Great Milk (stout) Ride News

Great Milk Stout Ride 2010 moves up another gear as £30,000 raised for McMillan Cancer Support

2010-11-16T03:29:00.000-08:00

The Presentation Night for the 18th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride took place at the Olde Oak Inn Low Laithe, where Macmillan area fund raising manager, Roohi Lupton, was handed a cheque for £30,000, the culmination of another year’s pedalling by over 430 riders on 5th September. Donations to this fantastic charity Great Milk (stout) Ride totals a staggering £430,000 in 18 years!!

Alongside the riders on the day Mathew Hick helped raise money earlier in June by riding the Great Milk Stout Ride 10 successive times. Mathew currently in New Zealand travelling won the Rob Smith memorial trophy for the most raised by an individual rider. In a short note to accept his award he said “I will be back for the ride next year and talk to you in person about the next little idea I have” Having completed the course ten times, we can only anticipate what Mathew will conjour up next year!!

This year’s presentation also marked the end of an era!! Cliff Barton, one of the founder members of the ride’s 18 years has decided it is time to stand down from the committee and pursue some of his many other interests. Cliff was presented with piece of hand blown glass to say thank you for all of his tireless work for the bike ride. The trophy was presented on behalf of everyone that has been involved in the ride.

In a further suprise to the evening, Roohi Lupton also made three very special awards on behalf of McMillan to 3 members of the committee.

Cliff Barton, Mike Holt and Bob Drake were all awarded, The Douglas Macmillan Award. The award is for volunteers who represent, and speak up for Macmillan to help raise money, promote its charitable purpose, win corporate support and gain media coverage.

Roohi Lupton was then invited to present the trophies to the leading fundraisers in the following categories:

The Rob Smith Memorial Team Challenge Trophy, for any non-pub team was won by the team “Woodhouse Wanderers”. This is the first year the team has entered the ride, and what a start!!! They finished with a total of £2229.00. We are very much looking forward to seeing them return next year!

The Pub Challenge Shield was won this year by our hosts for the evening, Ye Olde Oake Inn, Low Laithe. They raised a fantastic £1596.50. The trophy was presented to the landlady of the Oake, Debbie Marshall.

The Fancy Dress Trophy was won this year by Chris & Marjorie Sexton who were dressed as a Jester and French Maid!!

The Rob Smith Memorial Trophy for the Individual Challenge was won by Mathew Hick, with £1005.00.

The Patrick Bickers Memorial Trophy for corporate entries, in memory of one of the founding committee members of the ride from 1993 and who devised and managed the registration system, was won by Halifax based marquee hire company, “All Occasions”.

After assisting with drawing raffle and presenting the prizes, Roohi Lupton thanked everyone involved in the organising and taking part in the annual Great Milk (stout) Ride over the years and congratulated them on passing the £430,000 mark. She stressed the importance of this continued support in the Harrogate district, with entries now coming from as far afield as London and even the Channel Islands.

A pie and peas supper was provided by landlady Debbie Marshall, with all proceeds going to Macmillan.

Presentation Night 12th November 2010

2010-10-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

The annual Presentation Night, when Macmillan Cancer Support find out just how much this year's Great Milk (stout) Ride will be handing over to them will take place at Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low Laithe, starting at 7pm.

First the trophies for the individuals and teams who have raised the most sponsorship monies will be presented by the Macmillan representative, while landlady, Debbie Marshall, will be sponsoring the £2 pie and pea suppers, with all the proceeds going to swell the Macmillan coffers.

The "bottle-on-the-bar" will be emptied and the contents added to the total. There will also be a tombola and Grand Raffle draw.

Any riders or teams who have not been able to get their sponsorship monies to treasurer Bob Drake at Tranby Croft, Glasshouse, HG3 5QY before can turn up on the night and hand over their cash.

Why not come along and bring your friends for a good night out and be the first to know how much we have achieved this year?

There is always an exiting sense of anticipation to make the evening well worth the effort.

18th Great Milk (stout) Ride

2010-10-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

The sun shone yet again for the 18^th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride last Sunday 5^th September. This year saw the introduction of an additional route to the 20 mile Full Monty and the 10 mile Half Litre rides. In response to many requests from the fitter and more serious members of cycling fraternity, the organising committee had introduced a five mile loop calling it the X-treme25. This extra challenge was taken up by over 60 riders, who unanimously voted it a huge success. A total of 432 riders took part in the whole charity bike ride, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The first riders were sent on their way by Barbara Woodhouse of Glasshouses, widow of John in whose memory the Great Milk (stout) Ride has been held since 1993. Last year’s event brought the total of £400,000 donated to Macmillan and it is hoped that a significant amount will be realised again this year. The cut off date for donations and sponsorship monies is Friday 12^th November, when winning fundraisers will receive their trophies and the final cheque will be handed over at Presentation Night at Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low Laithe, starting 8.00pm. Donations can be sent to the treasurer at Tranby Croft, Glasshouses, HG3 5QY cheques payable to GMsR. To enable Macmillan to collect a further 28p in the pound via Gift Aid, donors should indicate their wish and supply their address.

There were over 40 teams entered including new entrants Woodhouse Wanderers from Winksley, Harrogate’s Team VIRR, Dacre Son & Hartley’s Ilkley Team Simon, Harrogate medal sponsors Erudine, Leeds’ Dirty Wheels, Pateley Club and the Crown at Middlesmoor

Although the committee stresses “it’s a Ride NOT a Race” the first riders reappeared at the finishing line in just on the hour, to collect their certificates and medals and a welcome bottle of water, kindly sponsored respectively by Harrogate computer software company Erudine and Yorkshire Water.

Oldest rider in the events was Eric Stoyles 83 years old and completed the 20 mile ride in two hours. He lives at the top on one of the steepest hills in the Dale, being Old Church Lane, Pateley Bridge and does regular rides to Masham over the moors. He told us he thoroughly enjoyed today's event and rode part of the route alongside the Pink Fairy!! He and his wife Hazel are very proud of his achievement.

Local musicians Ade Payne, The Pete Oliver Band with vocalist Sharon Colgan and The Hall Brothers with Sarah Carey again entertained the riders and their supporters from the stage in the beer tent.

Throughout the day Margaret Bickers and her team of helpers were kept busy serving a variety of barbecued items including locally supplied burgers, sausages, bacon, with various drinks.

James Wilson from Fresh Radio for the Dales was on hand again to provide continuity and live interviews throughout the day. Fresh Radio is one of our media sponsors. The committee would like to express their thanks again to their other sponsors: Erudine, Cartridge World, Deakin Accountancy Ltd., Yorkshire Water, Houseman International, Branch Auto Bodies (Ilkley), EW Smith & Co., QPS Group, AMPS News Ltd., The Cheridan Raithby Charitable Trust and Birchfield Ice Cream Ltd and Stif Bikes of Summerbridge.

Pictures
Woodhouse Wanderers team before the start.

Committee members (l to r) Luke Bickers, Ian Deakin, Cliff Barton, Bob Drake, Mike Holt, dishing out medals and certificates to finishing riders.

Barbara Woodhouse is ready to sound the hooter for the start of the 18th Great Milk (stout) Ride.

Changes

2010-08-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Entertainment

Sadly “Gerry Cottles Circus Fiesta” is unable to attend the event this year due to a clash of dates. A spokesman passed on their regrets at not being able to attend such an important date in the Nidderdale diary, but hoped they would be able to make it next year.

Of course the BBQ, the Bouncy Castle, the Ice Cream and not least (for the dads) the Beer Tent, where the regular Live Bands will be providing their usual entertaining performances throughout the afternoon. The live bands this year are as follows:

Ade Payne

Without doubt a talented singer songwriter and not one to 'put up and rest up, Ade is constantly delivering his very own brand of Americana/Roots/Country music.

As well as the catchy numbers that have his audiences tapping their feet, he has more recently achieved beautiful depth in harmonies & musical arrangements sung straight from the heart from his own personal experiences. Ade started writing and playing his songs from the age of around 12 years, appearing on the gig circuit at 17 years of age mainly singing his own originals and covers. However, he quickly realised that his own songs were being so well received that he sung them more and more. Now these days he just sings the songs he has written himself.

Regularly lining up with some of the finest musicians in his genre, Ade’s sound continues to evolve and we can expect more songs that will have you wanting more in the future.

The Hall Brothers with Sarah Carey

Yorkshire-born brothers Nick and Duncan Hall have played music together for as long as they can remember. They first performed as The Hall Brothers in 1991. Since then they have played concerts and festivals throughout the UK and in Ireland and Holland. They have supported acts as diverse as Fairport Convention and The Wedding Present with their unique brand of folk/rock

The Pete Oliver Band with vocalist Sharon Colgan.

Teams are supporting Great Milk (stout) Ride

2010-08-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

Back Row: Edward Hitchen, Marie Laverick, Tom Smith, Paul Middlebrook, Mark Barron, Susie Bryrom, Emma Green, Will McDermott and Michael Butterfield.

Front Row: Holly Brayshaw, Max Butterfield, Thomas Barron.

Left the team chew over the next moves.

A newly formed team has joined the 29 others, so far registered in this year’s Great Milk (stout) Ride. Woodhouse Wanderers is determined to make 2010 a truly memorable 18^th year. At the start of a practice ride, last week, part of the 17 strong team paused for a photograph, at the end of the lane leading to Woodhouse Farm Caravan Park at Winksley, near Ripon.

Team leader Emma Green (third from right), told us “We estimate that between us so far we have raised £750, all through sponsorship. We are holding a coffee and tombola morning in our bar and restaurant, The Barn, next Saturday. We hope to raise a further couple of hundred pounds through our Bank Holiday activities which include bingo, pub quizzes and raffles”.

Two other local teams of riders are vying with each other over the Pub Challenge Trophy this year. The Crown Hotel, Middlesmoor are determined to reclaim the trophy from the Pateley Club team, who last year wrested the cup from them, raising £1090 at their first attempt; the Crown had retained the trophy for seven out of the previous eight years. Currently the Crown is sporting twelve members to Pateley Club’s seven.

Among the 49 towns and villages so far represented at this year’s ride will be Acomb, Batley, Bedale, Bradford, Harrogate, Highburton (Huddersfield), Howarth, Knaresborough, Mapplewell, Morley, Northallerton, Pateley Bridge, Ripon, Sheffield, Shilden, South Milford, South Normanton, Wetherby and York.

Spokesman for the Ride, Cliff Barton says “there are several more teams we know are yet to enter and he stressed the importance of early registration, which saves considerable time on the day of the ride, when upwards of 100 new riders can register on the morning, each one taking a lot more time, which can delay the start”. Registration for the Great milk (stout) Ride can be done on line. To enter one of the three Rides (the 25 mile X-treme25, the 20 mile Full Monty, or the 10 mile Half Litre, riders simply log on to the Ride’s website at www.gmsr.co.uk find out all about the organisation, the sponsors, and what’s on, then register and download all necessary sponsorship forms, team sheets maps, posters, and even car window stickers.

The Great Milk (stout) Ride has added to its claim to provided ‘all day fun for all the family’ with inclusion this year of Gerry Cottles Circus Fiesta, who will be bringing their Big Top on the Nidderdale Show Ground, Pateley Bridge, on Sunday 5^th September. Cliff Barton added, “we were approached by Tony Hopkins, of Gerry Cottles Circus, who expressed a wish to support us in our 18^th year, by bringing one of their small Circus Fiesta shows to be staged in their own Big Top, with a troupe of 14/16, including Trapeze artists Silk Flyers, Jugglers, Clowns, but no animals. It is believed to be the first time a circus has ever appeared in Pateley Bridge.

The X-treme25

In response to many requests from more serious riders the organising committee have this year introduced an additional section calling it the X-treme25 ride, which adds on a 5 mile loop to the 20 mile Full Monty ride, with a very steep initial section designed to test the stamina of all serious riders.

Registration starts at 8.30 am and the first riders are usually away by 10.00am. Upon return they are welcomed back to the Show Ground to receive their winner’s medals and signed certificates and a bottle of Yorkshire Water, who are kindly supplying us with free sports-type water bottles again this year. By then the first of days live bands will already playing, the beer tent, barbecue, bouncy castle, face painting and trade stalls will be in full swing, to make for an all-day family day out, this year with the fantastic addition of Gerry Cottles Fiesta Circus.

Local rivals dispute Pub Challenge Trophy

2010-08-12T03:48:00.000-07:00

Two local teams of riders are vying with each other over the Pub Challenge Trophy this year. The Crown Hotel, Middlesmoor are determined to reclaim the trophy from the Pateley Club team, (pictured before last year's event), who last year wrested the cup from them, raising £1090 at their first attempt; previously the Crown had retained the trophy for seven out of the previous eight years. Currently both rival teams are sporting seven members each.

Other old favourites in the seventeen early registrations are team VIRR (13), team Erudine (4), team Simon (3), but leading the field is new team Woodhouse Wanderers (15) entered by Woodhouse Farm caravan park, Winksley near Ripon.

The 18^th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride have added to their claim to provided ‘all day fun for all the family’ with inclusion this year of Gerry Cottles Circus Fiesta, who will be bringing their Big Top on the Nidderdale Show Ground, Pateley Bridge, on Sunday 5^th September. Cliff Barton added, “we were approached by Tony Hopkins, of Gerry Cottles Circus, who expressed a wish to support us in our 18^th year, by bringing one of their small Circus Fiesta shows to be staged in their own Big Top, with a troupe of 14/16, including Trapeze artists Silk Flyers, Jugglers, Clowns, but no animals. It is believed to be the first time a circus has ever appeared in Pateley Bridge.

He stressed “this generous offer, from a famous Circus backed by a donation to funds, should bring an extra 275 new faces to support the well known Harrogate District event, which was started in 1993, when 29 Birchtree Inn regulars got together and raised £1350 for Macmillan. Since that early start the Ride has gone on to raise over £400,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and is now the major donor in the Harrogate area”.

The two-part show will start around 12pm and will cost £6.00 adults and £4.00 children. This will entitle visitors to see BOTH parts of the entertainment.

Registration

Registration for the Great milk (stout) Ride can be done on line at. To enter one of the three Rides (the 25 mile X-treme25, the 20 mile Full Monty, or the 10 mile Half Litre, riders simply log on to the Ride’s website at www.gmsr.co.uk find out all about the organisation, the sponsors, and what’s on, then register and download all necessary sponsorship forms, team sheets maps, posters, and even car window stickers.

Riders can enter as Individuals, or in teams, including Pub Challenge, Non-pub Challenge, Corporate Challenge, or Fancy Dress. There are trophies to be won in all these categories for those raising the most sponsorship money. Riders and/or supporters coming from a distance can take advantage of free overnight camping and caravanning with toilet facilities. The largest team entry so far is Woodhouse Wanderers, Woodhouse Farm Caravan Park, Winksley, Nr Ripon, with fifteen riders, under their captain Emma Green.

The X-treme25

Registration starts at 8.30 am and the first riders are usually away by 10.00am. Upon return riders are welcomed back to the Show Ground to receive their winner’s medals and signed certificates and a welcome bottle of Yorkshire Water, who are kindly supplying us with free sports-type water bottles again this year. By then the first of days live bands will already playing, the beer tent, barbecue, bouncy castle, face painting and trade stalls will be in full swing, to make for an all-day family day out, this year with the fantastic addition of Gerry Cottles Fiesta Circus.

2010-07-30T04:38:00.000-07:00

Charity cyclist's £2,000 triumph

Matthew Hick completes a circuit on his 200 mile charity cycle ride followed by Stan Lumley, Mick Hawkins, Craig Jarratt, and Quentin Sands who rode with him for part of the way.

A CYCLIST from Wilsill has raised almost £2,000 for charity by completing a mammoth challenge.

Matthew Hick, 26, cycled 200 miles on June 26, completing 10 sets of the Great Milk (Stout) Ride in aid of two chosen charities, Prostate Cancer and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Money is still coming in, but he has already raised around £2,000, with the help of sponsors and a stall at the bottom of the Pateley Bridge High Street.

In total, 20 riders turned out to support him, completing the route in 15 hours and 20 minutes.

Mr Hick thanked the riders, especially Craig Jarret, for their support, and all those who stayed at the stall and provided moral support and encouragement.

"I wont be in a hurry to repeat it again, it was a once in a life time challenge," he said.

"But I hope to raise more money in the future through another epic event."

Story as featured in the Nidderdale Herald

Big Top support for Great Milk (stout) Ride

2010-07-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

The 18th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride has just announced that Gerry Cottles' Circus Fiesta will be adding to the all-day family fun on 5th September by staging a two-part performance in the Big Top on the Nidderdale Show Ground, Pateley Bridge, in support of the Ride and Macmillan.

Spokesman for the Ride, Cliff Barton says “We were recently approached by Tony Hopkins, of Gerry Cottles Circus, who expressed a wish to support us in our 18th year, by bringing a small Circus Fiesta show to be staged in their own Big Top, with a troupe of 14/16, including Trapeze artists Silk Flyers, Jugglers, Clowns, but no animals.

Photos (l to r) Ross Presto and Co (illusionists), Desiree (silks)

the Bugrova Sisters (jugglers)

The show will comprise of two halves with an interval, which will enable the expected audience of 275 to make the most of the BBQ, the Bouncy Castle, the Ice Cream and not least (for the dads) the Beer Tent, where the regular Live Bands will be providing their usual entertaining performances throughout the afternoon”.

He stressed “this generous offer, from a famous Circus backed by a donation to funds, should bring an extra 275 new faces to support the well known Harrogate District event, which was started in 1993, when 29 Birchtree Inn regulars got together and raised £1350 for Macmillan. Since that early start the Ride has gone on to raise over £400,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and is now the major donor in the Harrogate area”.

The two-part show will start around 12pm and will cost £6.00 adults and £4.00 children. This will entitle visitors to see BOTH parts of the entertainment.

Registration
Registration for the Great milk (stout) Ride is now well and truly up and running with entries approaching the 100 mark. To enter one of the three Rides (the 25 mile X-treme25, the 20 mile Full Monty, or the 10 mile Half Litre, riders simply log on to the Ride’s website at http://www.gmsr.co.uk/ find out all about the organisation, the sponsors, and what’s on, then register and download all necessary sponsorship forms, team sheets maps, posters, and even car window stickers.

Riders can enter as Individuals, or in teams, including Pub Challenge, Non-pub Challenge, Corporate Challenge, or Fancy Dress. There are trophies to be won in all these categories for those raising the most sponsorship money. Riders and/or supporters coming from a distance can take advantage of free overnight camping and caravanning with toilet facilities.

The X-treme25
In response to many requests from more serious riders the organising committee have this year introduced an additional section calling it the X-treme25 ride, which adds on a 5 mile loop to the 20 mile Full Monty ride, with a very steep initial section designed to test the stamina of all serious riders.

Registration starts at 8.30 am and the first riders are usually away by 10.00am. Upon return riders are welcomed back to the Show Ground to receive their winner’s medals and signed certificates and a welcome bottle of Yorkshire Water, who are kindly supplying us with free sports-type water bottles again this year. By then the first of days live bands will already playing, the beer tent, barbecue, bouncy castle, face painting and trade stalls will be in full swing, to make for an all-day family day out, this year with the fantastic addition of Gerry Cottles' Circus Fiesta.

New innovations for 18th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride

2010-05-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Registration is now well and truly open for the 18th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, to be staged at the Nidderdale Show Ground, Pateley Bridge on 5th September 2010.
Leading the innovations this year is a brand new-look website, designed and built by Bruce Holliday, of BTH Design Services, who have improved on their previous well received site. Visitors to the site ht tp://www.gmsr.co.uk/ can easily find out all about the organisation, the sponsors, and what’s on, then register and download all necessary sponsorship forms, team sheets maps, posters, and car window stickers.
X-treme 25

In response to many requests from more serious riders the organising committee have introduced an additional section called the X-treme 25 ride, which adds on a 5 mile loop to the 20 mile Full Monty ride, with a very steep initial section designed to test the stamina of all serious riders. The pictures above show how the loop leaves the Full Monty Ride on upper Wath Road, climbs steeply up Silver Hill, including the right turn at the top. Continue on to turn left at the "T" junction, then right turn and down past "Seldom Seen" turning right at the crossroads, over Madge Hill and down to the main Ripon-Pateley road, where riders MUST obey marshals' signals; on then, turning left to rejoin the Full Monty route at the Pateley-Harrogate road.

Registration starts at 8.30 am and the first riders are usually away by 10.00am. Upon return riders are welcomed back to the Show Ground to receive their winner’s medals and signed certificates. By then the first of days live bands will already playing, the beer tent, barbecue, bouncy castle, face painting and trade stalls will be in full swing, to make for an all-day family day out.
Riders and/or supporters coming from a distance can take advantage of free overnight camping and caravanning with toilet facilities.
Since 1993, when 29 riders raised £1350, the Great Milk (stout) Ride has donated over £400,000 to Macmillan and is the major donor in the Harrogate area.

Memorial Trophy Presentation

2009-11-20T00:55:00.000-08:00

The Patrick Bickers Memorial Trophy, for corporate team entries, was presented to the winning team Erudine by Patrick’s eldest son Luke at an informal ceremony in their Harrogate offices at Central House, Harlow Hill, on Thursday 19th November 2009.

Luke was unable to attend the recent Presentation Night on 6th, where the trophy was received from Macmillan’s area fundraising

manager, Roohi Lupton by Hugh Beever.

Erudine are one of the sponsors of the Great Milk (stout) Ride and Luke said that he was particularly pleased to see a local company win the trophy in its inaugural year and hoped this would be an inspiration to other local and regional firms to get involved in supporting this fundraising event, which has been able to present over £400,000 to Macmillan since its beginnings in 1993 and is their principal fundraiser in the Harrogate area.

Erudine is a highly innovative software development company. Started in 2002 by Pateley Bridge born brothers Martin and Phil Rice, Erudine is set to revolutionise the IT industry with its radical new technology - Erudine’s Behaviour Engine. http://www.erudine.com/home

Photo above shows, l-r, Cliff Barton (GMsR), Oliver Pursaill, Colin Froggatt, Dave Stephenson, Luke Bickers (GMsR), Hugh Beever.

Below: some of the Erudine team discuss their experiences after completing this year's Full Monty Ride

Stout Riders celebrating 17 years of Macmillan Cancer Support pass £400,000

2009-11-09T05:52:00.000-08:00

Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low Laithe near Pateley Bridge on Friday 6th November, was again the venue for the Presentation Night for the 17th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride, when Macmillan area fund raising manager, Roohi Lupton, was handed a cheque for £30,000, the culmination of another year’s pedalling by over 480 riders on 6th September. This took donations to Macmillan, since 1993 to over £400,000.

Before the proceedings started, Roohi Lupton demonstrated her other skills on the pool table, defeating several of the local "experts"!!

The efforts of the riders was this year augmented by three events kindly organised by two Nidderdale ladies (reported in earlier blogs). Firstly the annual Strawberry Fayre, which is staged by Marion Stockdale and her friends at her home in Clapham Green realised £822; the other two events were organised by Sandra Bradley of Dacre Banks, who with her team ran two very successful Dining-for-Macmillan events at Fewston and Dacre village halls in August and October, which between them raised £1250 towards the final total of this year’s Ride. Spokesman for the Great Milk (stout) Ride, Cliff barton, expressed the appreciation of the organising committee for the efforts of these two teams and hoped that more volunteers wishing to come forward with other fundraising ideas would get in touch on either 01423 780389 or bartoncliff@btopenworld.com to discuss their ideas and what support they might require.

Roohi Lupton was then invited to present the trophies to the leading fundraisers in the following categories:
The Rob Smith Memorial Team Challenge Trophy, for any non-pub team was won, for the third year in a row, by team Practice-Makes-Perfect, alias the Nidderdale Group Practice, from Feastfield Surgery, Pateley Bridge, Grange Medical Centre, Dacre Banks and Spring Gables Surgery, Birstwith, with a winning total of £1540.
The Pub Challenge Shield was won by first time entrants Pateley Club, whose team of six raised £1090. In addition their “bucket-on-the-bar” produced another £117. The trophy was presented to club steward, Dennis Bell, who is also a founding member of the Great Milk (stout) Ride in 1993 and who has completed every ride since then
The Fancy Dress Trophy was won this year by the Flintstones from Kirkburton, who were even selling rides to children on the day.
The Rob Smith Memorial Trophy for the Individual Challenge was again won by Geoff Hoffman, who has relatives living in Glasshouses, with £895.
The Patrick Bickers Memorial Trophy for corporate entries, in memory of one of the founding committee members of the ride from 1993 and who devised and managed the registration system, was won by Harrogate based innovative software development company, Erudine with £564. The trophy is a quaish bowl, from which the piper at a Scottish dinner, would be offered a dram of malt whisky, which he would down in one. Patrick was very fond of his malts, of which he had quite a collection.

After assisting with drawing the square board raffle and presenting the prizes, Roohi Lupton thanked everyone involved in the organising and taking part in the annual Great Milk (stout) Ride over the years and congratulated them on passing the £400,000 mark. She stressed the importance of this continued support in the Harrogate district, with entries now coming from as far afield as London and even the Channel Islands.

A pie and peas supper was provided by landlady Debbie Marshall, with all proceeds going to Macmillan.

After Hugh Beever of Erudine had inserted a dram into the bowl, treasurer, Bob Drake demonstrated how to use the quaish; apparently after downing the dram in one, the piper would tip the bowl over and kissed the bottom to show that all the whisky had gone!

Halloween event a treat for Stout Ride

2009-11-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

Saturday 31st October, Sandra Bradley and her team of helpers held a successful Dining-for-Macmillan event in Dacre and Hartwith Village Hall, when they raised £493 in support of this year’s annual Great Milk (stout) Ride. Adding this to the proceeds of a similar event held at Fewston they were able to hand over £1250 to the treasurer Bob Drake, who expressed grateful thanks on behalf of the organising committee

Halloween event supporting Stout Ride

2009-10-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Saturday 31st October will see the final effort in support of this year’s 17th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride take place at Dacre and Hartwith Village Hall, in Dacre Banks.

Sandra Bradley and her team of helpers will be holding a Dining-for-Macmillan event between 11am and 3pm, where they will be selling hot food (including pumpkin soup), teas, cakes, etc., to passing motorists. A similar event at Fewston Village Hall, earlier this year realised over £750. All the proceeds will go to swell the coffers of the popular Dales charity bike ride in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Presentation Night

On Friday 6th November at Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low Laithe, Macmillan area fund raising manager, Roohi Lupton, will receive the cheque for this year’s Great Milk (stout) Ride. With a record 486 riders out on the day, including 48 teams, a spokesman for the ride was hopeful that this year would enable the committee to hand over yet another record cheque. He stressed the importance of riders ensuring that their sponsorship monies should be handed over by Monday 2nd November at the latest to the treasurer at Tranby Croft, Glasshouses, HG3 5QY cheques payable to GMsR. To enable us to collect a further 28p in the pound via Gift Aid, donors should indicate their wish and supply their address. Late payments will be accepted on the night in emergency.

Record numbers for 17th Great Milk (stout) Ride

2009-09-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

Queue at Jackie's Diner Dave Donnely recycles numbers Sharon Coglan (Accoutic Blue)

James Wilson (Fresh Radio) Flintstones R - GO Sid Brayshaw and grandson Matty

Time Warp take the stage Roger Jefferson glad to be back Team Kent Alarms

Matty Barton glad to be back Michael gets it wrong? Leeds team Dirty Wheels

Flashing to the finish Part of Carly's Angels team Part of team VIRR's 30 riders

Five of Pateley Club team Flintstones ready to push off! Practice makes Perfect team

Start of 20 mile Full Monty Start of 10 mile Half Litre

The 17th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride was blessed with perfect weather last Sunday 6th September. The daily digest of sporadic rain over the previous two weeks started to evaporate on the Saturday easing the tasks of the small group of committee members in their various duties, including signing the two routes for the 20 mile Full Monty and the 10 mile Half Litre rides, setting up the barbecue, tombola, beer tent, bringing chairs, erecting the direction signs for the car park, etc.

The committee left the site at 5.pm with fingers firmly crossed, some (with hankies at the ready) to chop up 7 kilos of onions ready for next day’s burgers.

At 7.30am on Sunday their prayers were answered: ideal conditions prevailed namely light thin
cloud and just the right temperature for our riders. By 8.30am the bacon butties were ready to welcome the first to register. The trickle developed into a steady stream and by 9.15 a torrent of riders seeking the queue for their number. By the end of Saturday 351 had registered on line.

Before the first riders were set on their at 10.05 a further 120 had registered on the day, making this the largest number (471) “on the day” to be sent on their way by the Ride’s top fundraiser Harold Turner, of Rothwell (rt above). Harold has personally raised over £60,000 since the second ride in 1994 until 2008.

Records to be broken

Another record this year was the entry of 48 teams ranging from Harrogate’s 30 strong Team VIRR, Pateley Bridge Practice-makes-Perfect team of 20 doctors and staff from the Nidderdale group, Dacre Son & Hartley’s Ilkley (17), Carly’s Angels (17), Team Simon (13), Harrogate medal sponsors Erudine (12), Leeds’ Dirty Wheels (7),RAF Menwith Hill’s Liam’s Angels (4) to Pateley Bridge’s Team Deanie (2).
Unusual names emerged including Tied in Notts, Steady Away, Neonemon, How Wats, 3 Ladies and Jimmy, NY Coureurs and Otley’s The Sunshine Boys.

Although the committee stresses “it’s a Ride NOT a Race” the first riders reappeared at the finishing line in just on the hour, to collect their certificates and medals and a welcome bottle of water, kindly sponsored by Harrogate computer software company Erudine and Yorkshire Water, respectively.

If music be…..

As the trickle became a flood of riders collecting their certificates and medals, the first of four local bands, Time Warp, began their set, followed throughout the afternoon by Accoustic Blue, with Sharon Colgan, The Hall Brothers, with Sarah Carey 14 (above), a very talented young lady, who plays guitar and sang some of her own songs. Sarah has recorded a CD “Painting Rainbows”, which is on sale at £5 to raise money for Martin House Children’s Hospice. Sarah’s website is
www.myspace.com/sarahcarey The afternoon’s entertainment was brought to an end by Harrogate’s Ade Payne, but not before the audience had demanded two encores. These local artists give of their talents free of charge, as they have been doing for many years and the committee would like to express their sincere thanks for their continued support.

Throughout the day “Jackie’s Diner” was kept busy serving a variety of barbecued items including locally supplied burgers, sausages, bacon, with various drinks. The team laboured ceaselessly and realised a total profit to Macmillan of £900. Our photo shows the queue during the lunchtime session.

James Wilson from Fresh Radio for the Dales was on hand to provide continuity and live interviews throughout the day. He has taken a very good video of the start, which can be viewed on YOU TUBE by typing Great Milk (stout) Ride 2009. Fresh Radio is one of our media sponsors along with Stray FM and Ackrill Media Group. The committee would like to express their thanks again to their other sponsors: Erudine, Cartridge World, Deakin Accountancy Ltd., Yorkshire Water, Houseman International, Branch Auto Bodies (Ilkley), EW Smith & Co., QPS Group, AMPS News Ltd., The Cheridan Raithby Charitable Trust and Birchfield Ice Cream Ltd.

A spokesman commenting on this year’s event said “with the record entry of both individuals and teams, we could well be looking to exceed last year’s total of £40,000 to Macmillan. We have already received earlier contributions from Marion Stockdale’s annual Strawberry Fayre and Sandra Bradley’s recent Fewston Teas, which she intends to replicate at Dacre Banks Village Hall on Saturday October 31st. We have until the Presentation Night Friday 6th November at Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low Laithe, to get all the money in. Donations can be sent to the treasurer at Tranby Croft, Glasshouses, HG3 5QY cheques payable to GMsR. To enable us to collect a further 28p in the pound via Gift Aid, donors should indicate their wish and supply their address”.

To see James Wilson's video click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7CyCG7wOX8

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

2009-09-01T06:49:00.000-07:00

Below are details of our sponsors, which will be displayed on A3 boards on Sunday 6th September in the Registration tent, enabling members of the public to see who is supporting the Great Milk (stout) Ride and give them the opportunity to patronise them in return.

On behalf of the committee may we say a big thank you to our sponsors for their continued support, which has greatly contributed to the on-going success of the event.

Harrogate IT specialists save the day

2009-08-31T09:43:00.000-07:00

The organising committee of the Great Milk (stout) Ride are pleased (and relieved) to announce that Oriium Consulting based in Harrogate have stepped in to offer a fantastic lifeline to the on-going event.

As our regular riders will all know, we have been fortunate to have an excellent website that allows riders and teams to register with such ease, besides keeping them informed of any related events, news of our sponsors, etc. Sadly we were informed last week that the website was under threat as the current hosts could no longer provide help for the service we require. As you can imagine, with the ride so close we needed to resolve the matter quickly. Oriium have stepped up, and we are pleased to announce the site is now their capable hands, and will go from strength to strength in the coming months, without anyone noticing the changeover.

Oriium Consulting was started a little over two years ago by Chris Kiaie, they provide all aspects of IT support to UK commerce. You can visit their site at www.oriium.co.uk.

Early morning visit to Stray FM

2009-08-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

Thursday 27th August at 8am was the time when Cliff Barton was scheduled to meet Chris Bell of Harrogate’s Stray FM breakfast show, to talk about this year’s 17th annual Great Milk (stout) Ride. Chris, photographed here with Cliff after the interview, was well briefed on this annual district-wide event, conceived at the Birchtree Inn Wilsill in 1993, when the 29 riders, who raised £1350, little realised just what they were starting and never dreamed that seventeen years later they would be gearing up to pass the £400,000 total handed over to Macmillan Cancer Support since that date.

Stray FM has been one of our media supporters since the early days, with regular free mentions on air through their Community Action Desk scheme, which promotes local charity events.

Local bands for Stout Ride 2009

2009-08-25T05:05:00.000-07:00

At 11.45 am, with the riders in this year’s Great Milk (stout) Ride on their way, what is now a regular mini music festival will begin, with a limited number of local groups and bands, each performing for about an hour, supported by a barbecue, beer tent, face painting, trade stands, bouncy castle, bucking bronco and various trade stands.
The family fun will continue until late afternoon. James Wilson from Fresh Radio, http://www.freshradio.co.uk/ will be providing continuity announcements and interviews during the day. Kevin Branch of “Washburn Creek” will again be organising the PA system
The schedule is as follows:
· 11.45am – 12.30pm Timewarp (Dave Knaggs)
· 12.45pm – 1.30 pm Accoustic Blue are Sharon Colgan (right vocals), Laurie Hopkins(guitar),Brian Longhurst(bass),Jason Odle(keys). They play original music and cover great artists like Eric Clapton, Robben ford, Susan Tedechi, Eva Cassidy, Portishead Walter and many more. See http://www.bluesville.co.uk/ for more info and pictures.
· 1.45pm – 2.30pm Ade Payne. See excellent YouTube video by Nobody Films of Harrogate at http://www.adepayne.com/
· 2.45pm – 3,30pm The Hall Brothers are Nick Hall (vocals, guitars), Duncan Hall (vocals, guitars) and John Carey (violin, melodeon, etc)

Over 30 teams for Great Milk (stout) Ride

As of 26th August 239 riders have registered, of which 39 are individual entrants. So far 33 teams have registered. The top ten shown below:

· Team Virr, Harrogate, Church Fenton, Bp Thornton, St Peter (Jersey) 25
· Practice-makes-Perfect, Pateley Bridge 19
· Dacre, Son & Hartley, Ilkley 14
· Carly’s Angels, Bradford, Bingley, Harrogate 13
· Crown at Middlesmoor, Upper Nidderdale 11
· Pateley Club, Pateley Bridge 8
· Team Simon, Settle, Bedale, Harrogate, Ripon, Glasshouses 11
· Erudine, Harrogate 10
· Ye Olde Oak Inn, Low laithe 7
· The Sunshine Boys, Otley 6

Help wanted Anyone who can spare some time to help out will be more than welcome; there are vacancies with marshalling, car parking, site erection (Saturday 5th September), catering, and registration. Please ring 01423-780389, or email bartoncliff@btopenworld.com

The things they’re doing for Macmillan

2009-08-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Sandra Bradley (seen here with husband Keith), of Dacre Banks, is organising a Dining-for-Macmillan event at Fewston Village Hall on Bank Holiday Monday 31st August. Between 10am and 4.30pm, she and her team of volunteers will be serving teas at this picturesque location overlooking the Washburn Valley, with all proceeds going via the Great Milk (stout) Ride, to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Two similar events in previous years raised £200 and £850 and Sandra is hopeful of continuing the trend again this year.

New medals and certificates for 2009

2009-08-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

Brand new medals and certificates for 2009 sporting the Erudine logo are now ready to be loaded into individual plastic sleeves for presentation to each rider, along with a welcome bottle of water sponsored by Yorkshire Water, as they cross the finishing line at the Nidderdale Agricultural Society’s show field at Pateley Bridge on September 6th this year. Yorkshire Water is also providing the water at the two drinks stops situated round both the 20 mile Full Monty and the 10 mile Half Litre rides.

Late news between 1st and 5th August a further 32 riders have registered on line, bringing the running total to 143, including the Practice makes Perfect Team comprising doctors and staff from the Nidderdale medical centres in Pateley Bridge, Dacre Banks and Birstwith. So if you haven't done so yet "get it on" go to http://www.gmsr.co.uk/ and enter either yourself, or your team!

Pateley brothers to sponsor Stout Ride medals

2009-07-31T03:46:00.000-07:00

Erudine, based at Central House, Beckwith Knowle, Harrogate, is a highly innovative software development company. Started in 2002 by Pateley Bridge born brothers Martin and Phil Rice, Erudine is set to revolutionise the IT industry with its radical new technology - Erudine’s Behaviour Engine, detailed at http://www.erudine.co.uk/

The company has been a sponsor of the Great Milk (stout) Ride for the last two years, as well as entering their own teams, (pictured after last year's ride). When a new sponsor for the medals and certificates was needed, Erudine agreed to fulfil that roll without hesitation. They have already registered a team of seven for this year’s ride and hope to win the new Patrick Bickers Memorial Corporate Trophy (see earlier blog) and are throwing down a challenge to other Harrogate corporate bodies to join them at the Nidderdale Agricultural Society’s Pateley Bridge show ground on 6th September and help the 17th Great milk (stout) Ride pass the £400,000 total, since its beginning in 1993.

Registrations up on last year

Registrations to the end of July are running at 25% up on last year, having passed the 104 mark. A spokesman tells us that August is the month when the surge usually comes and they are looking forward to maintaining the trend. Team entries are also up again at nineteen so far, with teams from Bingley, Middlesbrough, Huddersfield, Morley, South Elmsall, South Milford, Pontefract as well as locals from the Harrogate District. Old favourites Crown at Middlesmoor, Carly’s Angels, Team VIRR, Team Simon have been joined by Dacre Son & Hartley, Team Spong, Riverside Caravan Park and Ye Olde Oak and many more.

The landlords' ride is also being revived this year, where local mine-hosts will be set to cycle from one hostelry to another, and they have even been known to sample the waters, strictly in the line of duty of course!

Strawberry Teas support 2009 Ride

2009-07-13T03:17:00.000-07:00

This year's event was again held at Marion Stockdale's home, The Paddock, Clapham Green, HighBirstwith, Harrogate, on Saturday 11th July, between 2 and 4pm. Beside strawberry teas, stalls of cakes, tombola, raffle, books, visitors were able to eat, drink tea and enjoy a chat, in either the garden, or the comfort of her home. The weather was kind this year enabling people to sit in the sun and admire Marion's yellow rose bed, with the paddock beyond. Marion tells us that she has been staging the Strawberry Fayre event for the last 25 years in support of Macmillan and has kindly donated her proceeds to the Great Milk (stout) Ride for the last six years.
Donations of prizes, cakes, read books were greatly appreciated to make (so far) this year's, £821.62, another great contribution to GMsR and Macmillan.Marion has asked us to express a big, big thank you to all the members of her team and her generous donors, without whom she couldn't keep producing these amazing results.

New Corporate Trophy for 2009

2009-07-07T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Patrick Bickers Memorial Trophy for the top corporate fund raising team has now been kindly engraved by Martin Newton of Trophies & Engraving of Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, ready for presentation to the winning team later this year.

Patrick was one of the founding committee members of The Great Milk (stout) Ride, run in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Patrick, of Glasshouses, died from cancer, on Friday 3rd October 2008 in Harrogate District Hospital, surrounded by his family. A tireless worker for this annual Nidderdale event, Patrick devised and looked after the complex registration system and was instrumental in steering the process through to an automatic on-line procedure, when the new website was introduced in 2007.
The trophy (pictured) takes the form of a silver plated Celtic Quaich Bowl, mounted on a mahogany plinth around which are four panels, three for winners names. A Quaich (pronounced ‘kweix’), is a special kind of shallow two-handled drinking cup or bowl in Scotland deriving from the Gaelic cuach meaning cup. It was a family choice felt appropriate, because Patrick was very fond of Scotland and was a keen collector of Highland malt whiskies.
Spokesman for the Ride, Cliff Barton says that there has been an increase in teams entered by companies both from Harrogate and as far afield as Doncaster, Bingley, Huddersfield and beyond. The organising committee felt that it was time to provide a special trophy to be competed for exclusively by the corporate sector, at the same time they wanted to commemorate a long time friend and fellow committee member, who is sadly missed.
To register on line go to www.gmsr.co.uk where from teams and/or individual riders can register and download all the information they need to take part in the event, including sponsorship forms, route maps, information letter, posters and team sheets, car window stickers.

Fresh Radio promoting Great Milk (stout) Ride

2009-07-06T03:36:00.000-07:00

An invitation to appear live on this morning's Breakfast Show and visit the brand new studios of Fresh Radio at The Watermill Site, Broughton Hall, on the A59 south of Skipton, was an opportunity to meet joint owner and Managing Director Julian Hotchkiss and old friend of GMsR Head of News, James Wilson.

The interview, which took the form of a three way conversation, went out live over two parts and discussed the origins of the Ride in 1993, when 29 riders raised £1350 and its steady rise in numbers and sponsorship donations to Macmillan, when last year 386 riders produced £40,000. The total so far handed to Macmillan is over £371,000 and this year should see us pass £400,000.

James Wilson, who was born and raised in Nidderdale, commented that he had interviewed 79 year old Sid Brayshaw, who will be riding in his 14th ride since 1995. Sid is seen in a previous blog finishing in 2005.

Fresh Radio, now a truly independent radio station owned jointly by Roger Tempest of Broughton Hall and Julian Hotchkiss, is moving with confidence into becoming a local broadcasting force to be reckoned with.

Pictured above are (l to r) James, Julian and Cliff Barton during the broadcast.

Strawberry Teas at Birstwith to support 2009 Ride

2009-07-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

This year's event will be again held at Marion Stockdale's home, The Paddock, Clapham Green, High Birstwith, Harrogate, on Saturday 11th July, between 2 and 4pm. Beside strawberry teas, stalls of cakes, tombola, raffle, books, guess the weight of the cake and name the teddy, visitors will be able to eat, drink tea and enjoy a chat, in either the garden, or the comfort of her home. Marion tells us that she has been staging the Strawberry Fayre event for the last 24 years in support of Macmillan and has kindly donated her proceeds to the Great Milk (stout) Ride for the last five years.

Donations of prizes, cakes, read books were greatly appreciated to make last year's, at £827.27, another great contribution to GMsR and Macmillan.

Marion has asked us to express a big, big thank you to all the members of her team and her generous donors, without whom she couldn't keep producing these amazing results.

Great Milk (stout) Ride News

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Presentation Night 12th November 2010

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Stout Riders celebrating 17 years of Macmillan Cancer Support pass £400,000

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Halloween event supporting Stout Ride

Record numbers for 17th Great Milk (stout) Ride

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS

Harrogate IT specialists save the day

Early morning visit to Stray FM

Local bands for Stout Ride 2009

The things they’re doing for Macmillan

New medals and certificates for 2009

Pateley brothers to sponsor Stout Ride medals

Strawberry Teas support 2009 Ride

New Corporate Trophy for 2009

Fresh Radio promoting Great Milk (stout) Ride

Strawberry Teas at Birstwith to support 2009 Ride