20-Jul-2011 - 30thirty30 Exclusive Cycle Challenge

The Exclusive Hotels 30th Anniversary was celebrated this year with the creation of the 30thirty30 cycling challenge, connecting the Exclusive Hotel chain by bicycle.You can read all about the event on David Connels blog on http://www.30thirty30.co.uk/ It was a great few days and it has to be said a tough challenge for those not used to cycling on a regular basis.

The first day travelled from Fanhams Hall Hotel in Ware to the Royal Berks hotel in Ascot. Fortunately the weather was pleasant and there was a great send off from the hotel and staff. Along the way a couple of participants took up the option of having a ride between drink stops but basically everybody made it to the end. The route was planned to keep to quiet country roads where possible and inevitably when crossing the Chilterns and the North Downs some hills had to be climbed. It was great to see everybody get a warm reception at the finish.

The second day took us from the Pennyhill Hotel in Bagshot all the way through the Cotswolds to the Manor House in Castle Coombe. This was the longest leg and had some tough hills around Marlborough. The weather was not kind and the torrential downpours made cycling very difficult indeed. However again all participants braved the elements and made it through to the Manor House, some arriving much later than others. The rest day on the Friday was eagerly looked anticipated with a few hours to rest up weary limbs.

However the Saturday beckoned quicker than most had wanted and the third leg from Manor House to Winchester did end up being by general consensus the most difficult leg. The start from Manor House involves a steady climb and is not pleasant immediately after breakfast. The route followed the Avon valley down to Amesbury and then through the rolling hills of Hampshire to Lainstons. By the end of this stage bikes and participants were starting to feel the effects.

The final leg dawned with brilliant sunshine which made a pleasant change. By now the participants had really started to work as coordinated teams and it was quite a sight to see groups of 5 or 6 cyclists working together en-route. The faster teams ended up at Mannings Heath Golf Club (nr Horsham) in the early afternoon. All cyclists gathered at the Golf Club in the afternoon and then made a grand entrance en-masse into the South Lodge to the resounding applause from the Music Night audience. It was quite an emotional scene made all the more special when a cheque for £55,000 was handed to Paul Morgan from Macmillans Cancer Support.

It was very special to be part of an event that generated such good feeling and comraderie over the 5 days.

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