This may read a little like an Oscar winners speech, but the Committee would like to acknowledge as many people as possible who contributed to the success of the day.

 

First and foremost, a sincere thank you to all the participants. In total over 350 entrants took to their bikes and covered over 35,000km of some of the finest routes we could find in Co Down. Too many clubs to list came out in force to support the event and none went unnoticed. Just under 50% of pre entries were not affiliated to any club, and many families were able to complete the 25km event whilst dad was off on the longer distances – proving the event was truly a community/family day.

Secondly, thank you to the members and friends who put their hands up over the last few weeks when assistance was required. The club members put out a tremendous spread of soup, sandwiches, homebakes and more ensuring everyone was well catered for from before the event until well beyond the finish. Members, friends and family gave up their time to mark roads, sweep junctions, park cars, marshall the route, provide medical backup, motorcycle support and more.

Last and not least, thank you to the sponsors and supporters of the event. The contribution of each enables the club to donate almost the entire entry fee to our charities, and in the case of the ballot prize donations enables us to raise a lot more. The final amounts are being totted up and added to other collections through the year and will be presented to the NI Childrens Hospice and the Perinatal Trust shortly.

   

Club Sponsors:

Chain Reaction Cycles – Mechanical Support, nutrition & goody bags, Ballot prize, lead out car.

The Poachers Pocket – Finish Line BBQ

 

Event Supporters:

Comber Vets – Donation towards running costs

Regency Cars – Fully branded lead out/support car

See.Sense – Goody bag vouchers and ballot prize

JN Wines – goody bag vouchers

U-HIre Newtownards – Scaffolding (bike racks)

Adventure Activities NI – family games at the finish area

Johnsons Coffee – Freshly brewed coffee at signon/finish

Tesco Newtownards – Tea and Coffee supplies

Peter Bennett Photography and Michael Armstrong – Event photographs

Tricycle Trading Co – Ice Cream stand

North Down Physio – complimentary post ride massages and vouchers in return for charity donation

Clives Country Corner , Conway Sq, Newtownards – Ballot prize

Lakeside Inn, Downpatrick – lunch stop area and use of toilets

Killinchy Primary School & Killinchy Parish Church – Offroad Car parking areas

Killinchy Community Hall – event base

Whitecat Entertainment – PA system and safety brief

 

Photographs of the event are here