This years Mildenhall Festival.
Despite the downpours and thunderstorms in the build-up, this year's Mildenhall Cycling Mini-Fest went ahead with warm and dry conditions which suited the riders just perfectly.
Johnny Appleby (API-Angliasport) was the deserved clear winner on the grass-track retaining the Alex Pendleton 5km Trophy. He was a constant protagonist throughout the 20-lap race ensuring for many laps the pace was high with the slower riders slipping off the back of the large 24 rider field. At the bell, 20-year-old Appleby was leading out Felix Earth (O'Neills Spirit Racing Team), Gavin Mitchell (Twickenham CC). Although they made a concerted effort, the Elite category rider held them off to win by four lengths punching the air in great delight!
Updated 1/9/26
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All three had managed to avoid being the last rider over the line each lap in the Devil-take-the-hindmost to contest the final sprint along with John McClelland (WardPerformanceUK.com), Martin Smith (Chesterfield Coureurs) and David Mitchinson (Sigma Sports Masters). Again, it was Appleby that took victory ahead of Earth, with the seasoned track rider McClelland this time taking third place.
This is the first time in a number of years that there has been an entry of over 50 riders on the grass-track at Mildenhall, including seventeen under 16 and six women competitors which Mark Burchett from the organisers Mildenhall Cycling Club said “it is not only very pleasing to see that number racing on the grass, but is also very encouraging for its future”
In all of the five youth age categories there was some very keen and competitive racing with CC Ashwell riders Logan Ayers and Oscar Darton winning the Under 16 and Under 14 groups respectively. Their clubmate Joshua Haslam had to be content with third in the under 12’s as he had come up against Edward and Thomas Holland-Leader(VC Londres) who finished as joint winners. The brothers are clearly following in their dad’s (James) wheel tracks as he was a very accomplished grass-track rider as a senior, but who now spends his time supporting his sons. His eldest William, at 17 is now a junior and more than holding his own racing with the seniors.
In the Ladies section Matilda (Tilly) Gurney riding for the University of Nottingham CC confirmed she is one of the top riders in the country on the grass, repeating last year’s success by winning the Omnium comfortably ahead of regular rival Katie-Ann Elliston (Primo RT). Third place was fifteen-year-old Annabelle Waite (Verulam Megan's RT) who was ‘riding up’ and who does not look out of her depth at all.
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