Though several cycling events were cancelled last weekend, mountain bike racing at Henham Park near Southwold was able to go ahead and conditions underwheel actually turned out to be excellent, with a dry loamy surface on many of the woodland trails.

However, the wind was penetrating and heroes of the day were probably those in exposed marshalling positions.

Jason Bouttell (KTM UK) showed the way around – starting off with the only 14-minute lap of the day. The Newmarket electrician, who has his eyes on National Series honours this year, gradually opened what became a seven-minute gap on Dickleburgh rider Kieran Jarvis (Team OnForm).

Jarvis wasn't going badly – beating Seb Herrod and Andrew Cockburn, both of whom had had the better of him in the first round in Essex. Herrod and Cockburn were together for the whole race at Henham, with Herrod just seizing third place at the finish.

Sally Watts was the women's winner, 3:23 ahead of Alison Goss, with Norwich rider Jodie Cole in third spot ahead of her Epic Orange team-mate Nicole Beck.

In the men's Sport Category, Norwich rider James Pickering was beaten into second place by Robert Staines – by just one second.

The hilly Risby-Flempton-Cavenham circuit used for West Suffolk Wheelers 21-mile time trial was fortunately clear and the event went ahead with Laura Brown (1:13:17) giving the promoting club a home win among the women while Ipswich rider Ant Birt was top man in 53:10.

It is sad to be reporting the sudden death of Ian Simmonds of the East Anglian CC at the age of 62. Ian suffered a major heart attack on a social ride last week and, despite the quick attendance of first responders and both helicopter and land ambulances, could not be revived. Ian had raced originally on grass-track and eventually in most disciplines, but was essentially a long-distance tourist. A notable ride was a 2,500-mile odyssey from North Walsham to Land's End, John O'Groats and back to Lowestoft in 2001.

The funeral will be on Wednesday April 11, 10.15 am at St Faiths Crematorium.