CHARLIE WESTLAKE SPORTIVE BIKE RIDES

A SHORT REPORT ON THE 2008 EVENT (Scroll down for info on the 2009 event)

The 7th edition of the Charlie Westlake Sportive Bike Rides went well with a turnout of 29 riders (18 for the 100km event and 11 for the 50km).  Some local cycling clubs did not support the event in any strength, but this was more than made up by a large contingent of riders from 'Will's Wheels' based in Stockport.  One riders came from Milton Keynes!  A big thank you to all the cyclists for making the effort to join in the rides.  We have raised £125 for Bury Hospice.

Also a big thank you to Frank Jefferson, Steve Willetts and Phil & Vera Rigby for taking on marshalling duties.  Without volunteers like this the event could not take place.

Thankfully it was bright at the start and for most of the day it was a mixture of showers and sunshine with a bit of wind thrown in for good measure.  Riders' finishing times and some photos taken at the start are featured below:

100km EVENT

RIDER                          TIME

Alan Hulbert                  4hrs 57mins

Mark Cranshaw              5hrs 15mins

Brian Mullan                  5hrs 15mins

Harsharn Gill                  5hrs 15mins

Robbie Duncan              5hrs 15mins

Paul Brady                    5hrs 57mins

Tony McGuinness          5hrs 57mins

Nigel Hood                    5hrs 57mins

Mike Tattersall               5hrs 57mins

Greg Newton                 6hrs 31mins

Robert Shaw                  6hrs 31mins

Janet Shaw                   6hrs 34mins

Jay Crellin                     6hrs 34mins

Mike Bridge                   6hrs 34mins

David Burton                  6hrs 34mins

Laurence Pearson          6hrs 34mins

John Eastop                  6hrs 34mins

David Jones                   6hrs 36mins

50km EVENT

RIDER                          TIME

Kevan Kirkman              3hrs 5mins

Eric Bouchier                 3hrs 5mins

Frank Wood                  3hrs 15mins

Susan Gilfoyle               3hrs 25mins

Terry Gilfoyle                 3hrs 25mins

Sandra Fisher                3hrs 35mins

Roy Fisher                    3hrs 35mins

Sharon Wilkinson           3hrs 40mins

Brendan Mattocks          3hrs 40mins

Derek Coupe                 3hrs 50mins

Stan Feerick                  3hrs 50mins

CHARLIE WESTLAKE SPORTIVE BIKE RIDES

SUNDAY 8th MARCH 2009

Meet Castle Leisure Centre, Bolton Street, Bury

Registration from 09.00.  Both rides start 09.30. 

Minimum entry fee £3.  Proceeds to Bury Hospice.

The 2009 event will again be run as a 'Cyclo Sportive' with the 50km route suitable for the beginner or less experienced cyclist and the 100km route for the more experienced cyclist.  Marshalls will be present at all checkpoints and your arrival time at the finish will be noted and shown on your certificate which this year will be presented at the finish (or sent on to you if you prefer).  Following the success of the 2008 event the ride will once again take place in March so it can be used as an early season training ride for more experienced riders and an incentive for newcomers to get on their bikes early on. 

It is an 'open' event i.e. open to all cyclists whether club members or not.  All under 15s must be accompanied by an adult.  All under 18s must hand in written parental consent at registration.

The route will not be signed but you will be given a route sheet.   It is recommended that you study the route map below to aquaint yourself with the route prior to the event. You can also view the route sheet for each ride by clicking on the appropriate link below.

You can print off an entry form to complete (2009 version yet to be posted) and bring with you to the start to save time. Click on the link below.

As in 2008 the finish control will be at Owd Betts.  Click this link Owd Betts to view the pub website which features menus etc. 

In addition to the pub, there is a tea caravan / burger van across the road from the finish.  The minimum entry fee is £3 per rider.  Once again all proceeds after costs deducted will go to Bury Hospice so please give generously.

Click on the link below to view the 50 km (31 miles) route description

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/ctcbury/CHARLIE WESTLAKE INVITATION 50 KM RIDE FULL ROUTE DESCRIPTION.doc

Click the link below to view the 100 km (62 miles) route description

http://webzoom.freewebs.com/ctcbury/CHARLIE WESTLAKE INVITATION 100 KM RIDE FULL ROUTE DESCRIPTION.doc

Click on the link below to print off an entry form

http://www.cyclingburylancs.com/2008 entry form web.jpg

CONTROL 1   CASTLE LEISURE CENTRE 09.00 to 09.30   Both rides start 09.30 

CONTROL 2   BELMONT RESERVOIR 10.15 to 11.00 

Location: The layby where the reservoir road joins the Belmont road.

CONTROL 3   BRITANNIA CROSSROADS 10.45 to 11.45 

Location: Outside the Britannia pub at the crossroads

CONTROL 4   DOWNHAM VILLAGE 12.00 to 13.30 

Location: Outside (or inside if bad weather) the Assheton Arms pub

CONTROL 5  WATERFOOT 14.00 to 15.30 

Location: In the village outside the Co-op just after the mini roundabout

CONTROL 6   FINISH OWD BETTS 12.15 to 16.30 

Location: Outside Owd Betts pub if good weather. Inside otherwise the entrance porch.

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2007 EVENT COMPLETED

Seventeen riders turned up in light drizzly conditions to take part in the Charlie Westlake Sportive Bike Rides last Sunday to raise money for Bury Hospice. This was an event open to all cyclists – and for the first time we had no female entrants.

It is a pity that so few started as the weather forecast proved correct in that it improved during the morning and was perfect by the afternoon. Eleven riders tackled the 100km route over hilly roads to Downham and back over Pendle Hill with the sting in the tail – an uphill finish to Owd Betts. The first group home, including Mark Cranshaw of Bury CTC, crossing the line at 5 hours 15 minutes. 

It was a brave effort by Howard Marsh but cramp prevented him from finishing.  Three other riders also decided not to tackle the final climb.

Six riders took on the 50km route including 14 year olds Sam Hesketh and James Lester who finished in a very creditable time of 3 hours and 4 mins – well inside the 4 hours allowed.

Each checkpoint around both routes was manned by a volunteer. A big thank you to them. So far £55 has been raised for Bury Hospice. Certificates will be issued soon. 

The 2008 event will take place on Sunday 9th March. See below for details.

2007 event finishers and their times are:

100KM

Mark Cranshaw                        5’ 15”

Alan Hulbert                              5’ 15”

Michael Hunt                             5’ 15”

Stuart Mason                            5’ 15”

Stan Feerick                             5’ 40”

Eric Bouchier                            6’ 02”

Terry Gilfoyle                             6’ 02”

50KM

Andy Westwell                          2’ 25”

Nick Manning                            2’ 30”

Martin O’Connor                       2’ 31”

James Lester                            3’ 04”

Sam Hesketh                            3’ 04”

Alan Norbury                             3’ 19”

CHARLIE WESTLAKE BIKE RIDES 2004 

The third annual Charlie Westlake Memorial Bike Ride took place on Sunday. With proceeds going to Bury Hospice, perfect weather and the addition of a longer route, the event attracted 39 cyclists. 15 chose to ride the 54km route and there were 12 finishers. For the longer 105km route there were 24 entrants with 21 finishers.

The new longer ride proved to be a great test with many climbs having to be tackled. Probably the most difficult are Pendle Hill out of Downham and that to Crown Point out of Burnley. The ‘sting in the tail’ of Owd Betts before the finish at Millcroft Tea Gardens made for a challenging day. Special mention must be made of fifteen year olds Benjamin Treanor and William Brown who tackled the 105km route – the longest ride they have ever attempted – and completed it in just under six hours. This is a tremendous achievement and should be an inspiration to other young budding cyclists.

Although not a race, there will always be riders wanting to go round in as quick a time as possible. This year Martin Saunders completed the 54km route in 2hrs 15mins – just 5 minutes outside the record set last year. First riders home in the inaugural 105km event completed in 5hrs 15mins.

The organisers collected £60 on the day which will be forwarded to Bury Hospice. Any successful riders who rode for Bury Hospice should send their sponsorship money to them as soon as they can.

Every year this event is growing in stature. Thank you to everyone who participated - your certificates will soon be on their way.

Here is the feature which appeared in the Bury Times of Tuesday 7 June 2005. The headline was

Fourth event to honour 'hero' Charlie