A SMALL band of Colchester Rovers members competed in round six of the Mud, Sweat and Gears Eastern Mountain Biking Series at Chelmsford.

There were some good performances on a technical course, which tested bike skills as well as endurance.

In the Open Male group, Martin Smith had a good race, coming in 18th, followed by Colchester Clunkers' Paul Smith (33rd) and Kevin Ollett (36th).

Rovers' Stuart Weatherley performed very well in the Sport Male category, coming in a well-deserved fifth position.

The under-nine race proved to be a nail-biting affair with close friends, club-mates and race opponents Daisy Emerson and Matilda Challinor battling for first girl.

Challinor claimed the gold with Emerson only a second behind to take silver, with six-year-old Phoebe Ollett in seventh place.

William Smith rode well but came off twice, losing places to come 18th in the under-nine boys' race.

Jack Emerson and Bradley Taylor looked to use their fitness from their recent international road racing in Holland in a very hard-fought under-12 boys' race.

Emerson was almost pipped at the finish but held his fifth position, while Taylor came 15th in his first race at this venue. Chloe Ollett rode well against strong opposition to finish fifth in the under-12 girls' race.

The riders are already looking forward to the next event in the series at Ickworth House, in September.

Rovers' Roy Cuppleditch took part in his first 12-hour time trial.

Starting at Great Chesterford, the competition was held on three circuits in ideal weather conditions, with sunshine and no wind.

Cuppleditch notched up his first 50 miles in two hours 15 minutes, heading onto circuit two around Six Mile Bottom.

Still feeling fresh, he had his first 100 miles completed in five hours 38 minutes.

Five laps of circuit two found Cuppleditch with six hours gone, halfway through his 12-hour effort.

The third circuit was around Duxford and five laps into this loop, the temperature was starting to rise.

The 200-mile mark was passed in under ten hours and Cuppleditch was into his final two hours.

Every mile was a bonus at this stage and the tireless Rovers rider was on his finishing circuit.

He eventually crossed the finishing line at 6.39pm, with 12 hours completed and a huge 258.1 miles covered.

Feeling very emotional, Cuppleditch had now completed the club "bar" this season with a 50 mile, 100 mile and now the 12-hour time trial under his belt.