supporting the paul ackrill charity: www.paulackrill.co.uk

RYAN’S RYDE August 3^rd 4^th 2007

First and foremost, may we  apologize to anyone who went to Portway, Bristol, instead of Portway, Warwickshire, expecting a fun-filled camping weekend, including a rideout.  Due to a misunderstanding the events calendar (BSH July edition) listed Ryan’s Ryde as being held at the other Portway.  Sincere apologies, you missed a cracking weekend!!!!!

Never having organized anything like this before, it was fairly nerve-racking for all of us concerned – the biggest threat to the weekend being the weather!!  We need not have worried, the weather was fine with plenty of sunshine. 

People started to camp from the Thursday night, and at 2 a.m. on Friday morning, we were sitting around the fading embers of a barbeque having consumed far too much alcohol, and none of us quite sure where our tents were. 

Friday saw the bands arriving, and more campers. Friday evening was really entertaining with bands Mars Bonfire and Chaos Theory.

We also had a superb display of belly dancing, courtesey of the girls from the BOF. They did a great performance of their belly-dancing routine followed by a grease number in itsy-bitsy skirts.  

The Rugby Club kept the bar open till late and the beer flowing.

The rideout to Bourton-on-the-Water left at 11am on Saturday was everything we could have hoped for, lovely weather, good atmosphere, and a police escort.

The marshalling was led by Ted and ably assisted by members of Double Dratt, the BOF, 1066 and the VSOC

We were supported by over 200 bikes, Trikes and Combos

It was great to see so many different types of bikes, and particularly touching as at the head of the procession was the Yamaha 125 which had been Ryan’s pride and joy, ridden by our friend Hywel.

As most folks know, Ryan’s Ryde raises money for the Paul Ackrill Fund, a registered charity that supports teenagers with cancer, so it was a great honour to see Paul’s mom and dad, Gill and Barry, and three people from their committee riding the procession with us.

Bourton gave us a great welcome with the streets lined with folk all waving as we road down the street. After a couple of hours in Bourton, where a barbeque was laid on for us by the British Legion, it was back on the bikes for the return trip to Portway.

Saturday night bands in particular “The familiar ones” from Sunderland ,who had been fundraising and handed it all over for the charity, gave a rocking performance and had those that had come back to the camp site well entertained, there was more music and entertainment late into the night.

Sunday arrive and after a hearty bacon and sausage breakfast, folks packed their tents up in the blazing sunshine – some travelling as far as Scotland, and made their way home with lots of good memories of a truly entertaining weekend, hopefully with many more to come.

To date Ryan’s Ryde has raised over £5,500 this year for The Paul Ackrill Fund, registered charity No. 1090118. To find out more log on to www.paulackrillf.co.uk www.ryansryde.co.uk