Marathon coast-to-coast bike ride for charity

CHARITY CHEQUE -- Phoenix cyclist Pete Comerford, with help from support-vehicle driver Jon Findley, presents a cheque for Â£700 to Pat Wright, from the When You Wish Upon A star charity, after completing the 170-mile Way Of The Roses coast-to-coast ride from Morecambe to Bridlington, solo, in 21 hours, 25 minutes.

Comerford covered the 170-mile route, solo, in 21 hours, 25 minutes and presented a cheque to Pat Wright, from the charity, with the help of his support-vehicle driver Jon Findley.

Meanwhile Phoenix hosted the latest combined time trial involving riders from the club and fellow Gainsborough organisations, Viking Velo and Trent Valley. It was an 11-mile course, covered twice, starting in the layby on Carr Lane, heading towards East Stockwith, turning left along the riverbank to Walkerith, through to Morton and then back via Laughton Lane. All 14 riders defied very windy weather to clock good times.

For Phoenix, Darren Hepworth recorded 34.23 minutes, while Carol Smart finished in 49.25. The times for Viking Velo were: Andy Lewin 26.39, Matt Fieldson 29.20, Tony Keightley 30.48, Ian Ferraby 31.48, Kevin Smart 35.56 and Max Rackliff 39.23. The times for Trent Valley riders were: Andrew Codd 27.25, Steve Walker 27.49, Darren Dickinson 31.42, Stephen Cockerham 32.34 and Samantha Ritson 34.59.

A big thanks goes to the marshals and the timekeepers. The next combined time trial is next Tuesday (August 23), starting at 6.30 pm and following a ten-mile route from Laughton Lane. All club riders are welcome.