On Thursday 27th August, the Provincial cycling team departed Hull and Middlesbrough to embark on their 4th long distance cycle adventure in the past 9 years, this time to tackle the Hadrian's wall cycleway challenge.
Staying at the ‘rustic’ Greenhead bunkhouse close to Haltwhistle, the 32 cyclists from all walks of not only the province of YNER, but Durham, Derbyshire, Cumberland and Westmoreland and the West riding of Yorkshire were assisted as ever by the usual dedicated support team to cater and pamper for their every needs.
After some down time on the Thursday evening the team were soon on their way to the remote outpost of the old Roman bathhouse in Ravenglass on the southern Cumbrian coast line to start the 174 mile challenge, the eventual destination being the Roman Arbeia fort in South Shields 2 days later.
Sadly the end of summer really did come on the Friday as torrential rain greeted the team during the 1st days cycling along the western coastline, but made of stern stuff the riders made it through to the pre arranged day 1 finish at Abbeytown just inland from Silloth some 60 miles in, after a few beers in the local pub followed by some more at the bunkhouse it was back to Abbeytown the following morning where the weather was kinder as the team headed East across the country to Greenhead via Carlisle and Brampton where we got our first real sights of the magnificent Hadrians wall during the 58 miles completed.
Day 3 proved the most challenging by far as the climbs of the northern Pennines and their brutal peaks took their toll on the riders before eventually picking up the river Tyne at Hexham to follow it all the way through to the North Shields ferry crossing to hop across the river and be greeted at a local pub by the support team plus family and friends before cycling through the finish line at the Arbeia Roman fort to rapturous applause and a very emotional finish.
Each rider has pledged or been sponsored to a minimum donation of £250 for their own personal charity to which a presentation evening will be planned for later in the year.
A truly fabulous weekend was had by all, a huge thank you to our support team, all made up of mason’s along with WAGS (wives and girlfriends) that really made the event run as smooth as ever.
A final thankyou to AsstPGM Martin Eggermont for waving off the team at Roman Rd and photographer John Rees for the same plus photos at the finish.
The 3 previous rides were:
- 2017 Workington to Sunderland 130 mile challenge to celebrate the 300th anniversary of freemasonry.
- 2022 Way of the Roses, Morecambe to Bridlington 170 mile challenge.
- 2024 Coast & Castles, Edinburgh to Tynecastle 180 mile challenge.
