Sunny Stafford to heatwave Hereford


Our cyclists left County Hospital site in Stafford bright and early yesterday morning on the final day of team Birmingham’s 2020 challenge through the Midlands. They departed Stafford for the 30 mile cycle onwards to RAF Shawbury in Shropshire.
 

The team; Graham, Aden, Jim and Mark; stopped by the canal to have a hearty breakfast courtesy of the generous hospitality of Mark Perrott of Roskel. Breakfast done, the team had a leisurely cycle through the beautiful Shropshire countryside.
 


 
 
The #2020challenge baton landed at RAF Shawbury accompanied by access to the one of the new helicopters in the hangar. 

 
After a photo call on the base Ciaran, Matt and the team picked up the bikes for our final leg, just the small matter of 62 miles to Hereford to go on the hottest day of the year so far.

The Shawbury to Hereford cycle team: Ciaran Clifford, Matt Stevens-Baker, Catherine Harmer, Paul Seabury, Will Clarke, Harry Sangha, Kirthar Phull and Matt Pugh.

 A gruelling test for all involved. Inspiration and motivation came from a variety of sources, including passing a fellow cycle team who were on a cycle challenge from John O’Groats to Lands End, so suddenly Hereford didn’t feel that far.




Ciaran and Matt Stevens-Baker cycled the full 62 miles from RAF Shawbury to Hereford. Cath and Will exceeded their own expectations and bravely cycle the second half of the leg and were with the team when they rolled into Hereford. The conditions did take their toll, but gallantly four bikes made it to Hereford and we even had Matt Pugh cycling for a couple of miles, even if we did then lose him and Ciaran for 90 minutes at the leisure centre due to a sat nav issue, they were found lying on the grass sporting a painful looking sun tan.

 
An amazing effort by our cyclists, who had to take a few more rehydration stops than first planned due to the 28 degree heat, rolled into Hereford last night to complete our third and final day.



Fabulous effort by everyone in team Birmingham and now we hand over the baton to team Gloucester for the next stage in the 2020 challenge. Good luck #KierGlos
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