008

Following on from the outstanding success of the GB cycling team in the Beijing Olympics, cycling was once again the winner at the Bank Holiday weekend's Mildenhall Cycling Rally attended by Isla Louise Sue Kevin Tom Hannah.

According to Mark Burchett on behalf of the organisers, Mildenhall Cycling Club, "It has to be one of the best attendances at the Rally ever. Not even the heavy rain Sunday morning deterred the thousands of visitors to the Rally”. It was a brilliant weekend starting with Sue, Kev, Isla and Louise riding 100K Audax on Saturday morning around beautiful Suffolk Countryside. This was followed by Tom and Hannah having a full afternoon of grass track racing. Tom doing well and Hannah demonstrating talents we didn’t know she had.

Sunday morning saw Kevin competing in the duathlon –run 5k, cycle 25k and run another 5k. He managed a creditable 27th place out of the 120 competitors. Hannah then got first girl in the junior event. Again more grass track racing in the afternoon. It has to be one of the best spectator events, sitting in hot sunshine watching tremendous sport amongst like minded people.

There was a very special moment for Hannah and two friends on Sunday when they were chosen to carry the iconic London Olympic Handover Flag around the grass-track. This was a first in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and was one of over 500 flags simultaneously raised at 2.30pm around the UK.

The flag was carried by Hannah, Jodie and Sam, representing Beijing Olympians Nicole Cooke, Ross Edgar and Victoria Pendleton who have all ridden at Mildenhall in the past. They were selected having been the fastest boy and girls in the 14 years and over age category in the Children's Duathlon that morning and also as they have been attending the Rally with their parents since before the time when Cooke, Edgar and Pendleton competed at the Rally. Councillor Malcolm Smith, Vice Chairman of Forest Heath District Council said how thrilled he was that the Mildenhall Cycling Rally had been chosen to celebrate the Olympic handover. That was the moment when London became the official Olympic Games Host City.

The evening saw us entering teams in the annual quiz and not disgracing ourselves too much, all good fun!

Up again early on Monday morning for the Mad Madison Cyclo-cross event with tremendous efforts from our two teams with Kevin and Tom winning and Isla and Hannah gaining 6th place against some strong competition from over forty teams. This was followed by more successful competition from Tom and Hannah on the grass track throughout the afternoon with a grand effort in the Team Pursuit where Kevin and Isla were roped in to make up a Stourbridge team (2nd claim riders allowed) Again a magnificent effort gave them a creditable ride and an end to a wonderful week-end which we really recommend after our many years attending. Anyone is welcome to join us but you need to express your interest early to Sue who will do a block booking so that we all camp together. The pitches go very quickly.