Leeds Battalion 125 Celebration Cycle Event
21st-22nd June 2008

A simple bicycle would provide you with this answer. As I spoke about this event at one of the Battalion meetings I was determined to create an event that would be challenging and memorable for our young people and I can remember driving along Kirkstall Road after the meeting with pictures in my mind of Officers faces expressing “has he gone mad” “how will it work”, I knew it would take a lot of persuading, but within a week I had received phone calls of support and ideas, and help came in abundance. We all pulled together towards the organizing of a remarkable event and so the Canal Bike Ride was born. To Cycle along the canal tow path 125 miles from Liverpool to Leeds.

The two vehicles and one minibus and bike trailer left Leeds (in the rain) arrived just after 10:00am in Liverpool where we met the Liverpool Battalion Chaplain. After the bikes were unloaded and checked, we grouped for a photo and exchanged the gifts. We received a small locally hand-crafted Liver Bird in pewter and we in turn gave Liverpool BB a shield with the Leeds city crest and an illustrated book about Leeds, the Chaplain did the first eight mile with us in the pouring rain.

The 28th Leeds team of riders, comprised of 5 teenagers with two staff took the first leg as far as Netherton, where they were relieved by the large contingent from the 11th led by their “Cycling is not my thing” Captain Darren Wilson who once in his stride enjoyed the challenge leading his company. Both companies exchanged legs and by mid afternoon had competed their allocated miles. Next up were the 10th & 12th both eagerly champing at the bit, whilst all these young guns were flexing their physique, Simon Smith from the 9th and our Battalion Chaplain Stephen Day just kept on going, “happy to carry on stephen” yes came an effortless reply without a bead of sweat anywhere just a warm smile that Stephen beams always out.

Both companies exchanged legs along the route in between showers between Wigan, Chorley and Burnley. Suddenly the Battalion President Simon Brocksom had the urge to ride, dressed in jeans and t-shirt, socks tucked inside his jeans and looking like he had just popped to the local shop for a paper set off to do his 8 mile, leading by example Simon completed the challenge which his own lads has set him, and the day after I did not see him walking like the late John Wayne!, Saturday was finally over and the street lights shone as we returned back from over the hill to Yorkshire around 11pm.

Sunday Day (2)

The pressure was really on to get to Hunters Greave for 2pm, the weather was a lot better but a strong head wind hampered us early on. The 7th led the charge from just north of Barrowford, who were relieved by 1st Farsley just north of Gargrave. We made a few tactical changes at Skipton that meant the senior riders of the two companies could set a decent pace from Apperley Bridge to Bramley, where we met the junior riders at the entrance of Hunters Greave, “what do we do now sir”?? It was almost as if our journey had come to an abrupt end. “Form an orderly chain and ride along this road, behind the man with the yellow stripes on his jacket” I bellowed. What a wonderful site greeted us as we arrived, you would have thought we had completed the Tour De France, well we had our own “Tour de Canal” to boast about. We had done it!!

Tim Goddard