Duncan's charity cycle ride (From Dorset Echo)

Duncan's charity cycle ride

2:36pm Tuesday 9th March 2010 in

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Abbotsbury

Wow, Duncan Matthews did it in aid of the charity Help for Heroes

He has just pedalled the Nice to the Stade de France in Paris leg of the Dallaglio Cycle Slam, 450 miles in five days, what a challenge.

All those months of training up and down hilly Dorset in all weathers really paid off.

Duncan’s target was £5,000 and when I spoke to him at the weekend he told me that he had raised over £4,700 so far. Fantastic.

He was thankful, however, not to be in Rome for the start of the pedalothon where it snowed for the first time in 30 years.

Joining the team with 34 other pairs of fresh legs in Nice in the south of France.

The first day saw Duncan’s team led by Lawrence Dallaglio of rugby fame, cycle 110 miles through wonderful French coastal countryside to Pertius.

Would their bodies be up to the challenge?

At the end of each day saddle sore, weary and with aching limbs they lowered themselves into ice baths as prescribed by their doctor to stave off stiffness and cramp.

I was not surprised to hear that they each burned up a conservative 5,000 calories every day.

Delicious French nouvelle cuisine served up for dinner apparently in no way made up for this deficiency so the cyclists supplemented their diet with energy bars and local grape juice! Very healthy!

From Nice they travelled through Montelimar over the snow-capped mountains to St Etienne and on to Nevers where Duncan’s expensive waterproof gear was tested on yet another wet day, and failed, needing a change of kit during the lunch stop.

The next leg to Chablis saw them cycling in fancy dress and on this section with thoughts of lunch, misplaced confidence and lack of concentration some of the group had a pile up, with Duncan slamming on his brakes and sailing over his handlebars into the heap thankfully without injury.

The Mayor of Chablis greeted them on arrival and insisted that they taste the fine local wine.

I’m sure that they didn’t need much persuading to partake.

Here Lawrence Dallaglio their leader was indoctrinated into the brotherhood of the Confrerie des Domains Chablis during a very elaborate ceremony involving drinking a litre of Grand Cru from a very elaborate goblet.

Then came the push to Paris and the Stade de France leg of the charity cycle ride.

Duncan said that by this time legs and lungs having stood up well they relished the ride to the city.

It was good to hear that French traffic is more tolerant of cyclists than in England.

Any one who cycles our Dorset roads will know that you take your life in your hands every time you venture out on your bike.

Energised by pain au chocolat the team enjoyed a memorable ride along the banks of the Seine to the Eiffel Tower where they posed for photos and reflected on their reasons for their ride, in Duncan’s case Help for Heroes, before gathering at the Stade de France, the French national rugby stadium for yet more photos.

The corps riders regrouped the following day joined by 60 fresh volunteers for the ride to Twickenham, Cardiff, Dublin and eventually Edinburgh.

However, Duncan and his trail mates headed for home in the comfort of the train!

A slightly saddle sore Duncan said that ‘The trip was a blast – a good physical challenge a hoot on the social side and a really worthwhile endeavour by all concerned’.

Well-done Duncan. (His charity website is www.justgiving.com/Duncan-Matthews )

Lets Get the Sports Field Finished! - Launch Abbotsbury Community Space!

So to this end meet at Strangways Hall on Monday, March 15 at 7.30pm.

View the plans, discuss ideas, plan the fundraising and launch Abbotsbury Community Space.

Youngsters and older members of our village are desperate for this Sports area and Community space to be finished.

It seems to have been a very long time in coming and efforts to get the field back to its original purpose have been on the Parish Council’s agenda for eighteen months or so according to a report from councillor Nigel Melville.

The planning authorities are satisfied of its validity as a sports area –as it was in the past - and the badger that had supposedly taken up residence on the proposed ball games area in the centre of the field has legally been moved on.

37 village children have signed up to a Facebook page and older residents have formed a group to deal with grant applications with the assistance of Dorset Community Action.

Plans for a secure play area for younger children on the field are already well underway.

Chesil and the Fleet make up one of Western Europe’s most important marine nature reserves.

The reserve has a broad range of habitats and is of vast historic importance.

Join the guides on a walk at Ferrybridge on Saturday, March 20 meeting at the Chesil Centre at 2pm.

Langton Herring

Langton’s Village Club guest speaker in February was Bonny Sartin reports Fay Easy

Bonny lived up to all expectations providing anecdotes, songs and poems that thoroughly entertained everyone who attended their AGM.

‘Tis sad that the years catch up with all of us and the Yetties are no exception reports Fay.

They will cease touring in 2011 though Bonny and Pete will continue to give talks and concerts.

Thanks go to Margaret Connelly for her research, finding and booking such interesting guests.