Cyclists in the saddle for success

Jul 11 2008 by Rebecca Edwards, Chester Chronicle

FOUR self-styled “Old Gits” are saddle-sore but happy after completing a sponsored 900-mile charity cycle challenge which raised more than £3,000.

Kingsley villagers Rob Crowther, 49, proprietor of the Devonshire Bakery in Frodsham; dentist Keith Millington, 50; and Steve Pemberton, 54, head of a local packaging design business, and 47-year-old IT executive Colin Johnson, of Tarporley tackled the Old Gits Land’s End to John O’Groats bike ride.

Their pedal-power trip was in aid of the Anthony Nolan Trust, which supports leukaemia research, and the Chester Heart Support Group, which is raising funds toward a specialist ECG machine at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Rob said: “Everything went to schedule and, although the weather was a bit rough to start with, it improved as we went into Scotland so we could enjoy taking in the amazing scenery.

“We suffered a few sores and aches and pains but we all finished!”

Rob said the team were extremely grateful to all the “very generous” sponsors, and all supporters, including a crowd of friends and well-wishers who cheered them on after a stop-over at the Red Bull pub in Kingsley on the fourth day of the 10-day challenge, as well as those who rode with them for a few miles at points along the way.