CUMBRIA RAYNET GROUP
2010 - British Heart Foundation
Coast to Coast cycle ride
Saturday 31st July / Sunday 1st August 2010
Introduction
Cumbria Raynet Group were asked by Belvoir First Aid (BFA) to assist with their communications during this event. BFA is a charity who provide first aid services to events and normally operate within the Vale of Belvoir, in the Melton Mowbray area. Some of the volunteers in BFA are licensed and are members of Melton RAYNET Group. BFA have an agreement with Melton RG for them to provide radio communications for BFA.
The Event
The Coast to Coast ride started at Whitehaven and ended in South Shields. It followed variations of the Sustrans Coast to Coast route. The event started at 08.00 on Saturday 31st July and travelled through the lake district alongside Loweswater to Lorton and Whinlatter. There was a compulsory stop at Whinlatter where they hoped to bring all the riders together before going through the forest to Thornthwaite then on to Keswick, Threlkeld, Mungrisedale, Greystoke, Penrith, Langwathby, and finally Hartside cafe where the day ends.
The second day was scheduled to start at Hartside cafe, at 08.00 but a cycle theft at Alston delayed things. The riders went through Leadgate, Garrigill, Nenthead, Allenheads, Rookhope and into Consett. The route continues onto South Shields but Cumbria Raynet Group did not assist after Consett.
The members who assisted were Doug, John (G4ZBW) and Jean, Alistair and Katie, and John (G4ISS) and Sally. The allocations were:
Whitehaven to Whinlatter
John G4ISS travelled from Whitehaven to Alston with the lead marshal Dan Routt who works for British Heart Foundation.
Doug G3OHL, Alistair 2E0BEE and Katie to met at Whitehaven harbour at 07.30 where they met Martin from BFA. They then traveled to the Loweswater / Lorton / Whinlatter section and check out mobile phone and radio comms coverage.
John G4ZBW and Jean met at the car park west of the Whinlatter visitor centre and after introductions they went on to Beacon Hill Penrith before any riders got there to give coverage over Greystoke area and on towards Renwick. Doug went on to Hartside café, with a pause on route for stragglers, to give coverage over the section Renwick to Hartside.
Sunday - Alston to Consett
Only John G4ZBW and John G4ISS were on this section. G4ISS had to drop out at at Black Hill, on Cumbria/Northumberland border, because of work commitments and G4ZBW and Jean continued onto Consett. The weather on the top was poor but improved as the day went on.
Conclusions
Belvoir First Aid commented that apart from a couple of scratches, and one ‘poped’ shoulder, they had no incidents, which was evidently quite remarkable for an event of this type.
....and we look forward to the same next year!
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The start of the event
at Whitehaven.
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Belvoir First Aid
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The top
in the mist
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The Belvoir First Aid Ambulance
and G4ZBW'S support vehicle
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Black Hill
The highest point