February sapper mag:Layout 1 21/1/09 16:18 Page 42
Sport
I
laughing at Richie,
Lt Hayes found
t was still dark when 20 riders thing to eat we were off again and herself joining him
and seven support staff, all from this pattern continued for the in the ditch much to
1 Armd Engr Sqn met up in Claro whole ride. the joy of everyone
Barracks car park at 0530hrs. We At around the 30 mile point we else. This was one
grabbed a hearty breakfast and set off came across the first of the five of three falls Lt
for Gretna, the start point of our coast ‘hills’; it didn’t look too bad - but Hayes had, although
to coast charity bike ride. We would only because I couldn’t see the top none was serious.
be riding for MENCAP, The Army ... every time I turned a corner it The last ten miles
Benevolent Fund and the Mayor of would just carry on up as far as the seemed to take hours
Ripon’s Appeal. We did not really eye could see. With legs starting to as everyone just want-
know what we were letting ourselves cramp up, and rear ends starting to ed to get it over and
in for, as many of us had very little or get sore we pushed up the hill. It done with. Finally,
no experience of riding such a dis- took about 20 minutes to get the top; after a few ups and
tance in one day. Our aim was to be one down, four to go. We bombed downs and a puncture
in South Shields for 2000hrs, the back down the other side of the hill, or two to deal with,
only thing stopping us
was the 90 miles
in between!
We arrived at Gretna
at 0830hrs and once the
bikes were off loaded
from the transport we Coast to Co
did final prep - includ-
ing Spr Bomber”
Lancaster repairing his first punc-
ture - got changed, had a final safe- with some riders reaching over we turned the corner
ty brief and we were ready for the 40mph. At the bottom the safety vehi- to see the safety vehi-
off. Spirits were high as we were cle met us with some much needed cles waiting for us at
told there were only five hills on the energy bars. the finish line. There
whole journey. A walk in the park As we carried on we were mak- were a few hands
we thought! We were soon to find ing good time and the weather was raised and a few cheers as we knew
out there were only five, what on our side, Before we knew it we we had completed the coast to coast
seemed like, mountains to go up were well over half way and had cycle in eight hours, much quicker
and as for hills, there were plenty of Newcastle in our sights. We had done then we had aimed for. After a final
them and more to keep us amused. 70 miles and although we were a lit- photo we jumped back on the bus and
Our first stop was at around the 13 tle worse for wear we had joined the headed back to Ripon.
mile point which everyone reached River Tyne which was going to take Overall it was a challenging but
in good time, the only problem we us all the way to South Shields. very rewarding day and we raised
had on the way was the chain During this leg we had a few over £1000 for charity. It was a
snapping on LCpl Clement’s £600 mishaps; our pathfinder tough day for all; but few of the
brand new bike. After a quick five LCpl “Richie” Hunt managed to lads said it was the hardest day of
minute break for a drink and some find himself in a ditch then, whilst their lives!
42
Maj Sean Matten OC 7 HQ & Sp Sqn 21 Engr Regt
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