Wembley tomorrow

Nothing to do with my charity event but if Derby win expect more photos now that I have a new toy!

Blogging using my mobile!

I have just sent this photo using my phone to test if i can put a posting on the blog by using my mobile....result!.... looks like I can. This will mean that when I am on my charity ride, I should be able to update as I go along. How exciting!

Training coming to an end....at last!

Bank Holiday weekend and off we went camping to Haworth, Yorkshire. Here we are with our friends, a little cold but making the most of the dry weather why it lasted!



Just because we were away camping, doing camping things like sitting outside in the cold, BBQing and drinking, it did not mean the training had stopped. With just over two weeks to go before the big event this weekend was to be my last long ride....and not before time!

On Saturday morning I set off, no where in particular, hoping to get 60 or 70 miles under my belt. I did not account for the Yorkshire terrain, the term....up hill down dale....comes to mind, mainly the up hill!!!


I ended up cycling to the top of the world about six times, it was that high I was even looking down on the wind farms. Two points on the map give heights of 388 and 434 metres. I thought cycling up to Crich in Derbyshire was steep....turns out that is just a mole hill!

My trip took me from Haworth, across Keighley Moor, up to Skipton and then back to Haworth, mainly on minor roads. 50 miles of beautiful countryside covered but that was the only good thing about it....way too hard for me, not enjoyable at all. My average speed was only 9 mph (usually 12) and I do not think I could have covered another mile. My plan for Sunday was to have another ride....CANCELLED!

Top tip....if you go to Yorkshire use your car, don't take your bike!

The winners are......The Hospice to the sum of £487

Saturday Prize Draw night was great. Lots of friends out, lovely meal, a few drinks, and of course the most important thing....£487 raised!

Thank you to everyone who helped us in the selling of the tickets and thank you to everyone who bought one.

Unbelievably, out of 2435 tickets a number of people won more than one of the 28 prizes up for grabs. Well done to D Brown for not just winning the first prize of a £50 Meal Voucher and a bottle of Champagne for the Griffins Head at Papplewick, but also a ladies cut and blow dry at Stephen Johns Hairdresses....hope you have a great night!

Here are some photos of the draw followed by the full list list of winners. I will be getting in touch with you lucky folk over the next week.

Jackie giving the tickets a good shuffle!

First one out the hat is.....

....and that concludes the draw!

List of winners

1
£50 Meal Voucher and a bottle of Champagne
Kindly donated by - Griffins Head - Papplewick
3579
D Brown

2
Twycross Zoo Family Ticket
Kindly donated by - Twycross Zoo
654
George Lamb

3
Two Theatre Tickets
Kindly donated by - Theatre Royal Nottingham
1167
Jane Flint

4
Vegan Perfumes, Toiletries and Skin Care
Kindly donated by - Dolma Products
3728
A Turner

5
Two Child Tickets for the White Post Farm
Kindly donated by - White Post Farm
3730
D Florence

6
Famous Grouse Whisky
Kindly donated by - Tyler Brothers
882
Ken

7
£10 Tesco Voucher
Kindly donated by - Tescos
1362
Chris Robo

8
East Midland Airport travel pack
Kindly donated by - East Midland Airport
1121
Lorraine

9
Two Rugs
Kindly donated by - Kirkby Carpets
1110
Lorraine

10
Framed Print – Flowers in Vase
Kindly donated by - Nathalie & Carl
4018
Kelly West

11
Bottle of Cava
Kindly donated by - Sam & Gail
3147
Jane S

12
Box of Chocolates
Kindly donated by - Antoinette & Peter
122
S Johnson

13
BBQ Utensil Set
Kindly donated by - Antoinette & Peter
624
George Lamb

14
Two Candles and Holders
Kindly donated by - Antoinette & Peter
1203
Kev Flint

15
Scrummy Stuff – Bath Smellies
Kindly donated by - Rachel
4564
J Brewin

16
French Perfumes 2 off
Kindly donated by - Antoinette & Peter
3528
Vic

17
French Perfumes 2 off
Kindly donated by - Antoinette & Peter
1710
Jenny Orme

18
Small Vase
Kindly donated by - Antoinette & Peter
660
George Lamb

19
Ring Holder
Kindly donated by - Antoinette & Peter
692
Chris Maslen

20
Bottle of Port
Kindly donated by - Christine
4708
Dad

21
Famous Grouse Whisky
Kindly donated by - Anne
1360
C Etches

22
Picnic Cool Bag
Kindly donated by - Derbyshire BS
4613
J Seymour

23
Winter Scarf
Kindly donated by - Steph
778
Janet Stone

24
Make-up Bag
Kindly donated by - Steph
2585
Karen Guy

25
Contemporary Cushions 3 mixed
Kindly donated by - Teresa
88
J Shore

26
Pair Contemporary Cushions
Kindly donated by - Teresa
2007
E Holland

27
Ladies Cut and Blow Dry
Kindly donated by - Stephen Johns Hairdressers
3580
D Brown

28
Wine glasses
Kindly donated by - Brian & Jackie
711
Peter Goodall

Other information....

Just because I was out late on Saturday does not mean the training stops! Saturday I did 33 miles and Sunday I covered 60 miles (felt really good....must have been the Guiness!). I am now nursing my back through to the charity event so took it easy again in the week and rested by only cycling a few miles. Week schedule 190, overall 136.

More Prizes....More Miles!

Prize draw day is getting closer (Saturday evening to be precise!) and donations are still coming in. Our friend Joyce told Stephen, owner of Stephen John Hairstyling, about the charity event and to help the hospice he has kindly donated a cut and blow dry worth £17.95 as a prize for the draw. Absolutely fantastic, thank you Steve, it is very very much appreciated. Thank you Joyce for spreading the word!

I would also like to pass on my thanks and appreciation to Mrs Renshaw, who has donated a bottle of whisky and Christine who has donated a bottle of Port. Two more great prizes, what a brill draw this is turning out to be! If you want to have a chance of winning one of the wide selection of great prizes and at the same time, help and assist the hospice in providing care for the people who really do need it, then you only have a few more days to purchase a ticket!

After last weekends marathon of a bike ride, I decided to take it easier this week and recuperate. I took it TOO EASY! Three out of five days I did not do any....terrible....were did the commitment go? To punish myself I decided to double my intended efforts at the weekend. On Saturday I rode into Derbyshire and snaked my way to Kedleston Hall where I met up with Jackie and Jemma....40 miles (planned)! This was a tough ride as some of the hills nearly matched the one at Crich....phew....hard work!

Then on Sunday I biked up to Clumber Park and looped back round via Broughton, Eakring and Wellow....50 miles (unplanned). A lot flatter than the previous day but boy....did I get wet!

My original plan was to do 100 miles in the week but I ended up doing 122...that will teach me for slacking off!

Event Makes Local Paper!

The Chad rang me up the other day to find out more about my fund raising event. Great news is an article about the trip has been published. My words have been spruced up a bit but it is still a good article to help promote the cause. It has worked, after reading the piece, a kind neighbour came round with £10 sponsorship!

Click HERE to read the article.

Rugby Ball donation raises £50

A big thank you to my friends Jane, Damian, Tom and Toby and Nottingham Rugby Club.

Jane spoke to Ben Thompson, Operations Manager of Nottingham RFC, about our charity fund raising efforts and the imminent prize draw. Thank you to Ben and the rugby club, they donated a signed Gilbert rugby ball for the draw.

What a brilliant prize, too good of a opportunity to miss! Jane volunteered to try and get extra funds by holding a 'pick a player' at the clubs weekend presentation/family barbeque. What a great idea as another £50 was raised....fantastic....thank you Jane

Here are Toby and Tom helping out with the ticket sales....you did a brilliant job lads, thanks!

I would like to thank Tom Mawhood for allowing Jane to raise funds for the John Eastwood Hospice as Nottingham RFC chosen charity is Olivers Army. This charity was set up in the memory of Oliver Liley who sadly lost his fight to ALD last summer.

ALD is a rare terminal illness which is usually only detected when a young boy shows symptoms of the illness, by which time it is too late to try and save his life. Ironically it is when ones brother becomes ill that it is possible to test other males and if they do not show signs can be checked and monitored and if signs of ALD are developing it is possible to halt the disease by carrying out bone marrow transplantation.

If you would like to find out more about ALD, please visit the Oliver's Army website at www.www.oliversarmy.org/. The site is set up to broaden the awareness of this terrible disease and in turn to raise revenues to help fund research in the hope that one day somebody else won't lose their child in a similar way.

A BIG thank you again to Tom, Toby, Jane, Damien, Tom, Ben and Nottingham RFC.

Biggest test yet....and passed!

This weeks cycling target was 210 miles. The majority being the May Day bank holiday weekend, this was to be the biggest test yet of how the training is going. The idea was to go camping with friends for a couple of nights at Sacrewell Farm & Country Centre in Thornhaugh, Peterborough, and for me to cycle there and back!!

The trip started on Friday dinner, 12:30 to be exact.... off I set. Looking at the map, not knowing exactly which way to go and how many miles it would be, I decided to head direct to Rultand choosing minor roads rather than the busy and fast A1 or A606. The route was very enjoyable, deserted roads, picturesque countryside and going through lovely villages such as Harby, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Edmondthorpe and Collyweston.

As pleasant as it was, I was relieved to reach Rutland as I knew base camp was probably only an hour away!

Spot on, 6:30 and I finally arrived. The route I took was 70 miles and I had been in the saddle for 5 1/2 hours. An average of just over 12mph....went well....pleased with myself!

After freshening myself up and trying not to look to tired I sprinted onto the camp site and met up with Jackie, Jemma and friends.... and of course have a small celebration drink!

Next showered and changed....and then all out for an evening meal!

The next day, after a good breakfast come dinner we had a walk round the centre, Jemma loved it....so did the boys!

In the afternoon everyone drove (I followed on the bike to stretch my legs out - 18 mile round trip) to nearby lovely Stamford which was once a major wool town which has retained much of its old world charm. Good place for a night out as the town boasts 30 pubs, 20 restaurants and over 10 hotels and guest houses. We decided to come back that night and try out Mi Familia, a South American restaurant (very nice).

After a late night and not much sleep, the next day was time to cycle home. Shame really, we were all enjoying the break....and I knew I had a long way to go! Oh well....smile for the camera....off we go....see you in about 7 hours!

Now I knew the area I decided to go a slightly different way back and hopefully lose a few miles. Mmmm....which way now!

Finally arrived home after cycling 65 miles. The time taken was an overall time of 7 1/2 hours due to head wind, toilet stops (many!) and looking at the map (even more!). I was on the saddle for 6 1/4 hours averaging just over 10 mph.

The weekend was brill, good company (thanks Jackie, Jemma, Joe, Chris, Rob, Jan, Pete and Jane) , good weather and I covered the mileage we will be doing daily on the charity ride which has helped psychologically.

Week target 210 miles, actual 200, passable!