WITLEY’S PREMIER EVENT OF THE YEAR

Guildford Cycle Challenge

Charlotteville Cycling Club run the Guildford Cycle Challenge each September, and for the third year Witley were invited to supply travelling marshals. The event, which invites support for the CHASE Children's Hospice, consists of 3 alternative rides: a 30-mile fun ride for all the family, a 65-miler for more serious cyclists, and an 85-mile marathon including Surrey’s six biggest hills for the true enthusiasts (or lunatics, depending on your point of view).

Bernard Jay, Laurie Richards and Dave Kavanagh respectively took hold of these routes, which share a fair degree of common ground, touring on multiple laps to offer assistance where needed. However, as with our Long Distance Trial, the comparison with last year – when the previous week's torrential rain had left the Surrey lanes looking like a moonscape, and causing countless punctures and some minor spills – was very favourable, with fine, dry weather and easy going for all. Including the marshals!

There were some complications with another cycle race taking place on some of ‘our’ roads, a situation which should not have arisen, but which in the end caused no major upset. An accident at Holmbury Hill left one rider with an arm injury following a collision with a large 4x4 on a blind downhill bend – not often you see 3 police cars and 2 ambulances in a single track lane at one time! And then there were the usual stragglers in pubs! But all in all an enjoyable day out and a good encouragement for another Club with which Witley has a long standing connection. Laurie Richards