Oakley Holidays
Established in 1919
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Oakley Charity Cycle Challenges - Ravenstonedale and St. Neots - July 2007


cyclists 17 Oakley members from Lytham, Durham and Newcastle were up at the crack of dawn on Sunday, 1st July to drive to Ravenstonedale near Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria to take part in a charity cycle relay, devised by Julian Wilde, with the aim of raising funds for The Vine Trust.

cyclists From our base at Bowber Head farm an undulating circuit of four miles round very quiet country lanes proved an ideal challenge as Moira Quinn, Laura Bury, Peter Mackay, Nick Hall, Paul Batley and Sam Keys were the first to test out their thigh muscles and the course.

Sheep looked on in amazement as the second circuit was undertaken by Adam Hall, Katy Batley, Ollie Clark, George Jolliffe, Megan Foy, Gabi Clark and Chris Fox and the third by Ed Bury, Alex Clark, Phil Stubley and Julian Wilde.

group Energy drinks, multiple bananas and a superb picnic lunch prepared by Chris Vernazza kept our spirits up, especially as the sun appeared for the first time for a week.

Everyone went out to ride for a second third or fourth time, with junior bikers awards in the under threes category going to Ailsa and Gregor Batley

Our helpers Chris Vernazza, Imogen Lambourn, Stuart Murray and Neil Fox (voted top bike mechanic) were tempted in to riding too and, when the predicted downpour arrived at 2.45pm, eight macho men immediately decided to undergo a time trial which was hectic, totally wet and thoroughly enjoyable - winning time just 14 minutes!

cyclists
Meanwhile in a parallel universe and ride 200 miles further south Richard Heathcote and Ellen Mcleod were whizzing round Cambridgeshire by bike to raise money for the same good cause.

The Vine Trust finances two medical boats which bring health services to isolated communities along the length of the Amazon. You can read about their work via the link in the right hand column.

Our hosts at Bowber Head, Will and Claire Hamer, provided us with a magnificent high tea of soup and rolls, baked potatoes, scones with jam and cream and very popular chocolate cake to end a very enjoyable day.

All the riders received certificates of achievement and T shirts to mark their considerable effort and commitment. We owed a special debt of gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Keys and Mr. and Mrs. Quinn who drove the north-east based riders to and from Ravenstonedale.

chequeA very happy, demanding and successful day was followed by a superb effort by the 19 riders throughout July in collecting in their sponsorship money. At the summer Oakley Holiday, the final total was announced as £1000 which, with Gift Aid, will mean a donation of £1280. Fifteen of the riders who were at the Oakley Holiday received the congratulations and applause of the other Oakley members and are pictured with the sponsorship cheque for the Vine Trust.

Julian Wilde

More photographs from the day
Useful links


The Vine Trust
The organisation for whom we raised money.

Cumbria Classic Coaches at Bowber Head
Our generous hosts and base for the day
 

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