Cyclists should put the date of May 15, 2022, in their diary – because the North Dorset Cycle Ride is coming back! Shaftesbury Rotary Club’s popular annual event takes in the natural beauty of the towns and villages around the Blackmore Vale and is the branch’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

The committee has set itself an ambitious target to raise £25,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and smaller local charities and good causes. The event is being sponsored by Blackmore Vale Dairy, whose managing director, Jim Highnam, said: “We have some keen cyclists at BV Dairy, including myself, that will be taking part, and many of our employees will be volunteering as marshals, too.” He said the route, which takes riders to the south and west of Shaftesbury, will pass many of the local dairies that his company buys milk from. “It’s a perfect fit for us and we’re really proud that our local family business is once again supporting the North Dorset Cycle Ride,” he added. The 2022 event has been tweaked to make it even more fun for participants, with the former 12-mile Family Fun Ride adapted to be more inclusive for younger riders and their families.

Although it still finishes on the iconic Gold Hill, the course is much shorter and flatter than previous years and there will be entertainment along the way to keep the little riders engaged and happy, said Shaftesbury Rotary. Another change is that start times on the routes will be staggered so friends and groups can set off in waves. At the end, participants can attempt to cycle up Gold Hill, which achieved worldwide fame in the Hovis bread adverts, before moving on to Park Walk for de-registration and refreshments.

Alongside the changed family route there is also a new 80-mile scenic course to push the keenest cyclists to their limits. In all there are four courses to choose from. The easiest is the family friendly six-miler, suitable for all ages. Then there are 25-mile, 50-mile and 80- mile routes to choose from. The event is supported by the Gillingham & Dorset Wheelers, who will provide durable rider numbers for people to keep as souvenirs and will also be running a stand on Castle Hill to deal with punctures or bike repairs. There will also be prizes for the participant in each race who raises the most money in sponsorship.

Registration is open online at £25 per adult for the 25-mile and 50-milers, £30 per adult for the 80-miler and £5 per rider for the Family Fun ride. Sign up at cycleride.shaftesburyrotaryclub.org and keep up with all the news by finding @northdorsetcycleride on Facebook and Instagram.

by Faith Eckersall
newsdesk@stourandavon.net