The Mantle family were rewarded for their prowess riding off-road at Mildenhall Cycling Club’s Annual Lunch and Prize Presentations

Dad Matthew improved on his previous year’s second place, to be the clear winner of the Senior Off-Road Championship. He won with 79 points from a maximum of 80 available, 25 points ahead of his nearest rival Garth Collier.

His wife, Diane, in the Ladies section went one better than Matthew, to secure the maximum 80 points from her best eight rides out of the 12 rounds in the competition. Judith Robb was just 6 points behind her swapping places with Jean Poole, as it was the same women who had contended the top three places in 2015.

Their son Colin, 14, repeated his convincing win in the Under 18’s Off-Road Championship, with 79 points. His closest rival on 74 points was another member of the Robb family, 15-year-old Alexander, with his younger brother Francis in third place.

The Mantle family who live near Feltwell, Norfolk have been members of the Mildenhall Club since 2009

The Club’s top accolade though went to Jean Poole, who for the first time won the Senior Super Championship. This is a season long competition with points gained from taking part in a Rough Ride, a two-lap Circuit Time Trial, Grass Track, Road Race, Hill Climb, Off-Road Championship, Cyclo-Cross, Club Night attendance, Club Run attendance and Club Worker (decided by members’ votes) that represents a truly all-round club member.

She was in complete shock at the announcement, even asking if the points had been added up correctly! Nevertheless, she had participated in the Off-Road Championship, Club Rides, is one the most regular attendees at the Club Night in their clubroom and scored very highly in the Club Worker, to score four more points than her closest rival’s Dave Bowers and Club Chairman Mark Burchett.

In the Under 18 Super Championship, it was again the same three contenders with 12-year-old Francis Robb improving on his points tally to beat his elder brother Alexander, ahead of Colin Mantle.

On the road, Colin retained the Carrington Cup as the fastest Under 14 year old, improving on his average speed over 10 miles to record 17.98mph. While Alexander showed his development to win the Dave Morley Cup averaging 19.32 mph over 10 miles for those under 16.

The presentations were made by the Club’s President Peter Bentley, held in West Row’s well-equipped Village Hall

The President was also on the receiving end, when the Club’s Chairman turned the tables on Mr Bentley to award him with the Committee’s Award. Mr Burchett presented him with a glass tankard engraved with ‘Services to Mildenhall Cycling Club’