THE Kilgetty Bike It 100 Charity Cycling Sportive held recently at Kingsmoor Sports and Social Club was the most successful yet attracting a capacity of 220 entries and raising £7,838.32 Paul Sartori Hospice at Home and Haverfordwest High School South Africa Rugby Tour 2025.

Amongst the riders tackling the three challenging routes (50/75/100 miles) were social family riders, but also many top cyclists using the longer routes as preparation for upcoming events including this month’s Ironman Wales.

The added incentive this year was to compete for the title of King and Queen of The Mountain over three timed, long climb sections on the 100-mile route, with the 75-mile entrants (two sections) and the 50 milers (one section).

Mathew Bassett (Ammanford) was crowned King of the Mountain beating some of Ironman Wales’ top local contenders.

Katie Davies (Ystradowen, Swansea, who has qualified for The World Ironman Championships in her age group in Nice, was the convincing winner against strong opposition in the Queen of the Mountain.

In the middle distance, local rider Tim Ormsby (East Williamston) put in two impressive climbs to take the King of the Mountain whilst Monika Kubiak (Llanelli) was the Queen.

David Griffiths, who grew up in Pembrokeshire but now living in Oswestry, was the 50-mile King with partner Ella Hamilton the Queen.

The award for the club with the most finishers went to the very popular local club The Tenby Aces, with Gareth Huw Rees receiving the award on behalf of The Aces from former rugby legend Shane Williams MBE.

Despite only returning home from holiday the day before, Shane completed the 100-mile route himself in a good time.

The Towy Riders from Carmarthen saw Susie Finucane among their entrants in the 75-miler just a few days before setting off to Paris to proudly watch her daughter Emma compete in the Olympic Cycling and come home with a gold and two bronze medals.

Simon Williams (Towy Riders head coach) returned to complete the 100 miler after he suffered an accident in Crymych during the 2021 event and vowed to return to complete unfinished business.

Visually impaired British cycling coach Simon Thomas, who holds a para cycling National Championship title for the 2021 National Road Race Championship in Bath, usually rides tandem but took on the 100 miler on a solo bike with his fellow club members at Carmarthen Triathlon Club.

Also a mention to the three youngest entrants, Caio Jones, Daf Williams (both Clarbeston Rd), and Hugh Thomas (Haverfordwest) - all 15-year-olds completing the 50-miler.

Event organiser Norman Mason said: “There are so many to thank with special thanks to Sandra Dade and the team of volunteers from Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, and parents, friends, and the rugby boys from Haverfordwest High School. Without their support, this event would never run let alone have been so successful.”

He also thanked Princes Gate Water; Castell Howell; medal sponsors The Plough Inn, Sageston; Folly Farm; Tom Goddard & Sons, Haverfordwest; Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club; Pisga Congregrational Chapel, Llandissilio; Kingsmoor Sports & Social Club; and photographers Matt Reynolds and Mark J Saunders.

Dispatch rider Roy James, who has not missed a Kilgetty Bike It, and the support vehicles for making sure all cyclists are escorted throughout the event, were also thanked.

Kilgetty Bike It 100 2025 will be held on Sunday 10th August. Paul Sartori Hospice at Home will take over the running of this event from next year having shadowed and helped organise this year's event, and with so much positive feedback confidence is high that the event will go from strength to strength.