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Added: Tue 22nd Jul 2008
New route for Ride 2008 a great success
The greatest challenge that the Paris to Hayling Charity Cycle Ride has faced in its 23-year history was met with outstanding success, during the week of 13th to 20th July. 200 riders set out, 140 on the longer 6-Day 440-mile route and 60 on the 3½-Day route and they all enjoyed some fabulous weather and scenery, especially in the Loire Valley, the southernmost area ever ridden on the event. We are still the ‘Paris to Hayling’, but after 22 years of visiting either Paris or Versailles and having reached the phenomenal amount of £1,000,000 in fundraising last year, we thought it was time for a change – and how welcome it was!
Every day’s cycling was different, with some shorter 50-mile days in the case of St Malo to Rennes and Laval to Angers, but also some more challenging days, such as the 88 miles between Rennes and Laval (diverting via our twin town of Gorron for a lunch put on by the Gorronais), a 95-mile day between Tours and Alencon (thankfully not too hilly!) and a mid-range 71-mile day to finish off, between Alencon and Caen, before our last night gala dinner party in Caen Castle, where we were once more entertained by the Crooners, a group we brought over from Hayling - and they did it for free! This was after a day when almost half of the riders sported fancy dress whilst riding, notably the Sussex Brewery Mime Team, the Cross Channel Faeries, Batwoman and Ghostbuster.
Sadly, we had more injuries than normal, with four hospitalizations, two male riders having to leave for home early, another one with an injured arm, from which he recovered to keep cycling and one of our ladies came off, fracturing her arm, which was operated upon, but she was able to return with us on the ferry. Quite a few others had minor injuries to legs, knees and elbows, but were determined to continue and finish!
The six days of new route were devised by a combination of eight committee members: Pete Alloway, Meryl Browne, Fred Dyer, Sarah Farmer, Lynne Harris, Tony Hart, Rick Hutchings and Jon Tawse, with their superb efforts contributing hugely to this year’s successful ride, much appreciated by one and all. Pete McQuade did a great job of the mammoth task of booking 32 hotels in all of our destinations and the brilliant baggage handling team of Rick Gibbs, Mike Harrington, Dave Hersee and Mark Cook worked with great aplomb, notable for only misplacing one bag all week, soon resolved! Meryl Browne is to be congratulated for ensuring the last night’s party was enjoyed by all, with dancing into the early hours, after hundreds of miles on the road! Kerry West has contributed tirelessly throughout the year, dealing with rider communications and a host of other tasks. Rod Elliot put in a bravura effort as Support Crew manager, never relaxing until everything was all in order for each day, right up until the end.
Now we have to start planning for next year, but we feel that we now have a wonderful platform to build upon, with only minor ‘tweakings’!
A report of the days of the ride will be submitted for the September issue of the Islander, together with photos, once they have been sent in. Early indications are that sponsorship raised should take us to a cumulative ride total in excess of £1,100,000.
Thanks to the superb support crew:
Will Barnard
Mark Cook
Kev Crocker
Rod Elliott
Rick Gibbs
Mags Graham
Georgie Gross
Mike Harrington
Dave Hersee
Roger Key
Helena Key
Jo Macey
Hector MacCallum
Maryon McQuade
Paul Mumford
Ian Pollicott
Averil Pollicott
Sylvia Randall
Sue Wilson
Liz Wood
Thanks to sponsors and suppliers:
Barclays Bank
Reg Beacher
Brittany Ferries
Brit-net
Burras Ltd
C.J. Driscoll Chartered Accountant
Gable UK
Gardner Graphics
Gridleys
Hayden Vehicle Rentals
Hayling United FC
Hayling Ferry
Hayling Property Management
Hayling Window Centre
Heidi’s Patisserie
Jean Simpson Agency
Kuehne & Nagel
Langstone Technology Park
Large and Gibson
Morris Crocker
Newtown House Hotel
P. M. Leisure Homes Ltd
Portsmouth Police
Qlik View
R.J. Morris Jewellers
Ship & Castle
Tessa Smith
Vodafone
WKB Toyota
Woods Travel
Bike Ride Awards 2008
Rachel Moore - Most Impressive Newcomer - McQuade Cup
Sue Loveridge - Most Improved Rider - Eberhardt Signs Trophy
Team Allianz – Best Group – Bavent Cup
Melanie Leggett – Proof That You Can – Oracle Shield
David Chapple – Special Award - Reg Beacher Trophy
Ron Spencer – Veteran Rider – Montfort Cup
Alex and Sam Leonard – Young Riders of the Year – Les Trois Pics Cup
Hector Macallum and Sue Wilson – Best Support Crew – Judy Dyer Trophy
Mike Goodwin – Character Award – Value Added Trophy
Rear of the Year – Fran Blake
CB Award – Ally Sperring
Best Fancy Dress – The Sussex Brewery ‘Marcel Marceau’ Mime Team
Qlik View Cup – Committee Member Award – Meryl Brown and Kerry West
20+ year awards – Kev Crocker, Paul Fisher, Maryon McQuade and Rick Hutchings
Phone enquiries to 023 9246 1412 or by post to Paris to Hayling, PO Box 30, Hayling Island, Hants, PO11 9UD. Mobile – 07770-888501.
Website - http://www.hayling-cycle-ride.org.uk
e-mail address – paul@hayling-cycle-ride.org.uk
PAUL FISHER 21/07/2008
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