February sapper mag:Layout 1 21/1/09 16:19 Page 45
Ex Swinton Enduro
T
wo mountain bike teams from 22 Engr Regt recently headed off to Charterhouse-on-Mendip in North Somerset
to take part in a 24-hour charity mountain bike endurance event. The event was in aid of the charity CLIC
Sargent which helps children who have cancer and their families; the 24 is obvious.
The two teams taking part were TIGHT SPANDEX (The speed merchants) consisting of Capt
Jim Bishop, Sgt Will Matthews, Sgt ‘Dolph’ Walsh and Sgt ‘Tommy’ Atkins and THREE
alk 08
GRUMPY OLD MEN AND A BOY (The not-so speed merchants) made up of SSgt Dave
Worrall, Sgt Anders Haugaard, Cpl ‘Percy’ Sugden and myself. Upon arrival we set up base
camp in a field next to the Charterhouse Centre using two 9x9’s and a 432 tarpaulin. All the
other competitors, the majority of them civilians, looked on in jealousy. It was then a case of
joining the pasta party prior to the next couple of day’s events.
It kicked off at noon on Saturday for both the teams and solo riders. The teams aimed to ride
relay laps around the 10-mile circuit and to complete as many laps as possible prior to the cut-
off time at noon on Sunday.
Capt Bishop and SSgt Worrall were the first two riders to go with another approximately 150
riders lined up at the start. Nearly 50 minutes later Capt Bishop arrived back at the transition
area and SSgt Worrall got back in just under an hour. It was then time for me and Sgt Walsh to
take on the circuit. My claim to fame is that I was the first one out of both teams to get a punc-
ture. Even with a puncture I managed just over an hour.
With temperatures nearly reaching 30
o
C the route, which included two serious hill climbs, two
streams, a rock garden and many tree roots, was not easy. After two laps each and at about
8.00pm the sun began to set and darkness started to spread across the hills, making it harder to see
the rocks, ruts and roots on the circuit. Tiredness now began to enter the equation and this meant
the pace slowed down and a lot of motivation was needed to keep on going through the night.
With a beautiful sun rise on Sunday morning and the thought of the final few hours, a new wave
of enthusiasm appeared as everyone seemed to forget about their
aching legs and wanted to complete as many laps as possible. Both
teams were able to pick up the pace again after a hearty breakfast and
we were back to doing approximately one-hour laps. As the last two
riders went out on the final circuits, base camp was pulled down and
packed away ready for the journey back to Tidworth and a good soak
in a bath. After two broken bikes, one buckled wheel and five punc-
tures both teams left Charterhouse with some people talking of
returning next year. Someone even mentioned the “solo” word.
A few days later our results were published. Both teams had com-
pleted 17 laps which clocked up as 340 miles total. This included a
total climb of 10,651 metres and raised £1554 for CLIC Sargent.
By: Spr James Peters.
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