Hundreds take part in St Edmund's Wheel event
Hundreds of cyclists turned out in the sunshine to take part in Sunday's St Edmund's Wheel 2009 event in Bury St Edmunds.
More than 500 cyclists of all ages gathered in the Abbey Gardens before cycling through the historic Abbey gate to take part in 15, 25, 50 and 100-mile cycle rides as part of the 12th annual St Edmund's Wheel event.
This year, St Nicholas Hospice Care and the Bury Free Press Helping Hands appeal will be the main beneficiaries of the charitable event, which sees riders raising sponsorship and making donations to take part.
As well as bike rides, the event also hosted a five-mile fun run, a historic guided walk of Bury and a duck race on the River Lark, with a first place prize of 100.
Brian Hurrell, event organiser, said: "Numbers were up on last year and it was a really great day with lots of support.
"The weather was good, everything ran smoothly and we also had a lot of support for the duck race."
Chris Fox, 12, and Emily Fox, 10, of Midhurst Close, Bury, both took part in the 25-mile ride.
Speaking before the event, Chris said: "I'm definitely looking forward to it and I have got my energy drink with me to keep me going."
Emily added: "We have been practising a lot and have been getting ready by cycling to school and at weekends."
Mary and Paul Barry, of Jermyn Avenue, Bury, also took part with their sons Conor, 10, and Paddy, eight.
Mrs Barry said: "We have taken part before and we have come here again as it's always good fun."
Paddy said: "I'm doing this ride on my own for the first time and it should be really good."
Riders were kept well-watered and fed throughout their rides with bottles of water donated by Thomas Ridley and Son of Rougham and bananas donated by John Webber, who runs a Bury market stall.
The duck race was won by Clare Ancham, with Tim Laycock in second place and Anne Bullett in third.
Click here to go back to our main news index.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Bury St Edmunds
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
