COLCHESTER Rovers members battle it out in the shadow of the Olympic velodrome in the fourth round of the Mud, Sweat and Gears cross-country mountain biking series.

With more road and gravel paths than usual riders also had to contend with a large amount of single track at Lee Valley Velopark, with few places offering the possibility to pass.

In the Open Male category, James Rethman continues to go from strength to strength with a well-earned ninth place.

Chris English was 20th while Kevin Ollett, riding for Colchester Clunkers, was 38th.

The under-nines raced alongside the under-12s and Colchester's future stars performed strongly.

Matilda Challinor finished an excellent second in the under-nine girls, while Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club's Max Rethman was third in the hotly-contested under-12 boys’ race.

In the under-12 category, Chloe Ollett was third in the girls' race while Jack Letch (sixth) and Bradley Taylor (13th) produced great rides.

The series continues on June 5 on the Olympic mountain bike course, at Hadleigh Farm.

Adrian Manley was first Rovers rider home at Maldon and District Cycling Club’s Open 50 mile time trial around Steeple.

Manley clocked two hours eight minutes 34 seconds, with Paul Dewberry a short way back on 2h 23m 28s.

At the tender age of 77, Rovers’ stalwart Colin White also completed the challenging course following his recent illness.

The event was won by Team Velo Velocity's Andrew Leggett, in 1h 56m 36s.

There was a tough cross wind which challenged the riders, though perhaps less so than a set of temporary traffic lights in Tillingham.

It was pot luck whether these slowed the riders on each lap and no doubt those at the top end of the results will have benefited from a helping hand from the green light.

Colchester Rovers' road racer Adam Gould took part in the fourth meeting in the Crits at the Park series, in Gravesend.

The event boasted a large field of more than 70 riders and Gould raced a fine race.

With three riders off the front, he positioned himself well for the bunch sprint for fourth place.

Gould's timing was spot on and his kick was powerful, enabling him to win the battle for fourth.

In the process he picked up another six points, enough to secure his third Category race licence.