Good morning all!
Let me start by apologising for that horrible butchering of Bon Jovi, but I couldn’t resist and more importantly it’s actually very accurate.
In fact by the time you’re reading this I suspect the team will have made it past the 100 mile mark as they skirt dangerously close to Peterborough and head on to the next Checkpoint; Abbots Ripon!
But where have they been throughout the night? Let’s do a little recap!
Doncaster
The team departed from Doncaster just before Midnight, and I’m sure many of you are more than familiar with the place, but for those of you less well acquainted; what is Doncaster famous for?
Primarily Horse Racing.
Doncaster is home to one of the oldest racecourses in the world and hosts The Doncaster Cup and the St Leger Stakes, which are the oldest race and oldest classic race in the world respectively.
Don’t ask me what the difference between race and classic race is though, I have no idea.
Famous Doncastarians include Louis Tomlinson, Brian Blessed, Jeremy Clarkson, John Parr and Kevin Keegan.
Quite the list!
Tuxford
The team’s first checkpoint saw them stop at the Dovecoat Inn in Newark, which is just a stone’s throw from Tuxford, or ‘Tuxfarne’ if you were looking it up in the Doomsday Book.
Despite being a relatively small village with a population of just over 2500 there is a surprising amount of information documented about the place, and only a small proportion of it is mildly interesting.
Although small, Tuxford has THREE Train Stations… but all of them are closed.
It also has three pubs, but there is far less information about them than the now defunct Railway Stations. Unfortunately our intrepid team of cyclists didn’t have time to investigate them on their way past.
It also has a Windmill built in 1820 and the Olympic Torch passed through on it’s way to Nottingham. Fascinating!
I’m joking of course, we love Tuxford really!
Belvoir Castle
Now we’re talking, a real piece of history!
Belvoir Castle, which translates as ‘Beautiful view, is a stately home situated on the outskirts of Grantham and just 16km from Melton Mowbray (yes, the Pork Pie place.)
Built immediately following the Norman Conquest in 1066, the Castle has been rebuilt a total of 3 times, the latest iteration being completed in 1832 at a cost of £82,000 which is about £7.6m in today’s money, effectively making it the ‘Trigger’s Broom’ of stately homes.
The castle has featured in a number of films, including Little Lord Fauntleroy and The Da Vinci Code, and is still home to the Manners Family who inherited the property in 1508. It hosts an annual fireworks event and even has it’s own Male Voice Choir; The Belvoir Wassailers.
Stamford
Bringing us up to the last stop at roughly 7am this morning we come to Stamford Baron.
There isn’t much information about Stamford Baron, but there IS quite a lot about Stamford itself.
I had planned on going into great depth about the place, and it’s governance and economy, but then I found out that in 1968 the remains of a Cetiosaurus measuring some 15 feet long and over 170 million years old was found in a nearby quarry.
I mean how can you top that? One of the few full dinosaur skeletons found in the UK, the bones can now be seen in the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery!
Pushing Onward
Phew! So that’s the overnight portion of the ride wrapped up, and I’m glad to say everything has gone very smoothly!
There will be further updates coming soon, as well as pictures and videos!
Please head over to the Donations page and chip in a few quid if you’re able.
The total currently stands at £12,220.45!
Amazing, although I am curious where that 45p came from!
Until the next update… Stay safe!