New trophy for bike challenge

This year's Trading 4 U Tour de Heathfield cycle event has a new challenge trophy. The event sponsor, local store Trading 4 U, is putting up a special award for the pub team raising the most for the two charities, the British Heart Foundation and Youthability. Pub teams are invited by co-organisers the Heathfield Lions to prove their fitness after the excesses of the football celebrations and put forward their best customers to raise money for these excellent causes by riding in the Tour and getting sponsored. The event will take place on Saturday 6th July and this week, Trading 4 U's Chris Macklin handed over his sponsorship cheque to a local Lion who happened to be passing through Heathfield's High Street.

Lions President Barry Guilford sighs "We've made a few enquiries about whether or not pub teams have it in them to rise to the challenge of 15 or 30 miles on a bike and I must say the results have been interesting. Reaction from one toper about his pub regulars was "That lot? They couldn't ride 15 yards on a bike let alone 15 miles" - but he might have been joking of course."

Posters inviting pub teams to enter will be distributed this week and pubs interested can contact Barry Guilford on 01435 864968 for entry forms, or the British Heart Foundation by ringing freephone 0808 100 2109.

The event will also offer a shield to the team (not from a pub) raising the highest sum, and a cup for the individual best fundraising effort. Every finisher will receive a medal.

The Trading 4 U Tour de Heathfield is in its 7th year in the town having been organised for the first time in 1996 by a group of local people keen to promote the Cuckoo Trail and the town as a good place for cycling. Since then it has raised thousands of pounds for the British Heart Foundation and for local charities. This year's chosen local charity is Youthability, which looks after the interests of young people with a disability, offering them the opportunity to mix on equal terms with other youngsters. Their holiday activity programme has real challenges and experiences and they are also able to give respite care for parents and carers.

The Trading 4 U Tour de Heathfield will start from the Youth Centre, (next to the Co-op supermarket in the High Street) at 10.30 am on Saturday 6th July. Registration starts at 9.15 and all entrants are asked to arrive in good time so that they can be recorded and given a number. There is an entry charge of 5 for everyone, except children under 14 who may enter without charge. There are two on-road routes of 30-miles and 15 miles through very pretty lanes and returning via a stretch of the Cuckoo Trail. There are also two shorter routes, suitable for families, of 9 miles and 5 miles, most of which is off-road, although parents are warned that the first mile is on a minor road with a short steepish hill. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult who will take responsibility for them and the two longer rides are open to adults and children over 12 only.

Teams of up to six people and families of up to six people may enter for a single charge of 10. The finish will be by 3.00 pm at the latest.

Entry forms are available by ringing the British Heart Foundation freephone number 0808 100 2109. Barry Guilford says "We're hoping for the biggest entry yet!"