The Kilgetty Bike It Charity Cycle has proved another great success.

The Sportive held on Sunday, July 30 was organised through British Cycling to raise funds for Paul Sartori (Hospice at Home) and Cancer Research UK and one of the organisers Norman Mason said they were delighted to have raised £5,218 between the two charities as well as the raffle on the day raising a further £450 for the family of Ashley Rogers.

Despite the dreadful weather on the day, over 150 of the 184 registered entries (from all over Wales and parts of England) turned out to take on the challenging routes, with participants on the 100 mile route leaving Kilgetty Community Centre at 7 am.

It proved a very tough day in the saddle as riders (many using it as a training excercise for September’s Ironman Wales) covered 101 miles travelling through the 3 counties of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion (from Carew in the South as far as Newcastle Emlyn and beyond in the North) with many seasoned Ironmen/Women describing it as a tougher challenge than IMW’s renowned 112 mile route.

The 75 and 50 mile routes were also well represented with the 75 mile route taking a detour at Crymych before meeting up with the 100 milers at Trelech, with the 50 milers heading for Llandissilio at Gelli and meeting the other two routes at Tavernspite via Whitland, with all routes then heading for a welcome finish at Kingsmoor Sports and Social Club, Kilgetty, where club members had provided an outside barbecue and refreshments greatly appreciated by everyone.

Norman said that besides the volunteers and helpers on the day none of this would have been possible without the generous support from Narberth and Whitland Round Table (finish line sponsors), A&C Aggregates, Classic Carpets and Beds, Folly Farm, Millforge Garage, Pembrokeshire Domestic Waste Collection, and Pencoed Care Home, (medal sponsors) as well as Raffle Prize Donaters, 1 formula fitness, Trubloc, Clerkenhill Adventure Farm, Lokky’s Restaurant, Dragon Palace, A&C Aggregates, Andrew Emanual (Painter and Decorator), Four Seasons Farm Shop, Caffi’r Sgwar, Maenclochog, Andrew Rees Butchers, Catrin Mason.

Special thanks goes to Kingsmoor Sports and Social Club, Kilgetty who had again been great hosts.

Besides every finisher being presented with an impressive Welsh Slate Medal, there was also an award of a framed certificate for The Club with the most finishers on the day.

With 24 different clubs represented (besides all the individual entries) it was a close fought battle with local club The Narberth Dynamos delighted to claim the prize, on what many described as a tough but enjoyable day, not only raising money for three great causes but also proved a great character building exercise in very challenging conditions.