Potterne Spinners visit Hove as part of epic charity bike tour

Everyone at Sussex Cricket was delighted to welcome Potterne Spinners to The 1st Central County Ground on Friday afternoon as they approach the end of their mammoth cycling tour around the country.

The five cricket enthusiast friends from Wiltshire have sonow visited 17 of the 18 first-class counties on their 1,100-mile trip, which started 11 days ago at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Somerset and will end at Potterne Cricket club.

Since then, Mark Colyer, 52, from Potterne; Sam Gaiger, 42, from Market Lavington; Tim Richards, 47, from Eastcott; Jon Weeden, 47, and Steve Wells, 58, both from Rowde have raised over £50,000 for two charities close to their hearts – The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Cancer Research UK.

Mr Gaiger is the brainchild behind the challenge. His wife, Louise, 12-year-old son, Elliot, and daughter, Sophie, 10, all suffer from cystic fibrosis - a life-limiting condition that affects the lungs and digestive system.

He said: "I’ve run four marathons to raise money for the CF Trust and wanted a new challenge away from running.

"I started cycling on a static Peleton bike as an alternative way to keep fit, which led to getting a road bike. Since my family is my motivation for fundraising and we all love cricket, I wanted to combine it with the cycling.

"The idea quickly gathered momentum with the others after a few pints!

"We also want to raise money for Cancer Research UK as all five of us have family and friends whose lives have been sadly lost or changed due to cancer.

"This has become especially poignant with the death of our dear friend and fellow Potterne cricketer, Tony Poole, in November, at the age of 41.

"It has been a huge motivating factor through the cold and wet winter training conditions."

The Potterne Spinners have so far cycled approximately 100 miles a day, from Somerset to Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Essex, Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, before the home leg to Potterne.

The Spinners are set to be welcomed back to their home club on Saturday 5 September, but the fundraising will continue after their epic tour is complete. You can donate HERE.