XRT/Elmy Cycles team mates Nathan Miller and junior Hugo Robinson had time to stage a side-by-side finish in the opening cyclo-cross of the Eastern League. It was 28 seconds before Greg Simcock (Team Corley Cycles) stormed up the finish hill at Brickwall Farm, Sible Hedingham to take third place.

The judges credited Miller with the win. Teenager Robinson is something of a prot�g� of Miller, but competing together as team mates is new to them – as is being in the same race, Robinson having just joined the juniors, who race alongside the seniors.

The hilly and technical course suited Robinson and he set the pace in the opening laps with Miller and Simcock together until Miller escaped to join his team mate.

In the 40 minute Veterans & women’s race Tim Butler (Ipswich Bicycle Club) led on the first lap before Phil Buick (Thetford MTB) took, and held onto, the lead.

Alan Trolove (West Suffolk Wheelers) was clear winner in the Youth event,where the most serious challenge came from Sean Dunlea (PCA Ciclos Uno)

In the Under 12s Georg Jensen (Lee Valley Youth) soon put space between himself and the rest of the field, though a fast last lap from Zak Coleman closed the gap a little.

Sixteen year-old Sam Connelly of the Maldon & District CC made his mark on the national scene when he took an outstanding fourth place among the 130 finishers in the GHS 10, the national time trial championship for young riders. He covered the rolling single-carriageway course on the A38 north of Bristol in 22:22, 1:06 behind winner Ryan Mullen.

A new course record for the Redenhall to Bungay and back course was set by Gary Empson (API/Metrow) when he won the Norwich ABC 10 in 20:17. A 25:19 ride at the age of 74 won second prize among the veterans for Ged Coles (Wolsey RC), former King of the Mountains in the Tour of Britain.

Matthew Carter of the Maldon club took third place in the Victoria CC road race near Newport, Essex. In an extremely tight sprint finish Jack Clark (VC Norwich) and Martin Peck (London Phoenix CC) were declared joint winners. Mark Hurrell (Velo Schils/Interbike) was sixth.

Result : Eastern Cyclo-Cross League round 1, Brickwall Farm, Sible Hedingham,

Seniors, Juniors, Elite Veterans

1 Nathan Miller (XRT-Elmy Cycles) 10 laps in 51:34; 2 Hugo Robinson 1st Jun (XRT-Elmy Cycles) +0:00; 3 Greg Simcock (Team Corley Cycles) +0:28; 4 Andrew Nichols (Cambridge Uni) +1:47; 5 Josh Hannan Jun (Extreme Sports Therapy) +2:34; 6 Gavin Rumbles 1st Elite Vet (CC Luton) +2:44

Women, Veterans

1 Phil Buick Vet 50+ (Thetford MTB Racing) 7 laps in 40:49; 2 Bob Pisolker Vet 50+ (Finsbury Park) +0:38; 3 Tim Butler Vet 50+ (Ipswich BC) +1:03; 4 Geoff Bores Vet 50+ (Ford CC) +1:46; 5 Bob Flack Vet 50+ (Ford CC) +2:37; 6 Philip Cooper 1st Vet 60+ +2:39.....10 Susan Wood 1st Woman (Maldon & District) +3:22.

Youth

1 Alan Trolove (West Suffolk Whls) 6 laps in 33:10; 2 Sean Dunlea (PCA Ciclos Uno) +0:46; 3 George Wood (Maldon & District) +3:19; 4 Imogen Buick 1st Girl (Thetford MTB) +4:42.

Under 12

1 Georg Jensen (Lee Valley Youth CC) 7 laps in 14:18; 2 Zak Coleman (Tri-a-Sport) +0:33; 3 Sophie Holmes (Diss & District CC) +1:33; 4 Aaron Freeman 1st U10 (Chelmer CC) +2:06.