When keen young bike boys from Royston’s Greneway Middle School began competing in the Eastern Interschools Cycling Championship last autumn they could hardly have imagined the cycle of success that was in store.

Royston Crow: Eastern Interschool’s Cycling Championships team representing Greneway Middle School, RoystonEastern Interschool’s Cycling Championships team representing Greneway Middle School, Royston (Image: Archant)

After winning qualifying rounds they found themselves in the field for the grand final in Haverhill on Saturday.

Archie Bracewell, Iestyn Hill, Thomas Hill, Alistair Oppen and Oliver Dwyer found themselves up against eight other teams and nearly 40 riders in the Year 5/6 category, representing schools from all over the region.

And after a fierce day of competition they found themselves carrying off gold medals after winning their competition.

Archie said: “I had cycled round the course five or six times before the race for my ‘looking laps’ – some of the mud was so thick it was like riding through cookie dough so I had to choose my lines and gears carefully.

“After waiting on the grid with the usual nerves and excitement, I had a terrible start.

“I got clipped in changed gear and started off up the hill we then had a right angle turn onto the grass and then on to the mud.

“You had to pedal down because of the mud then take another corner to a bmx-like bump which led down to a big bog at the bottom, really hard on the legs.

“Around another corner and then there was the biggest hill climb of all, steep and long. It literally took the breath away.

“When we finally got to the finish strait and we had to do it all again for another three laps.

“I had to work really hard to get to second place but once I had settled in I maintained a good third of a lap advantage.

“I competed in my first South East and Eastern Regional Championships this year and I have to say this course was only a little easier than that one.”