Local rivals dispute Pub Challenge Trophy

Two local teams of riders are vying with each other over the Pub Challenge Trophy this year. The Crown Hotel, Middlesmoor are determined to reclaim the trophy from the Pateley Club team, (pictured before last year's event), who last year wrested the cup from them, raising £1090 at their first attempt; previously the Crown had retained the trophy for seven out of the previous eight years. Currently both rival teams are sporting seven members each.

Other old favourites in the seventeen early registrations are team VIRR (13), team Erudine (4), team Simon (3), but leading the field is new team Woodhouse Wanderers (15) entered by Woodhouse Farm caravan park, Winksley near Ripon.

Spokesman for the Ride, Cliff Barton says “there are several more teams we know are yet to enter and he stressed the importance of early registration, which saves considerable time on the day of the ride, when upwards of 100 new riders can register on the morning, each one taking much more time, which can delay the start”.

The 18^th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride have added to their claim to provided ‘all day fun for all the family’ with inclusion this year of Gerry Cottles Circus Fiesta, who will be bringing their Big Top on the Nidderdale Show Ground, Pateley Bridge, on Sunday 5^th September. Cliff Barton added, “we were approached by Tony Hopkins, of Gerry Cottles Circus, who expressed a wish to support us in our 18^th year, by bringing one of their small Circus Fiesta shows to be staged in their own Big Top, with a troupe of 14/16, including Trapeze artists Silk Flyers, Jugglers, Clowns, but no animals. It is believed to be the first time a circus has ever appeared in Pateley Bridge.

The show will comprise of two halves with an interval, which will enable the expected audience of 275 to make the most of the BBQ, the Bouncy Castle, the Ice Cream and not least (for the dads) the Beer Tent, where the regular Live Bands will be providing their usual entertaining performances throughout the afternoon”.

He stressed “this generous offer, from a famous Circus backed by a donation to funds, should bring an extra 275 new faces to support the well known Harrogate District event, which was started in 1993, when 29 Birchtree Inn regulars got together and raised £1350 for Macmillan. Since that early start the Ride has gone on to raise over £400,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and is now the major donor in the Harrogate area”.

The two-part show will start around 12pm and will cost £6.00 adults and £4.00 children. This will entitle visitors to see BOTH parts of the entertainment.

Registration

Registration for the Great milk (stout) Ride can be done on line at. To enter one of the three Rides (the 25 mile X-treme25, the 20 mile Full Monty, or the 10 mile Half Litre, riders simply log on to the Ride’s website at www.gmsr.co.uk find out all about the organisation, the sponsors, and what’s on, then register and download all necessary sponsorship forms, team sheets maps, posters, and even car window stickers.

Riders can enter as Individuals, or in teams, including Pub Challenge, Non-pub Challenge, Corporate Challenge, or Fancy Dress. There are trophies to be won in all these categories for those raising the most sponsorship money. Riders and/or supporters coming from a distance can take advantage of free overnight camping and caravanning with toilet facilities. The largest team entry so far is Woodhouse Wanderers, Woodhouse Farm Caravan Park, Winksley, Nr Ripon, with fifteen riders, under their captain Emma Green.

The X-treme25

In response to many requests from more serious riders the organising committee have this year introduced an additional section calling it the X-treme25 ride, which adds on a 5 mile loop to the 20 mile Full Monty ride, with a very steep initial section designed to test the stamina of all serious riders.

Registration starts at 8.30 am and the first riders are usually away by 10.00am. Upon return riders are welcomed back to the Show Ground to receive their winner’s medals and signed certificates and a welcome bottle of Yorkshire Water, who are kindly supplying us with free sports-type water bottles again this year. By then the first of days live bands will already playing, the beer tent, barbecue, bouncy castle, face painting and trade stalls will be in full swing, to make for an all-day family day out, this year with the fantastic addition of Gerry Cottles Fiesta Circus.