Overall, it was a fantastic turnout. We had 168 riders spread across the six different routes, which included a 3 mile traffic-free circuit for youngsters, a 10, 25, 50 and 100 for the varyingly ambitious, and a 16 mile off-road for the dirt lovers (which also included two horse-riders). All the routes were served with checkpoints and feeding stations, the furthest being in one of the boarding houses at Uppingham School. Believe me, there was a lot of food supplied at every stop. This is the only cycling event where it's guaranteed you'll put on weight by the end of the ride!

As well as lots of experienced club riders, we also attracted a lot of novices, especially from amongst the pupils at the school. But every year we record some heroic performances. For example yesterday, a 12 yr old lad completed his first 50, and a 13 yr old completed the 100 on a borrowed bike. Two 6th Formers did the 100 on hybrids, but it took them almost 11 hours! We are waiting to break another record at the other end of the age scale. Terry Cooke(65 years) is currently the oldest rider to complete our 100 (at least three times to date).

We also had two teachers and four pupils from Uppingham School on the 100. Our checkpoint at their school was the halfway point, arriving at lunchtime. Amusingly, when the lads smelled the roast lunch in the boarding house, they just disappeared, never to be seen again! (However, one of them certainly did complete the route in the end.)

Anyway, it was a great cycling day, despite the ferocious wind, and all the money raised (we are expecting about £6000-8000) will go to the Children in Belize Appeal.