Gort na Drum Sperrin Sportif Report

Roe Valley CC welcomed over 100 riders to their annual Sperrin Sportif in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care and the David McCall Foundation. 72 riders took on the challenging 65 mile route from Dungiven, taking in the best of the Sperrins to Claudy, Plumbridge, the beautiful Glenelly Valley to Sperrin village and then over the famous Sawell climb before Park, Claudy, the climb of Loughermore and home. Some really beautiful but hard earned scenery, sore legs were an added bonus for most!

Another 30 hardy souls took on a local 30 mile circuit including the infamous climb of the Pot, which hurt the Tour of the North riders on Easter Sunday. These included many Roe Valley and North Pole youth riders, a great turn out of new women cyclists along with run leader Chris Sharp. Straight handlebars, fat tyres and big smiles were a common sight. Well done to them all.

We were delighted to welcome riders from North Pole, Bann Wheelers, Harps, Carn Wheelers, Omagh Wheelers and a couple of very special guests from the brand new Termoneeny CC wearing their new team kit for the very first time.

The event raised an amazing total of £1773 thanks to the amazing support of the riders. £200 of this will go to the David McCall Foundation and the remainder to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

A massive thanks has to go to Patricia McLaughlin of the Gort na Drum House who sponsored the event very generously with first aid cover, a support vehicle, the refreshment stop and the famous Gort na Drum barbeque after the finish. As an added bonus Patricia has promised us their support again in 2011.

We would also like to thank Drum GAC for the very kind use of their club house for parking, changing and shower facilities

Report and Pics George Boyd Roe Valley CC