Cyclists take up Drumlanrig charity cycle challenge

May 1 2009 by Our Correspondent, Dumfries Standard Friday

THE DRUMLANRIG Tearfund Challenge is now in its fourth year, with the biggest entry list ever.

Three hundred cyclists, from as far away as London are coming to ride 84 miles through some of Britain’s most beautiful country and raise money for the charity.

The challenge takes place on Saturday.

It is not a race, but a timer ride, where each rider tries to complete the course safely at a consistent speed, achieving a good personal speed, which can be under four hours 10 minutes, up to a little over seven hours 30 minutes.

There is a number of similar events which have sprung up since the Drumlanrig event started in 2006, most being commercial ventures, for profit, and where the rider gets a good day out, and a goody bag at the end, for their entry fee.

The Drumlanrig Tearfund event is different in that every penny of the donations goes to Tearfund and the costs of holding the event are covered by local volunteers.

The riders get a great day out and people 6,ooo miles away get life-saving support to help then recover their health and escape poverty.

The riders, when they complete the course, get a certificate and a virtual goody bag containing such things as a virtual T-shirt, virtual water bottle and a virtual high energy bar.

The actual items will be sent to victims of flood, famine and poverty — people who really need them.

Three options are availabe to the riders on the day: the first loop of 40 miles, up the Nith valley to Mennock, up the Mennock Pass to Leadhills and Elvanfoot, down the Dalveen pass and back to Drumlanrig.

The full event continues on from Drumlanrig to Tynron (over a challenging hill) to Moniaive, over the hills past Loch Urr, to Dunscore and then back via Keir Mill, where the first bicycle was invented, to the castle.

There is also a more gentle tea and cakes ride to Dunscore church from the castle.

Organiser Rolf Buwert said: “With 300 cyclists in their colourful lycra cycling gear it will be a spectacular event.

“All ages are taking part from 15 year olds to people in their 70s, one rider was in the British Olympic team in Mexico City in 1968, and still going strong.

“We have a strong representation from local riders, the Scottish central belt and Cumbria.”

Tearfund is a leading relief and development charity, working in partnership with Christian agencies and churches worldwide to tackle the causes and effects of poverty.

Although the event is free to enter, those participating have made donations exceeding £7,300.