It was a great day out cycling 28 miles around quiet country lanes and I can thoroughly recommend it for next year! It's given me a thought for 2016 ;-)
Rescued man takes to the saddle to support Abersoch RNLI
Lifeboats News Release
Dave Hursthouse was among those who got into the saddle on Sunday (4 October) for the first Abersoch RNLI Sportive.
The event saw cyclists complete one of a number of picturesque routes on the roads in and around Abersoch – with all money going towards helping the RNLI charity save lives at sea.
It is the latest in a long line of fundraising feats completed by Dave, who was rescued by Abersoch RNLI after a serious sailing accident in 2007. He was struck in the face by the yacht’s boom and knocked overboard, breaking his nose and leaving him concussed and struggling in the sea.
Abersoch RNLI lifeboat volunteers raced to his aid and rescued him out of the water.
Dave, who lives in Sandbach, Cheshire, and is also a member of the RNLI’s Crewe, Nantwich and South Cheshire Fundraising Branch, has already completed a Three Peaks By Bike challenge, the Great North Run, the Great Salford Swim, the Tenby Long Course Weekend triathlon, the Way of the Roses coast to coast cycle route and a Scottish coast-to-coast canoe, bike & hike trek in aid of the charity. He jumped at the chance to support a new fundraiser for the very lifeboat crew which rescued him eight years ago.
‘I have always felt I owe a huge debt of gratitude to those guys at Abersoch RNLI,’ he said.
‘I needed help after what happened to me and the volunteer crew at Abersoch RNLI got to me in no time with exactly what I needed.’
The sun shone for the maiden event on Sunday, which saw riders start and finish at The Vaynol in the centre of Abersoch village and take on one of two cycling routes – one 28 miles and one nine-and-a-half miles long.
Dave took on the longer route, which included a climb of 2,200 feet, and completed the course in 1 hour 57 minutes.
‘It was shorter than some sportives, but it certainly was a challenge with the climbs,’ he added.
‘It was a fantastic day, the weather was beautiful and the scenery along the route was breath-taking. I can’t recommend it highly enough and I can see it becoming a really successful event in the future.’
The event raised over £1,000 for the RNLI charity.
Abersoch RNLI Chairman Phill Brown said: ‘I am really pleased that we did so well today and am
pleased with the foundations that we have laid for future events.’
Notes to editors:
The attached picture shows Dave Hursthouse after completing the first ever Abersoch RNLI sportive.
For more infornation please contact Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, on 01745 585162 or 07748 265496 or by email on Chris_Cousens@rnli.org.uk.
- Date: 07/10/2015
- Author: Chris Cousens
A man who said he owes Abersoch RNLI an ‘enormous debt of gratitude’ after being rescued at sea has completed a cycle challenge to raise money for the station’s lifeboat volunteers.
Dave Hursthouse was among those who got into the saddle on Sunday (4 October) for the first Abersoch RNLI Sportive.The event saw cyclists complete one of a number of picturesque routes on the roads in and around Abersoch – with all money going towards helping the RNLI charity save lives at sea.
It is the latest in a long line of fundraising feats completed by Dave, who was rescued by Abersoch RNLI after a serious sailing accident in 2007. He was struck in the face by the yacht’s boom and knocked overboard, breaking his nose and leaving him concussed and struggling in the sea.
Abersoch RNLI lifeboat volunteers raced to his aid and rescued him out of the water.
Dave, who lives in Sandbach, Cheshire, and is also a member of the RNLI’s Crewe, Nantwich and South Cheshire Fundraising Branch, has already completed a Three Peaks By Bike challenge, the Great North Run, the Great Salford Swim, the Tenby Long Course Weekend triathlon, the Way of the Roses coast to coast cycle route and a Scottish coast-to-coast canoe, bike & hike trek in aid of the charity. He jumped at the chance to support a new fundraiser for the very lifeboat crew which rescued him eight years ago.
‘I have always felt I owe a huge debt of gratitude to those guys at Abersoch RNLI,’ he said.
‘I needed help after what happened to me and the volunteer crew at Abersoch RNLI got to me in no time with exactly what I needed.’
The sun shone for the maiden event on Sunday, which saw riders start and finish at The Vaynol in the centre of Abersoch village and take on one of two cycling routes – one 28 miles and one nine-and-a-half miles long.
Dave took on the longer route, which included a climb of 2,200 feet, and completed the course in 1 hour 57 minutes.
‘It was shorter than some sportives, but it certainly was a challenge with the climbs,’ he added.
‘It was a fantastic day, the weather was beautiful and the scenery along the route was breath-taking. I can’t recommend it highly enough and I can see it becoming a really successful event in the future.’
The event raised over £1,000 for the RNLI charity.
Abersoch RNLI Chairman Phill Brown said: ‘I am really pleased that we did so well today and am
pleased with the foundations that we have laid for future events.’
Notes to editors:
The attached picture shows Dave Hursthouse after completing the first ever Abersoch RNLI sportive.
For more infornation please contact Chris Cousens, RNLI Press Officer, on 01745 585162 or 07748 265496 or by email on Chris_Cousens@rnli.org.uk.
