Wednesday 24 September 2014 05:44, UK
After 1,085 miles, 12 Ryder Cup venues, ten tonnes of flapjack and far too many tubs of chamois cream, we mounted our trusty bikes this morning for the final stage of the Tour De Ryder Cup.
With just 65 miles to cover between Muirfield and Gleneagles, we rode this last leg in a four ball format.
We were soon regretting our leisurely start when a series of issues with Andy Crowther’s bike delayed our estimated arrival time at Gleneagles.
If you’ve been following our blog up to this point, you’ll know that over the past nine days, we’ve collected pin flags from every former Ryder Cup host venue in the UK and Ireland.
From Day 1 we’ve hoped that, on our arrival at Gleneagles, we would have an opportunity to hand over the flags to the Ryder Cup teams, along with the good wishes of the former host venues. Despite a morning of increasingly frantic calls to golf insiders, as we crossed the Forth our chances looked decidedly slim.
At Rosyth we stopped for a pot of tea and a pasty and were sat in the motorhome contemplating our increasingly minimalist options when we received a call which was to raise our spirits; an inside contact had managed to obtain security exemption for four blokes and 4 bikes. Synchronised euphoria ensued.
It was with renewed vigour that we tackled the remaining 30 mile stretch, arriving in Auchterarder at 3.45pm. With a photo shoot arranged for 4pm there was no time to lose and, following the precise instructions we’d been given to access Gleneagles via the “back door”, we passed a series of “road closed” signs and security barriers until we reached the main security checkpoint, from where we were escorted to the grounds behind the hotel.
With VIPs and well-heeled guests milling around in their fine attire, we must have cut a dash in our weather-beaten lycras.
After posing for official pics on the revered lawns of the Gleneagles hotel and swiftly necking bottle of champers in the motorhome, we were escorted back beyond the security checkpoint and turned our attention to the tricky task of locating our second “man on the inside” who was to deliver the flags to the players.
After a few hurried phone calls we located “inside man number 2” and a few minutes later, the handover was complete. Within an hour we’d learned that the flags were on route to their intended recipients.
Lowlights: Today there were no lowlights (unless you count the aforementioned bike issues).
Highlights: Top of the list are: our first glimpse of Gleneagles, the many messages of support and congratulations we’ve received through social media, having photos taken in the grounds of the stunning Gleneagles Hotel and learning that the flags entrusted to us by 12 former Ryder Cup venues had reached the European team.
Before we sign off this final blog post, there are a few thank yous which need to be recorded.
Firstly, to the staff at the 12 clubs in the UK and Ireland to have hosted the Ryder Cup tournament. Without your support, the Tour de Ryder Cup would have been far less enjoyable. You treated us like lords, provided us with fourballs to auction, fed and watered us, rustled up pin flags and have given us wonderful memories.
Thanks are also due to the teams at our twin charities who have supported our fundraising efforts. We are especially grateful to Sam, Seren and Leena at Prostate Cancer UK and to Andy and Gill at Melanoma UK. At the time of writing, we’ve raised £13,389. This (and any additional donations/ funds raised in the coming weeks) will be split between these two important charities.
Also important to mention is PGA golfer Simon Wakefield, those personal interest, in and support of, our endeavours led to some unforgettable and important introductions at Celtic Manor.
To the team behind SkySports.com golf (and especially Dave, to whom we owe a huge pint at the Malt Shovel), we’re tremendously grateful for the opportunity to post our daily musings on the Sky Sports web site.
To our two inside men at Gleneagles. Thank you. You know who you are.
To David, Alan and everyone at Northcliffe GC, our home turf in West Yorkshire. We’re massively appreciative of your support and look forward to seeing you all at our “Grand Arrive” bash on Friday night.
To all our supporters and everyone who has been kind enough to donate to our cause – we are indebted to you.
To our loved ones – thank you for your understanding and support over the past months and in particular, the last 9 days. You too have lived this crazy bike escapade with us.
Finally, a special word of thanks to the unsung hero of the Tour De Ryder Cup – our Tour Manager, roadie and driver-cum-tea boy, Mark “Heppy” Heptonstall, who has given us two weeks of his life, loaded and unloaded bikes more times than we can count, plotted our course, kept us safe, kept us moving and rarely featured in any of the media coverage we’ve secured in recent months. What can we say – the guy’s a brick!
Thanks for following our blog. Enjoy the Ryder Cup!
Andy Crowther, Darren Tordoff, Andrew Walker and Rick Gillgrass
