Slideshow of the photos by Mark Cozens (www.mphotography.co.uk)

West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club promoted a nine race criterium programme in the picturesque village of Ixworth on the bank holiday weekend.  Competitors ranged from six year olds up to Elite roadmen and with the weather being unseasonly cold, the Scouts were doing better trade in burgers than Major Miles from his ice-cream tricycle. There was plenty of hot racing to keep the crowd warm though!

The climax was an Invitation “A” race, for the leading contenders from races earlier in the programme. In this Peter Middlehurst (Octagon), Oliver Rossi (PCA Ciclos Uno) and junior Connor Dunne were soon stretching out the field. Soon Dunne, the tall Glendene rider who had already won the junior race broke clear on his own. However James Stewart (Raleigh) from Swindon and Steve Lampier (Pendragon) closed the gap and Stewart took the prime. Local man Joe Skipper and Lampier also launched a bid but the race regrouped before Martin Ford (Team Goldtec) made the move that stuck, finally opening a big gap before taking the flag.

The race programme had opened with a Masters race in which Jeremy Greengrass, once a prominent local junior, made a fine solo effort. Now 46 and living in Glasgow, he crowned a family visit to Norfolk with a convincing win. The race for third and fourth cats saw an early break including Patrick Harbord (VC Baracchi), Adam Ellis (Spalding CC) and Matt Cook (API/Metrow), chased by the promoting club’s Paul Rooke and Elliott Katz (London Dynamo). However, with four laps to go Cook and Greg Simcock (XRT/Elmy Cycles) established a clear lead.

Cook was restricted to junior gears, but he has no less than 12 seasons of racing experience and was just back from competing in Holland over Easter.  With controlled exuberance, Cook spotted where he could gain a yard or two and opened a gap on the penultimate corner. Simcock fought back onto his wheel, but Cook led out of the vital last corner and scored his first senior win.

The Elite/1/2 race was soon strung out, with Lampier, Rossi and Skipper active at the front. With one lap of the tight one kilometre circuit to go Stewart got away for the win. Matt Ellis (Spalding CC) was the early leader in the Under 10s, but Mason Hollyman (Sowerby Bros) was the eventual winner. The Under 12s went to Jack Plumley of Welwyn Wheelers who opened a gap with three laps to go. Oliver Plumley took the Under 14s.

Josh Hannan (Extreme Sports Therapy) and Alan Trolove of the promoting club West Suffolk Wheelers animated the Under 16’s race but Jack Oliver-Blaney of Team Terminator took the win in the end. Sara Gent (Onelife) outsprinted Imogen Buick (Thetford MTB) for the Girls prize. Glendene/Biketrax dominated the Invitation “B” race – for those not selected for the finale – Tom Moses getting the verdict from team mate Alex Murrison.