This year’s mince pie ride, hosted by Wantage CTC, has raised £672 for Whizz-Kidz, the children’s mobility charity. A record £336 was raised on the day and this has been generously matched by the Vodafone UK Foundation. A big thank you to Chris Walters of Vodafone for championing our cause, to the Vodafone UK Foundation for their support and particularly to all those who gave so generously on the day.

A lovely sunny day saw 30 riders assemble in Wantage Market Place for this year’s ride to White Horse Hill . The club was pleased to welcome a number of new faces including Chris, David, Kevin, Stuart, Rachel, Sid’s parents Andy and Jenny and a number of irregulars including Lucia and Iain and Hugh with young Lucy on the tandem. Four members of Didcot Phoenix, Martin Bate, Tom and Phil Robbins and J Moody also decided to join our ride rather than cycling directly to the hill this year.

Due to numbers, the ride was split into faster and slower groups, with the faster group, led by Steve, heading out to the Letcombes and Uffington before climbing White Horse hill while the slower group, led by Richard, took a more direct route and climbed directly up to the NT car park (just as steep, but a shorter push). The faster ride followed a picturesque route via backroads through Letcombe Regis to Letcombe Bassett and our first major climb of the day up Holborn Hill.

We regrouped and caught our breath in the sunshine before continuing on, swooping down the hill into Childrey and on to Sparsholt. Here we had our mishap of the day when Steve, out front, slipped on black ice and took a tumble on the right-hand bend entering the village. Ginny and Phil R also come off when braking to avoid Steve. Phil and Steve were ok although Ginny fell heavily on her shoulder. The fallen having dusted themselves off and checked that bikes were undamaged, the group continued through Sparsholt and Wescot to Kingston Lisle. Here we carefully descended Fawler hill, with brakes on in case it too was icy. Fortunately there was no further mishap and we soon rolled into Uffington and turned towards the hill.

With the sun beaming from a near cloudless sky behind the downs, we could not make out the White Horse as we started our ascent. Everyone settled into their own pace with the racing boys leading the way up to the crossroads with the B4507 and on up the steepening hill. After the cattle grid, the hedges are left behind and the road steepens between grassy verges as it climbs to the gap between Dragon hill and the White Horse – the steepest part of the climb. Once through the gap the gradient lessens for 50 yards or so, giving welcome respite to tiring legs. The road now contours around the steep slopes of the hill with the manger below and there are sweeping views to enjoy across the manger and the Vale – it is just a matter of keeping going up the last part of the climb to emerge in the open downland below Uffington Castle. For those who want to, there is the opportunity to stop, catch their breath and savour the view. It is then just a gentle roll downhill, across a second cattle grid, right at the T-junction and right again into the NT car park.

By the time the fast group wheeled into the car park, the slower group was already tucking into the mince pies and mulled wine. Diane, Nigel and Steve had done an excellent job with the wine, not too sweet and pleasantly spicy. We were joined by other local cyclists who’d made their way directly there, friends and family of riders and a little later by West Oxon Section, over 50 in all.

Given the lovely weather and plentiful food and drink, everyone seemed more than happy to linger and chat in the winter sunshine. Ginny armed with sandwich board and a box of mince pies accosted all the other visitors entering the car park to raise extra funds (in between massages on her sore shoulder). Thanks to everyone’s generosity we raised over £330 and when Steve said that we just need a few more to match last year, a few hands went into pockets again to make the final tally £336 on the day – a new record.

All too quickly we had to usher regular Wantage riders on to the True Heart at Bishopstone for a festive lunch while others made their way home. Thanks to everyone for their support, to all those who made mince pies and especially to Diane, Nigel and Steve for acting as hosts for the day and preparing the wonderful mulled wine.

For more information about Whizz-Kidz.

For more information about Vodafone UK Foundation.