The 18th edition of this popular event took place on Sunday April 14th and had a record entry of 904 riders who came from all parts of the UK and even one from Switzerland and Canada.

The event was jointly promoted by Winchcombe Cycling Club and the Cheltenham and County Cycling Club. Winchcombe C C members and friends ran the Start and feeding areas while the Cheltenham C C C team under Pat Alexander provided marshalls and controls arround the course

There were two distances 52Km and 92Km and the riders made a choice at the start of which route to follow.

Less experienced or the less fit riders choose the 52Km route, which was completed by the first rider back, Rick Appleton from Cropthorne Worcestershire in just 3 hours. About 300 riders chose the shorter distance.

Some of the top mountain bike riders rode the event for endurance training and the first two riders back, 18 year old Simon Richardson from Leeds, a pro-elite member of the Marin team and local rider Duncan Jameson ( Cheltenham & County) covered the 92 km course in 3hours 45mins.

Other notable rides were from Jezz Scarratt from Taunton who has one leg and completed the long course, Leo White from Cheltenham who rode the short course on a uni-cycle and Andrew and James Cowan, both juniors from Solihull who completed the long route in good time.

Of the 903 entrants 746 completed the course within the time limit and were awarded a special Golden Jubilee Certificate which was sponsored by Winchcombe Town Council.

Riders were provided with detailed route sheets and coloured ordnance survey maps so that they would be able to navigate the tortuous route. The event is intended to be a test of navigation as well as riding skills. Even so many succeeded in going the wrong way, usually by following someone else who was also lost.

The organisers estimate that riders in the event covered 70,800 km ( 43,700 miles) 40% of which was off road. Remarkably we are only aware of two minor falls which needed medical attention and, on the mechanical side a couple of broken chains and split rims.

For Further information:
contact Brian Hayward, Event Secretary, e-mail WinchcombeCC@aol.com