Former Ashes stars complete charity ride

Tim Bresnan, Marcus Trescothick and Geraint Jones were among those who took part in the event, which included a 'pit stop' at Calverhall Cricket Club near Whitchurch on Sunday.

They were cycling to raise money for the Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) Benevolent Fund and the Tom Maynard Trust, both of which work with sportsmen and women whether they are starting out in sport or adjusting to a life after sport.

Daryl Mitchell, chairman of the PCA, described Big Bike Ride 3 as one of the toughest challenges he has ever completed in his life.

Worcestershire batsman Mitchell was among a total of 60 riders who took part in the gruelling 360 mile cycle ride over five days which started in Birmingham on Friday and finished at the SSE SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff yesterday.

During the ride, they took in some breathtaking scenery and punishing hill climbs on the route which included the Derbyshire Peak district, Shropshire, Malvern Hills, Forest of Dean and Welsh mountains.

“It’s certainly one of the hardest things I have done physically and mentally as well. It’s been pretty tough but all for two good causes. To get through that with good mates in the group is pretty special. It’s definitely something that I will look back on be very proud of myself,” Mitchell said.

Big Bike Ride 3 visited 16 community cricket clubs in Warwickshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Wales and three county grounds including Worcestershire’s New Road headquarters.

“Going to Worcester was pretty special for me. Knowing the roads in helped and the last 20 miles from Cleobury Mortimer to riding through the gates at New Road was one of my highlights,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell was joined on the ride by former England players Trescothick, Bresnan, Jones, Matthew Maynard, Michael Vaughan, Steve James and Gavin Hamilton and a number of current and past county players including Middlesex seamer James Harris, Warwickshire’s Oliver Hannon-Dalby and former Worcestershire all-rounder David Leatherdale, who is now PCA chief executive.

“It’s been great to spend time with Matt and other people that I played a lot of cricket with and also people that the PCA have supported. You don’t get better a feeling than this although there are parts of my body that have no feeling at the moment,” Leatherdale said.

“We have done nearly the height of Everest in total climbs over the five days – between 26,000 and 28,00 feet,, which is a fantastic effort.

“I think everyone will look back and say; it was hard work, it was a challenge but, boy, I will remember it for the rest of my life.”

Although Big Bike Ride 3 is over, the fund-raising continues. Donations can be made to support the riders until November 30 with the total raised, with Gift Aid, already over £79,000.

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