It was a glorious autumnal day for the 50. As Ted Hughes wrote in October Poem -like “a glass half full of wine left out”. It was a new course, with 100 metres more of climbing, through Ribchester, Longridge, Dunsop Bridge and Slaidburn, a route designed for scenery and not for ease!  Paul had organised our previous events on the Austwick course, but I felt it was time for a change. 

16 members turned up at Whalley, including our two juveniles Bethany (11) and Matthew (14). Matthew was riding for the second time, but it was Bethany’s first event. Another first was Janice’s ride on an e-bike. Janice is riding her new bike with great consideration, only using extra e-power when she really has to, thus staying within the group. 

Speaking of the group, they rode well together, in formation. Down the gorge at Whitewell, the beech trees were gleaming browns and golds. The Bowland Fells looked sublime beneath a blue sky daubed with creamy cloud.  Mark had ridden (on his motorbike) up to the back lane round to Slaidburn and was duly taking some great photographs of the riders. 

The group let Bethany ride into Whalley first, to applause from the 50 kms riders, one of whom rode his first reliability event as an octogenarian! Well done Bethany, and well done Steve! And what an accolade Paul achieved this day – 40 consecutive Blackburn & District CTC 50 mile events. Remarkable. Matthew seemed fresh and looked like he could ride another 50 miles. As for Bethany, she was off to the shop with her mum to buy some wine ..... wine gums!

RIDERS: Bethany and Chris Fitzer, Matthew and Paul Smith, Janice and John Cowburn, Sue and Stew Clark, Dave and Caroline Collinge, Steve Hodgson, Lesley Miller, Peter Robinson, Bernard Smith, Anne and Tony Stott (50 miles) and, last but not least, Steve Gregson (50 kms).

PHOTOGRAPHER EN ROUTE: Mark Horrocks

PHOTOS AT WHALLEY: Anne Stott Tony Stott, Organiser