Hello everyone
Lots of exciting news in this Newsletter – all related to the Mince Pie Rides on Sunday 10th December and the White Horse Cycle Challenge running for the whole of December – an extended period this year:
THE WHITE HORSE CYCLE CHALLENGE 2023
We challenge individual riders to climb the great Uffington White Horse Hill at a time of their choosing between Saturday 2nd December and Sunday 24th December (on their own or in a group), take a selfie or photo at the top for proof, get extra respect for taking their own mince pie up there and raise money for Whizz Kids. Our target is to see 100 riders complete the challenge and to raise £2,000 for Whizz Kidz. The Challenge kicks off with a club 3* ride to the Hill on Saturday 2nd December (unless anyone beats us to it that day!)
We have set up a donations page here:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/whitehorsecyclechallenge2023
and would welcome donations to support the efforts of all riders, whether from riders themselves, their family or friends. Please share this link widely.
The event is open to all to who enjoy a cycling challenge. To help non‑regular or non-local cyclists give it a go, we have put together a route sheet from Grove and Wantage to White Horse Hill and back. It can be found here (as Route 8):
www.cyclingukwantage.org.uk/routesheets
We ask participants to post their photos on the club Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cyclingukwantage
or to send by email to: info@cyclingukwantage.org.uk
This address can also be used for enquiries about the event.
THE MINCE PIE RIDES – SUNDAY 10th DECEMBER
As with the Challenge, we are raising money for Whizz Kidz and people are encouraged to donate via the Just Giving page highlighted above (we will take cash on the day as well).
Guests and other cycling clubs are very welcome to join us at Wantage Market Place from 9.30 for the start of the club rides or join us at White Horse Hill NT car park (grid ref SU 293866) from 11.00 to 12.00 for mince pies and mulled wine. We will have road rides at 1, 2 and 3* grades and an off-road ride – see separate ride entries on our website (www.cyclingukwantage.org.uk) for route details. This is a very popular event, so please arrive in good time for registration. Afterwards there will be rides led to The Fox at Denchworth for a pub lunch for those whose who have booked (bookings now closed). There will also be a ride directly back to Wantage/Grove.
As in previous years we are reliant on Club members to provide donations of mince pies, mulled wine, basic red wine or cranberry based juice beforehand, so we can maximise the giving to Whizz Kidz. For those of you who are new, we brew up cauldrons of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic mulled wine, based on my wife Carin’s secret recipes, and serve it from ex-military insulated jerry cans – it is awesome! Please give this some thought in your cooking and/or shopping schedules and drop supplies in to our porch at Evergreen, Main Street, Grove, OX12 7JF. Donations welcome from now!
Many thanks
John
