Thursday 18 September 2014 10:11, UK
Four West Yorkshire golfers have set off on a charity bike ride to visit every GB & Irish venue to have hosted a Ryder Cup.
Wednesday 17 September 2014 will go down in the annuls of Tour de Ryder Cup history as a great day.
OK. Waking up at 630am with four middle aged cyclists in a layby might not be everyone’s idea of a cup of tea but the day soon improved when, at 730am, we emerged bleary-eyed from our trusty campervan and re-acquainted our bony bottoms with the all-too-familiar saddles.
Sustained by a diet of flapjack and jelly babies - and riding the entire 124 miles as foursomes (2+2 for any non-golf types) - we circumnavigated the more challenging routes across the Beacon Beacons and spent a large chunk of the day on the unmemorable but inoffensive A40.
Despite many, many miles of on-coming wind and spurred on by the prospect of a hearty welcome at Celtic Manor, we made great progress.
Celtic Manor did not disappoint.
Thanks in part to the support of pro golfer Simon Wakefield and the generosity of Celtic Manor PR chief Paul Williams, we received the sort of welcome mothers reserve for long lost sons.
In amongst a few press pics, we were able to snatch our own shots with some of our golfing heroes. No name checks required here – the pics speak for themselves.
Today was memorable for one other reason. It should have been the 52nd birthday of the man who inspired the Tour De Ryder Cup. Our friend Simon, who lost his battle with skin cancer in December 2012, was in our thoughts throughout.
From waking in a motorhome bursting at the seams with weary cyclists to shaking hands with the world’s golfing greats, today will forever be remembered as an unforgettable, rags-to-riches type of occasion.
Lowlights: Waking up in the aforementioned layby.
Highlights: Please refer to photos – an amazing experience for four ordinary blokes from up North.
Don’t forget to check our Sky Sports blog again tomorrow for the latest Tour de Ryder Cup happenings, or catch up with us on route at https://twitter.com/TourDeRyderCup or https://www.facebook.com/tourderydercup.
Donations in support of our efforts can be made at www.justgiving.com/teams/TDRC.
Andy Crowther, Darren Tordoff, Andrew Walker and Rick Gillgrass
Tomorrow: Stage 4 – Celtic Manor – Walton Heath
