Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club celebrated its first women’s charity sportive on 14 August with over 300 riders joining organisers Kate Horsfall of Wetherby, Judith Worrall of Thirsk and Ali Tiffin of Leeds in an event which has raised around £11,000 for women’s cancer charities.
The sportive was supported by Carlton Lodge Activity Centre in Thirsk and All Terrain Cycles of Wetherby, as well as lots of other companies who contributed to this event, and more than 50 volunteers, many from YLCC and their friends and family, who marshalled and helped out at the sportive. The event raised funds for Women v Cancer which comprises Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Action.
Female cyclists from as far afield as Ireland and Falkirk travelled to Carlton Lodge Activity Centre in Thirsk to take part in one of the three rides: a 30 mile ‘Cuppa tea and a piece a cake’ ride; a 60 mile ‘Reet Gud Ride’; and a 103 mile ‘By Eck Tha War Ard Ride’ route.
“It was an absolutely fantastic event which was even better than we expected – we filled every place, raised a staggering amount for women’s cancer charities and ate lots of cake!” said organisers Kate Horsfall and Judith Worrall.
“The sportive was everything that we wanted it to be, attracting riders of mixed abilities, but all with a common love of cycling. While we appreciated the many men who helped at the sportive, we felt that the rides really benefitted from being a ladies-only affair. Our cyclists felt happy to give it a go, even if they hadn’t done a sportive before, and it was an extremely friendly event.
“We’d like to thank everyone who helped to make it such a special day including our riders, volunteers and our many sponsors. A big thank you to Carlton Lodge Activity Centre and their staff for hosting the event, it really was the perfect venue and to All Terrain Cycles for their ongoing support, from helping us to set up the club 18 months ago to providing equipment and mechanical help on the day and, it wouldn’t have been possible without them both.”
Tony Booth, managing director of All Terrain Cycles, which has bike superstores in Wetherby and Saltaire, says: “Congratulations to Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club for putting on such a magnificent event. It was great to see so many ladies taking to two wheels in aid of such a good cause and no doubt the sportive will be even bigger and better next year.”
The event was supported by a number of local businesses including Carlton Lodge. David Sharpe, chief executive of the activity centre agreed to stage the sportive which has also attracted sponsors including Yorkshire Tea Room, Yorkshire Tea, Office Solutions, Heck Sausages, Paynes Dairies, Masham Sausages and Chia Bars which donated cakes, tea, sausages, energy bars, milk and office supplies.
The women’s charity sportive will be held again next year on the 20th August 2017 and details will be released via British Cycling events at the beginning of September.
Yorkshire Lass Cycling Club meets at 10am most Sundays at All Terrain Cycles on Audby Lane, Wetherby. Anyone interested in joining the club should visit YorkshireLass.cc.