Queue at Jackie's Diner Dave Donnely recycles numbers Sharon Coglan (Accoutic Blue)
James Wilson (Fresh Radio) Flintstones R - GO Sid Brayshaw and grandson Matty
Time Warp take the stage Roger Jefferson glad to be back Team Kent Alarms
Matty Barton glad to be back Michael gets it wrong? Leeds team Dirty Wheels
Flashing to the finish Part of Carly's Angels team Part of team VIRR's 30 riders
Five of Pateley Club team Flintstones ready to push off! Practice makes Perfect team
Start of 20 mile Full Monty Start of 10 mile Half Litre
The 17th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride was blessed with perfect weather last Sunday 6th September. The daily digest of sporadic rain over the previous two weeks started to evaporate on the Saturday easing the tasks of the small group of committee members in their various duties, including signing the two routes for the 20 mile Full Monty and the 10 mile Half Litre rides, setting up the barbecue, tombola, beer tent, bringing chairs, erecting the direction signs for the car park, etc.
The committee left the site at 5.pm with fingers firmly crossed, some (with hankies at the ready) to chop up 7 kilos of onions ready for next day’s burgers.
At 7.30am on Sunday their prayers were answered: ideal conditions prevailed namely light thin
cloud and just the right temperature for our riders. By 8.30am the bacon butties were ready to welcome the first to register. The trickle developed into a steady stream and by 9.15 a torrent of riders seeking the queue for their number. By the end of Saturday 351 had registered on line.
The committee left the site at 5.pm with fingers firmly crossed, some (with hankies at the ready) to chop up 7 kilos of onions ready for next day’s burgers.
At 7.30am on Sunday their prayers were answered: ideal conditions prevailed namely light thin
cloud and just the right temperature for our riders. By 8.30am the bacon butties were ready to welcome the first to register. The trickle developed into a steady stream and by 9.15 a torrent of riders seeking the queue for their number. By the end of Saturday 351 had registered on line.
Before the first riders were set on their at 10.05 a further 120 had registered on the day, making this the largest number (471) “on the day” to be sent on their way by the Ride’s top fundraiser Harold Turner, of Rothwell (rt above). Harold has personally raised over £60,000 since the second ride in 1994 until 2008.
Records to be broken
Another record this year was the entry of 48 teams ranging from Harrogate’s 30 strong Team VIRR, Pateley Bridge Practice-makes-Perfect team of 20 doctors and staff from the Nidderdale group, Dacre Son & Hartley’s Ilkley (17), Carly’s Angels (17), Team Simon (13), Harrogate medal sponsors Erudine (12), Leeds’ Dirty Wheels (7),RAF Menwith Hill’s Liam’s Angels (4) to Pateley Bridge’s Team Deanie (2).
Unusual names emerged including Tied in Notts, Steady Away, Neonemon, How Wats, 3 Ladies and Jimmy, NY Coureurs and Otley’s The Sunshine Boys.
Although the committee stresses “it’s a Ride NOT a Race” the first riders reappeared at the finishing line in just on the hour, to collect their certificates and medals and a welcome bottle of water, kindly sponsored by Harrogate computer software company Erudine and Yorkshire Water, respectively.
If music be…..
As the trickle became a flood of riders collecting their certificates and medals, the first of four local bands, Time Warp, began their set, followed throughout the afternoon by Accoustic Blue, with Sharon Colgan, The Hall Brothers, with Sarah Carey 14 (above), a very talented young lady, who plays guitar and sang some of her own songs. Sarah has recorded a CD “Painting Rainbows”, which is on sale at £5 to raise money for Martin House Children’s Hospice. Sarah’s website is
www.myspace.com/sarahcarey The afternoon’s entertainment was brought to an end by Harrogate’s Ade Payne, but not before the audience had demanded two encores. These local artists give of their talents free of charge, as they have been doing for many years and the committee would like to express their sincere thanks for their continued support.
Throughout the day “Jackie’s Diner” was kept busy serving a variety of barbecued items including locally supplied burgers, sausages, bacon, with various drinks. The team laboured ceaselessly and realised a total profit to Macmillan of £900. Our photo shows the queue during the lunchtime session.
James Wilson from Fresh Radio for the Dales was on hand to provide continuity and live interviews throughout the day. He has taken a very good video of the start, which can be viewed on YOU TUBE by typing Great Milk (stout) Ride 2009. Fresh Radio is one of our media sponsors along with Stray FM and Ackrill Media Group. The committee would like to express their thanks again to their other sponsors: Erudine, Cartridge World, Deakin Accountancy Ltd., Yorkshire Water, Houseman International, Branch Auto Bodies (Ilkley), EW Smith & Co., QPS Group, AMPS News Ltd., The Cheridan Raithby Charitable Trust and Birchfield Ice Cream Ltd.
A spokesman commenting on this year’s event said “with the record entry of both individuals and teams, we could well be looking to exceed last year’s total of £40,000 to Macmillan. We have already received earlier contributions from Marion Stockdale’s annual Strawberry Fayre and Sandra Bradley’s recent Fewston Teas, which she intends to replicate at Dacre Banks Village Hall on Saturday October 31st. We have until the Presentation Night Friday 6th November at Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low Laithe, to get all the money in. Donations can be sent to the treasurer at Tranby Croft, Glasshouses, HG3 5QY cheques payable to GMsR. To enable us to collect a further 28p in the pound via Gift Aid, donors should indicate their wish and supply their address”.
Another record this year was the entry of 48 teams ranging from Harrogate’s 30 strong Team VIRR, Pateley Bridge Practice-makes-Perfect team of 20 doctors and staff from the Nidderdale group, Dacre Son & Hartley’s Ilkley (17), Carly’s Angels (17), Team Simon (13), Harrogate medal sponsors Erudine (12), Leeds’ Dirty Wheels (7),RAF Menwith Hill’s Liam’s Angels (4) to Pateley Bridge’s Team Deanie (2).
Unusual names emerged including Tied in Notts, Steady Away, Neonemon, How Wats, 3 Ladies and Jimmy, NY Coureurs and Otley’s The Sunshine Boys.
Although the committee stresses “it’s a Ride NOT a Race” the first riders reappeared at the finishing line in just on the hour, to collect their certificates and medals and a welcome bottle of water, kindly sponsored by Harrogate computer software company Erudine and Yorkshire Water, respectively.
If music be…..
As the trickle became a flood of riders collecting their certificates and medals, the first of four local bands, Time Warp, began their set, followed throughout the afternoon by Accoustic Blue, with Sharon Colgan, The Hall Brothers, with Sarah Carey 14 (above), a very talented young lady, who plays guitar and sang some of her own songs. Sarah has recorded a CD “Painting Rainbows”, which is on sale at £5 to raise money for Martin House Children’s Hospice. Sarah’s website is
www.myspace.com/sarahcarey The afternoon’s entertainment was brought to an end by Harrogate’s Ade Payne, but not before the audience had demanded two encores. These local artists give of their talents free of charge, as they have been doing for many years and the committee would like to express their sincere thanks for their continued support.
Throughout the day “Jackie’s Diner” was kept busy serving a variety of barbecued items including locally supplied burgers, sausages, bacon, with various drinks. The team laboured ceaselessly and realised a total profit to Macmillan of £900. Our photo shows the queue during the lunchtime session.
James Wilson from Fresh Radio for the Dales was on hand to provide continuity and live interviews throughout the day. He has taken a very good video of the start, which can be viewed on YOU TUBE by typing Great Milk (stout) Ride 2009. Fresh Radio is one of our media sponsors along with Stray FM and Ackrill Media Group. The committee would like to express their thanks again to their other sponsors: Erudine, Cartridge World, Deakin Accountancy Ltd., Yorkshire Water, Houseman International, Branch Auto Bodies (Ilkley), EW Smith & Co., QPS Group, AMPS News Ltd., The Cheridan Raithby Charitable Trust and Birchfield Ice Cream Ltd.
A spokesman commenting on this year’s event said “with the record entry of both individuals and teams, we could well be looking to exceed last year’s total of £40,000 to Macmillan. We have already received earlier contributions from Marion Stockdale’s annual Strawberry Fayre and Sandra Bradley’s recent Fewston Teas, which she intends to replicate at Dacre Banks Village Hall on Saturday October 31st. We have until the Presentation Night Friday 6th November at Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low Laithe, to get all the money in. Donations can be sent to the treasurer at Tranby Croft, Glasshouses, HG3 5QY cheques payable to GMsR. To enable us to collect a further 28p in the pound via Gift Aid, donors should indicate their wish and supply their address”.
To see James Wilson's video click here:
