Bike Ride for Children's Hospital

Cougar Cat Shaun describes his adventures on a gruelling Barnsley - York - Harrogate - Barnsley charity bike ride.

On Friday 26th June this year I set off along with fourteen other cyclists to York on a charity cycle ride in aid of Sheffield Children’s Hospital. The plan was to ride to York on the first day, stay there for the night, then ride to Harrogate on the second day and then on the third and final day ride back to Barnsley. 


 

Day one – Barnsley to York

We met on a fine sunny day at 9 am for a team photo before setting off for York on the Trans Pennine Trail. On the way to York we passed through Conisbrough, Snaith and Selby arriving at York around 4.30 having completed 74 miles.

Nationally, the Trans Pennine Trail runs for 215 miles from Southport on the Irish Sea to Hornsea on the North Sea. In addition there is a north / south route running from Leeds to Chesterfield and a spur up to York, making a total of 350 miles of trail available. Barnsley is in the centre of the Trail.

 

 

Day Two – York to Harrogate

On the second day we set off to Harrogate at around 10 am. Some of the team were a bit worse for wear after a heavy night and the rest were saddle sore. We stopped for lunch at Ripon and arrived at Harrogate around 6 hours later after 50 miles despite one of the team breaking his derailleur hanger. As luck would have it another team member was carrying a spare which we were able to chop into shape with pliers to get him away.

 

Day Three – Harrogate to Barnsley

On the final day we set off from Harrogate to Leeds on the A61 at around 10 am after a team photo across from the hotel.

We stopped off at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on the way home and came close to entering a team in a Dragon boat race before returning to Barnsley on the north / south section of the Trans Pennine Trail.

We arrived back in Barnsley after another 50 miles at around 3.30 pm and had a couple of drinks to celebrate. Over £1200 was raised for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity and I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made a donation.


 

Donations can still be made at:

http://www.justgiving.com/b2bcharityride/

The team shirts were supplied by Wavin UK who incidentally the Yorkshire office are looking to work with in the future.

 

Cougar Automation believes in putting something back into the local community. To support this, all Cougar Cats have the opportunity to take paid time off to carry out voluntary work in their local community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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