Record number for annual charity cycle sportive

A record 56 cyclists took part in the fourth annual Frankie’s Charity Cycle Sportive yesterday – to raise funds for the Fishermen’s Mission in Shetland.

In fine late summer weather,  30 of them completed the 40-mile ride – two times around a lap from Brae to Voe, up Dales Voe and back round to Brae – with Colin Smith first home.

Eleven did the 20-mile ride – one lap of the same course – with Jim Nicolson leading the group over the line, while 15-year-old James Holt was the first of the 15 riders in the 10-mile ride from Brae to Voe and back.

Paul Brannan from George Robertson Ltd was on hand to present a set of  headphones to each of the winners.

Aubrey Jamieson, superintendent of the Mission in Shetland, thanked all those who took part, emphasising that their support was “hugely welcome”.

The furthest travelled participant was holidaymaker Carice Allen, from St Neots, Cambridgeshire, who took part on her last day before heading south on the ferry.

“I had my bike with me – I’ve been here for three weeks staying in Camping Bods – and decided it would be fun to get involved,” she said.

“It was good. It’s the first thing like this that I have done and I went around in a good time.”

After the cycling, a bumper raffle was held, with the takings also going to the Mission. A final tally will be calculated over the next week.

Since it began in 2011, the Charity Cycle Sportive has raised more than £10,000 for the Fishermen’s Mission.

Frankie’s manager John Gold said: “It has been a record breaking event in terms of the numbers participants and the sums of money raised.

“We’ll know the final total shortly, but I just want to thank everybody who took part, my own staff for working so hard to arrange everything, the Red Cross staff  who provided medical back-up, the Shetland Motorcycling Training guys and Brae Garage for support out on the route.”

Next year’s Charity Cycle Sportive will also be held on the last Sunday in August.