West Drayton Mountain Bike Club 25 years old and counting.

Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter

BY: chris denman

Published: 1st September, 2014

This year sees the West Drayton Mountain Bike Club celebrate their 25 year anniversary, which must make them one of the longest established mountain bikes clubs in the country. The club was formed around a 4 man race team sponsored by Heffs bike shop, the local bike shop run by former world track medallist and Commonwealth Games champion Steve Heffernan. The club soon built up its numbers attracting a wide range of abilities and ages and the sponsorship from Heffs lasted for 10 years,with the highlight for the club during this period being the 3rd place they gained in the elite category in the 1st Mountain Mayhem 24hr event, only beaten by the Giant and Raleigh professional teams. The sponsorship with Heffs was to last for just over 10 years before they moved to their present sponsor Beyond Mountain bikes run by Jackie Roberts, a fearsome competitor in her own right and a former National MTB champion, under Jackies influence the clubs have kept a high profile in the local races with club riders taking a number of individual wins on both road track and MTB with a number of overall wins in the Southern series with the clubs Cat Ross taking the elite ladies title this year. The club have also had some national success with Jody Crawforth, Karen Campbell and Martin Delves and Paul Crook wining the 2013 vets crit title. This success has seen further sponsors attracted to the club with Specialized and Triathlon.co.uk backing the club as sub sponsors for the last 3 years.
The club as well having riders competing in all disciplines are always putting something back into the sport and have been regular Mountain Bike race organisers since they were formed and the next race they promote is the Exposure Night of the Knobby tread race, a short night time cross country race around their home circuit of Black Park which always attracts some top riders with Isaac Pucci last years winner expected to defend his title.
As well organising MTB races over the years the club have branched out into other cycling disciples, organising and taking part in road races, cyclo cross, hill climbs, road sportives, off road sportives, organising the long established Bucks Off Road Sportive and track racing. The club have had a number of foreign sorties with riders taking part in races in Norway/France/Belgium/Spain and the USA and with some success. The club also have a yearly tour alternating between road and MTB trips with the Route de Grande Alpes,Raid Pyrenean and the Albrecht route all completed in the last few years.
The club which is still run by founder member Chris Denman is looking forward to another 25years, with a busy programme of racing/social rides and trips and anyone interested in joining this vibrant active club should check out the clubs website and facebook page.

Clubs Major role of honour

1st Jody Crawforth 2000 National MTB Espoirs Points Series
1st Jackie Roberts 2003 National MTB Veterans Champion
1st Jackie Roberts 2004 National MTB Veterans Champion
1st Martin Delves 2009 National MTB Sports Champion
1st Karen Campbell 1999 National Sports MTB Champion
1st Paul Crook LVRC National Crit Champion 2013
1st Martin Delves 2nd Rnd National Series-Sports-2009
1st Cat Ross Southern Series Elite overall-2014
1st Cat Ross Polorvillas Cup Spain-2014
1st Steve Tebbett/James Poole 24/12 24HR Male Pairs 2010
1st K Campbell,V Tuley, Jo & Rebecca Ladies Sports team Red Bull 24 hr 1999.
1st C.Denman,C.Evans,D.Nelson & M.Fuller Vets Team Red Bull 24 hr 2001
1st C.Denman,D.Nelson,S.Jones & Andy Cracknell Vets/Sports SIS 24HR 2003
1st C.Denman,Ben Tisdall,Clive Evans,Vaughan Smith 12/24hr vets 2007
1st C.Denman,BenTisdall,Al Hainsworth,Mick Fuller,Al Parkinson 12/24hr vets08
1st C.Denman,J. Pierce,R.Jackson,M.Craner&C.Evans 12/24hr vets 2011
1st C.Donovan 24/12 -12hr Vets solo 2011
1st Colin Smith vets solo 12/24hr 2008
1st David Oakley 1998 Divisional Road Champs
1st Aaron McCafffery 2000 Divisional Road Champs
1st Nicole David 2002 Kona Enduro-Elite
1st Ian Longville Bristol Bike Fest solo 12 hr 2011
1st Chris Denman 2002 Kona Enduro -Vets
1st Chris Denman 1995 Southern X country series -Masters
1st Rachael Denman 2004 Southern X country series -Under 12′s
1st Jon Greaves 2004 Southern X country series -Novice
1st Nik Evans 2003 Southern X country series -Junior
1st Dom Stewart 1998 Circuito Copaladi Spain- Seniors
1st Chris Denman 1998 Circuito Copaladi Spain – Masters
1st Sam Phiillips 2004 Beastway Series-Vets
1st Sam Phillips 2005 Beastway Series-Vets
1st Jackie Roberts 2005 Southern X Series-Supermasters
1st Viv Hazelton 2005 Southern X Series- Grand Vets
1st J.Roberts,Liz Ward & Viv HazeltonTeam Speeddater.co challenge 2006
1st Sam Phiillips 2006 Beastway Series-Vets
1st Rachael Denman 2006 Southern Series-Youth 1 lap
1st Hannah Shelley 2006 Southern Series -Junior
1st Overall Southern XC series 2008-Youth girls Rachael Denman
1st Overall Southern XC series 2008-Juvenile Boys- Martin Turton
1st C.Denman,BenTisdall,Mick Fuller,Paul Crook&Adrian Parry12/24hr vets 2009
1st Colin Smith vets solo 12/24hr 2009
1st Malin Tindberg/James Poole 12/24hr pairs 2009
1st Rachael Denman-Overall Southern XC series 2009-Youth girls
1st Martin Delves Overall Southern XC series 2009- Sports
1st Martin Turton Overall Southern XC series 2009-Youth Boys
1st Rob Jackson Southern XC Series 2011-Grd Vets
1st Roy Sheppard-London Single Speed Champion 2011
1st Rob Jackson Southern XC Champion 2011-Grd Vets
1st Rob Jackson Southern XC Champion 2012-Grd Vets
1st Graeme Taylor London Single Speed Champion 2014

---

Click any of the images below for a larger view / slideshow