Myself and a Karl completed a 600 mile bike ride around the UK to all Barclays Premiership Football grounds, in aid of the charity CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young.

Starting off at Cottons Hotel in Knutsford, the weather was sunny.  We'd just filled our faces with bacon butties and Lucozade, and all seemed easy enough as everybody waved us off. 

We quickly reached Man Utd, where Granada TV had filmed and interviewed us the previous day.

After five punctures and one split tyre, we finally finished Day 1 - wishing the challenge had been just that, 1 day!

Day 2 saw us reach Northallerton as we travelled North East. 

Day 3 nearly saw the end of us as we attempted to cycle the whole A19 towards Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle - battling hard against a "fresh" south-western wind (& rain).

Day 4 didn't get much better, after hearing in the weather report that the wind was due South again, and we were travelling North from Portsmouth to London - great!  But at least it was dry.

Day 5 and we were nearly physically sick at the thought of eating anymore energy-come-meal bars.  We covered all the London clubs, and navigation was surprisingly easy due to the good cycle network. That was quickly forgotten as we pushed on North to Kettering, cursing the wind every few seconds.

Day 6 we travelled West towards Birmingham, Aston Villa and West Brom.  The only thing keeping us going was knowing that tomorrow was our last day.

Day 7 and it was soon all over, as we trickled back into Cottons to a small cheering crowd (hotel manager and gardener!)

The amount raised so far is £1,611 but should top £3,000 following a charity auction evening on 28th July at Cottons Hotel. The money will help subsidise CRY screening clinics, and support all aspects of CRY's work.

David Shore

The Route