Riders brave the elements for Taunton's 50/50 Charity Cycle Ride (From This is The West Country)

Riders brave the elements for Taunton's 50/50 Charity Cycle Ride

7:10am Sunday 17th June 2012 in News

RAIN failed to deter 265 riders in the 17th annual Rotary Club of Taunton’s 50/50 Charity Cycle Ride.

President Jon Upsher said: “Despite the awful weather the atmosphere throughout the day was brilliant. It was great to see so many riders braving the elements and they really earned their medals.

“The signposters and marshals, without whom an event of this magnitude would not be possible, had the most unenviable task of trying to stay warm and dry.”

The raffle for the Vintage Peugeot Road Bike HLE Premier 12 Speed Vitesse, given by Bishop’s Hull cyclist David Lyall, was won by Emily King, a student at Wellington School.

Emily said: “Next month, a group of 19 students are going on a cycling trip to Normandy and we’re riding 40 miles a day for five days. This ride was the perfect preparation.”

Cycle Ride administrator Jacky Ford paid tribute to the dozens of volunteers who signposted and marshalled the three routes, the support teams from Ralph Colman Cycles and St John Ambulance, and the hospitality of the catering and site staff of the Genesis Centre at Somerset College.

Sponsorship raised goes to Rotary charities, with riders having the choice of giving half their monies to a charity of their own choice.

A bike given by Ralph Colman Cycles for the highest overall individual money raiser, vouchers given by Taunton Leisure for the second, third and fourth-placed individual money raisers, plus the three team prizes, will be awarded at the presentation evening in October.