Summing up Sudbury
By TMX Archives on 4th Jan 07
SUDBURY MCC will be celebrating long and hard at its annual prize giving dinner on Saturday, January 27, 2007.
2006 has seen members of the Suffolk club, formed back in 1958, and now one of the largest clubs in the Eastern Centre, triumph in International as well as many national and Eastern centre events during the past year. The ISDE, in New Zealand for 2006, saw Chris Hockey riding for the England Trophy team while brother Gavin rode in the St George team. The brothers both completed the tough six day event.
Sudbury club has a tradition to maintain in the ISDE with both Stevie Roper and younger brother Rick having ridden in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004 collecting three golds and a silver medal between them. Many congratulations to Chris and Gavin for keeing the club flag flying.
Then, on October 26, 25 Sudbury club members headed for Western Super Mare to compete in the annual Beach Race which attracts more than 1,000 riders from home and abroad including World Enduro Champion David Knight and ten times World MX champ Sefan Everts, the latter making his final appearance in the UK.
The three hour main race was run in very wet and challenging conditions over the huge man-made sand dunes in Somerset. The top Sudbury man was Rick Roper on his 250 Yamaha in 14th place. Rick's father Dave took the best Over 40 award, finishing 45th overall. All but two of the Sudbury club riders finished the event, a credit to the boys from Suffolk.
Sunday, September 3, was the day of the Classic MX des Nations at Combe Martin, North Devon and 69 year-old Jim Aim and 54 year-old sprog Dave Roper, both Metisse mounted, prepared to help England to win for the first time ever all three categories, Over40 , Over 50 and Over 60 in this much revered classic event.
At Centre level, six of the Championship class riders were from the Sudbury club with Rick Roper on his 250 Yamaha becoming 2006 Eastern Centre Enduro champion.
The club will be running four enduro events during 2007 and on top of this, members will doubtless be venturing the length and breadth of the land in order to keep the flag of the popular and well-run Sudbury club flying.