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Added: Mon 2nd Aug 2010
Le Tour d’Argent (Silver Ride) – The Ride for Meryl
We returned in triumph on Sunday 18th July, after a celebratory and historic 25th Paris to Hayling Charity Cycle Ride, resplendent in our newly designed commemorative road jerseys, given as a surprise to all riders. The ride was quite tough, with two of the 5 days over 90 miles, but everyone seemed to enjoy the challenge, especially at the end of each day! The Ride was not without incident, with a couple of accidents and injuries, along with a number of bike repairs needed, including broken saddles, handlebars, wheels and gears, but all recovering to continue on the road. A sad incident, however, was the theft of a bike from a hotel in Caen, which needed Pascal Pichon’s expertise with the French police once again. Initial feedback from riders is immensely encouraging, so we can feel content that this ride was possibly and fittingly the best ever!
400 miles in the saddle
In the end, it was 198 riders who set out for France from Portsmouth on Monday, 12th July, overnight for St Malo on Brittany Ferries, the majority having taken the Hayling Ferry, with the prospect of five days of cycling ahead. In our rider packs, we had a number of items of vital use, including three rider cards, showing us which hotel we were to stay at each night, two to be attached to our luggage and one for the bike; a pink sticker for the rear fork, to show that we were part of the group, for the benefit of support; a Meryl Browne and MacMillan Cancer Research helmet sticker; a personalised rider badge; an itinerary for the days of the ride, including bike storage information and our ferry tickets.
In the morning of day 1 we set off on a relatively short 52 mile ride to Rennes, with stops in Combourg and St Germain en route and all staying at hotels near the station. Day 2 was the first big challenge, with 97 miles of new route to Angers and the wind was up a bit, as well as some rain. Convenient stops in Janzé, Chateaubriant, Segré and Le Lion d’Angers, where we saw some real cycling on a circuit round the town, made it an achievable challenge for all. Day 3 had probably the best conditions of the ride, as it was 80 miles of pretty flat route, with the wind behind us most of the time and not too hot, unlike last year, so we were able to enjoy the sights of the Loire Valley, including the chateaux and vineyards, as well as lunch in pretty Saumur. Day 4 was the toughest day, with 94 miles going back up north, with some wind and rain, as we stopped in La Chatre sur Le Loir in the morning and lunched communally in Parigné l’Eveque. The afternoon stop was in St Mars Sous Ballon, where the owner of the bar welcomed us and took photographs for his expanding album of the last couple of years. We were all pleased to get into Alencon, with the prospect of the final day ahead. Saturday, the 5th day, was fancy dress day and so all the groups assembled by the station for the off, with two Robin Hood teams, a Peter Pan team, Andy Pandy and Loobie Loo and many others, more than half the riders dressing up – Pete McQuade and I felt it was time for us to do a turn on the fancy dress, so we jogged in as 118 118! The morning stop was in Argenton and we lunched in Falaise, before arriving, via a stop in Bretteville, in Caen after 71 miles, with all welcoming the riders as they came in, at a convenient bar. Then it was into our finery for dinner and dancing ay Caen Castle to local band Where’s Billy?, brought over for the event and a suitable celebration of our achievement, as well as Jane Browne’s 60th birthday. After a late night and an impossibly early start, we cycled the 12 miles to the ferry at Ouistreham, bound for our shores and another 12 miles on the bike back to Hayling, with a welcome by Hayling United FC at Hayling College – it was all over for this special year!
A Family Affair
The number of families taking part in the ride was a remarkable first this year, with the late Meryl Browne’s family being notable amongst them, her four children and her sister, over from Canada, all taking part. Parents and children teams included the Allcock (2), Alloway (3), Auburn (2), Borton (4), Clarke (2), Curtis (2), Edge (4), Gibbs (3), Harris (2), Leonard (5), Long (4), Marshall (2), Pfaff (2), Street (3), Tawse (3), Williams (2), Winfield (2) and Young (3) families.
Bike Ride takes precedence!
Our major sponsor over this past three years has been QlikTech. They are a leading business intelligence software company and went public on the NASDAQ during the ride. This might have presented Ride President and QlikTech Vice-President, Pete McQuade, with a dilemma since he was due to be in New York for the official ceremony. However, he informed his CEO (fortunately a keen cyclist himself) that the Paris to Hayling took precedence, but in Alencon Pete still managed to view the successful flotation on his laptop! QlikView, QlikTech’s brand name was a major road jersey sponsor, along with R.J. Morris Jewellers, C. J. Driscoll Chartered Accountants, Co-operative Funeral Care and Triangle Cars.
Fundraising
Over £72,000 was pledged by riders in sponsorship, but we confidently anticipate this rising as the money comes in, perhaps taking us to over £1,300,000, accumulated over the years of the Ride.
Thanks to the superb support crew:
Toby Auburn
Will Barnard
Ann Borton
Kev Crocker
Hector Forbes-MacCallum
Richard Hallett
Fred Haskett
Sandra Haskett
Peter Jacobs
Sarah Jefferies
Roger Key
Helena Key
Jo Macey
Sue Morton
Maryon McQuade
Robin Porteous
Sylvia Randall
Judy Simpson
Sue Wilson
Liz Wood
Back Home Masterminds – John Adcock and Rod Elliott
Thanks to sponsors, suppliers and supporters:
Barclays Bank
Reg Beacher
Brittany Ferries
Brit-net
Burras Ltd
Chilli Jam Company (Tessa Smith)
C.J. Driscoll Chartered Accountant
Co-operative Funeral Care
Gable UK
Gardiner Graphics
Gridleys
Hayden Vehicle Rentals
Hayling United FC
Hayling Ferry
Hayling Property Management (HPM)
Heidi’s Patisserie
Hobbs Pharmacy
Jean Simpson Agency
Langstone Technology Park
Morris Crocker
Motorcare
P. M. Leisure Homes Ltd
Portsmouth Police
Qlik View
R.J. Morris Jewellers
Ship & Castle
Triangle Cars
Verisona
Bike Ride Awards 2010
Sam Aplin - Most Impressive Newcomer - McQuade Cup
Debbie Marks & Terri Bryant – Most Improved Riders - Eberhardt Signs Trophy
Borton Family – Best Group – Bavent Cup
Charlene Alloway – If I Can, I Will! – New Meryl Browne Trophy
Colin Turton – Special Award - Reg Beacher Trophy
Ron Spencer – Veteran Rider – Montfort Cup
Simon Jefferies – Young Rider of the Year – Les Trois Pics Cup
Sarah Jefferies & Judy Simpson – Support Crew Award – Judy Dyer Trophy
Paul Fisher – Character Award – Value Added Trophy
Rear of the Year – Many Tiltman
CB Award – Rich Garnett
Sarah Jeffries - Committee Member Award - Qlik Tech Cup
Andy Pandy & Looby Loo (Wendy Cole & James Tyndale-Biscoe) – New Fancy Dress Award
Ride 2011
This is already being planned, particularly by the new members of the committee, with announcements to be made before too long (see separate article). I shall certainly be riding next year, as it’s my 25th Ride, no matter what my involvement with the organisation!
Paul Fisher
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