This morning saw the seven ’challengers’ completing their cycle ride from Cardiff to Chester around the Welsh coastline – a total of 670 miles.
Our Team President, Bob Hutchinson, along with team member Steve O’Hara and Support Group members Iain Clarkson and Gillian Gregory (Also our team Secretary), met youth club members Taylor Aylett, Matty Brown, Macauley Farrington, Declan Hobson, Charlie Potter, and voluntary leaders Eddie Birchall and Andy Nicholls, on the last leg of their journey from Chester at the junction of Plodder Lane and Highfield Road, Farnworth, to proudly escort them into New Bury.
With two of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, (BM3 and BM4) one at the front and one behind the cyclists, the group cycled the short distance to New Bury Community Learning Centre, where they were met by applauding family, friends, and supporters, eager to congratulate them on their magnificent achievement.
The Bolton News photographer was on hand to take photos for publication, along with an army of amateur photographers also wishing to record this special occasion.
The seven cyclists and four Bolton Mountain Rescue Team members were then treated indoors at the Centre’s coffee bar to a delicious meat & potato pie lunch, kindly prepared by the ladies who run the cafe, followed by a communal viewing of Andy Nicholls’ video recording of the adventure.
When asked which were the most memorable parts of their trip, they told us the best times were the view crossing the Menai Straits into Anglesey and crabbing in Conway! Probably the worst and lowest moments were near Newport in South Wales when, after a hard day’s cycling, they arrived at their stay for the night to be told there was a mix-up and no room was available, which meant another fifteen miles riding to an alternative place, only to find on arrival that there was no food available, so back on the bikes for another nine miles to be fed!
Team President, Bob Hutchinson, officially thanked the challengers for their fantastic achievement and excellent support of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, inviting them to maintain ties with the team, and wishing them well for the future.
All five youngsters have just left Harper Green School, where Andy Nicholls is currently a teacher, and will be going on to various colleges in September.
Very many thanks must go to Eddie Birchall for obtaining community grants, organising and leading the challenge, Andy Nicholls for supporting him (both giving up their own holidays to join the boys), the parents who travelled over to Wales several times to show support for their sons, those who helped with transport, ’C’ Flight 22 Squadron RAF Helicopter Search & Rescue at RAF Valley, ASDA Farnworth for allowing a bag-packing session to help with costs, Bernadette Tither (Area Learning & Hub Manager at New Bury Community Learning Centre), ladies in the cafe, everyone who helped in any way, and, of course, those who generously sponsored the cyclists to raise funds for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
Taylor, Matty, Macauley, Declan, and Charlie are a credit to their parents, their school, their youth club and the community and they should feel rightly proud of their selfless achievement. They are now busy collecting in their sponsors’ pledges which will be reported within these pages once the total is known.
See also website ‘News’ reports dated 5th August, 2nd August, 10th June, 20th May & 12th April 2013.
Footnote; On Saturday 10th August 2013, our Team Secretary Gillian Gregory emailed Bernadette Tither with the following;
“Hello Bernadette,
Would you please pass on our thanks for the kind hospitality extended to us yesterday at New Bury Community Learning Centre, and please thank the ladies in the cafe for the delicious lunch.
It has been a pleasure being involved in following the progress of the youth club members’ Summer Challenge 2013 and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team feels honoured at being chosen to benefit from such an adventure. Thank you for relaying information from and to Eddie, it was good to meet you face to face at the end of it! We’ll be keeping an eye open for the Bolton News article and photo.
The boys are a real credit to the youth club and the community of New Bury and we look forward to seeing them, Eddie and Andy again when the final sponsorship total is revealed.
Best Wishes,
Gillian Gregory,
Team Secretary.”
