A FEW brave and hardy souls managed to attend the first of the Royal Dean Forest Cycling Club's (RDFCC) winter warmer mountain bike (MTB) cross country races at Cannop.

Near freezing conditions welcomed the entrants but at least the difficult course conditions meant they soon warmed up once under way. Although some sections rode well there was plenty of mud in other parts which was either treacherously slick or just plain sticky.

The under 8's and under 10's had fun on the short course but the older categories had to work harder to get around the full length circuit.

Notable rides were from the Oldfield's (Redditch Road and Path Cycling Club) in the under 8's in their first MTB race looking to carry on riding after the Cyclocross season, and Malvern Riders' Jack Mathew (under 10) also rode well.

RDFCC's Sulli Berry, Harry Robinson and Ollie Parton rode well for class wins and Lee Finch in the seniors (Velo Vitesse/ALLCAP

/Push) posted some good lap times to take the win. James Moverley from RDFCC took the win in the veterans.

The next winter warmer race will be on 15th February and the Lions Club/RDFCC annual Wildboar chase is scheduled for 17th May, with various routes depending on your fitness (21, 26, 40 and 45 miles) around the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

RDFCC's raffle at the 2014 Annual Awards Dinner raised £200 for the Heart of the Forest Special School which will go towards the purchase of an adapted recumbent bike.

For details of the club's activities, visit http://www.rdfcc.org.uk">www.rdfcc.org.uk.