Harrogate IT specialists save the day

The organising committee of the Great Milk (stout) Ride are pleased (and relieved) to announce that Oriium Consulting based in Harrogate have stepped in to offer a fantastic lifeline to the on-going event.

As our regular riders will all know, we have been fortunate to have an excellent website that allows riders and teams to register with such ease, besides keeping them informed of any related events, news of our sponsors, etc. Sadly we were informed last week that the website was under threat as the current hosts could no longer provide help for the service we require. As you can imagine, with the ride so close we needed to resolve the matter quickly. Oriium have stepped up, and we are pleased to announce the site is now their capable hands, and will go from strength to strength in the coming months, without anyone noticing the changeover.

Oriium Consulting was started a little over two years ago by Chris Kiaie, they provide all aspects of IT support to UK commerce. You can visit their site at www.oriium.co.uk.

Early morning visit to Stray FM

Thursday 27th August at 8am was the time when Cliff Barton was scheduled to meet Chris Bell of Harrogate’s Stray FM breakfast show, to talk about this year’s 17th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride. Chris, photographed here with Cliff after the interview, was well briefed on this annual district-wide event, conceived at the Birchtree Inn Wilsill in 1993, when the 29 riders, who raised £1350, little realised just what they were starting and never dreamed that seventeen years later they would be gearing up to pass the £400,000 total handed over to Macmillan Cancer Support since that date.

Stray FM has been one of our media supporters since the early days, with regular free mentions on air through their Community Action Desk scheme, which promotes local charity events.

Local bands for Stout Ride 2009

At 11.45 am, with the riders in this year’s Great Milk (stout) Ride on their way, what is now a regular mini music festival will begin, with a limited number of local groups and bands, each performing for about an hour, supported by a barbecue, beer tent, face painting, trade stands, bouncy castle, bucking bronco and various trade stands.
The family fun will continue until late afternoon. James Wilson from Fresh Radio, http://www.freshradio.co.uk/ will be providing continuity announcements and interviews during the day. Kevin Branch of “Washburn Creek” will again be organising the PA system
The schedule is as follows:
· 11.45am – 12.30pm Timewarp (Dave Knaggs)
· 12.45pm – 1.30 pm Accoustic Blue are Sharon Colgan (right vocals), Laurie Hopkins(guitar),Brian Longhurst(bass),Jason Odle(keys). They play original music and cover great artists like Eric Clapton, Robben ford, Susan Tedechi, Eva Cassidy, Portishead Walter and many more. See http://www.bluesville.co.uk/ for more info and pictures.
· 1.45pm – 2.30pm Ade Payne. See excellent YouTube video by Nobody Films of Harrogate at http://www.adepayne.com/
· 2.45pm – 3,30pm The Hall Brothers are Nick Hall (vocals, guitars), Duncan Hall (vocals, guitars) and John Carey (violin, melodeon, etc)

Over 30 teams for Great Milk (stout) Ride

As of 26th August 239 riders have registered, of which 39 are individual entrants. So far 33 teams have registered. The top ten shown below:

· Team Virr, Harrogate, Church Fenton, Bp Thornton, St Peter (Jersey) 25
· Practice-makes-Perfect, Pateley Bridge 19
· Dacre, Son & Hartley, Ilkley 14
· Carly’s Angels, Bradford, Bingley, Harrogate 13
· Crown at Middlesmoor, Upper Nidderdale 11
· Pateley Club, Pateley Bridge 8
· Team Simon, Settle, Bedale, Harrogate, Ripon, Glasshouses 11
· Erudine, Harrogate 10
· Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low laithe 7
· The Sunshine Boys, Otley 6

Help wanted Anyone who can spare some time to help out will be more than welcome; there are vacancies with marshalling, car parking, site erection (Saturday 5th September), catering, and registration. Please ring 01423-780389, or email bartoncliff@btopenworld.com

The things they’re doing for Macmillan

Sandra Bradley (seen here with husband Keith), of Dacre Banks, is organising a Dining-for-Macmillan event at Fewston Village Hall on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August. Between 10am and 4.30pm, she and her team of volunteers will be serving teas at this picturesque location overlooking the Washburn Valley, with all proceeds going via the Great Milk (stout) Ride, to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Two similar events in previous years raised £200 and £850 and Sandra is hopeful of continuing the trend again this year.

New medals and certificates for 2009

Brand new medals and certificates for 2009 sporting the Erudine logo are now ready to be loaded into individual plastic sleeves for presentation to each rider, along with a welcome bottle of water sponsored by Yorkshire Water, as they cross the finishing line at the Nidderdale Agricultural Society’s show field at Pateley Bridge on September 6th this year. Yorkshire Water is also providing the water at the two drinks stops situated round both the 20 mile Full Monty and the 10 mile Half Litre rides.

Late news between 1st and 5th August a further 32 riders have registered on line, bringing the running total to 143, including the Practice makes Perfect Team comprising doctors and staff from the Nidderdale medical centres in Pateley Bridge, Dacre Banks and Birstwith. So if you haven't done so yet "get it on" go to http://www.gmsr.co.uk/ and enter either yourself, or your team!