On Sunday 13th October at 8.30am sharp, 18 cyclists braved the weather and took to the country roads that link our six wonderful pubs. They left from the Church Inn in Mobberley after registration.
With all the rain we did think we would have a poor showing, but to get 18 cyclists was amazing! In front of them was a one hundred mile challenge, taking them in to Staffordshire, to our Fitzherbert Arms pub via our Cholmondeley Arms and Three Greyhounds Inn before returning to Mobberley to pick off the Roebck Inn and Bulls Head. With the rain falling it was a gruelling, yet rewarding trip. Every rider had to collect a tiddlywink at each pub until they had the six. A Burger and a pint or three were waiting!!
Everyone completed the Cheshire Cat 6 other than three who missed out the Fitzherbert Arms, but did do the ‘Cheshire 5’ instead. The photos tell the story of how delighted everyone was to have risen to the challenge.
All the riders arrived back safely to the Bulls Head in Mobberley with the exception of three riders who had started at the Fitzherbert Arms and circled round to finish there rather than the Bulls Head.
All enjoyed a drink and a burger ‘on the house’ before they took part in (Cheshire Cat owner) Tim’s cycling ‘Tim-bola’ which raised a few more pounds for our company charity ‘Action Against Hunger’. On the day we raised £315.00 for the charity! Which is a really great result. Despite the weather, the cyclists loved it and most importantly loved our pubs!!
We would like to thank cycling enthusiast Sam, from our bank HSBC, for supporting the event and for supplying the British Cycling Jerseys and books as prizes in the ‘Tim-bola’.
Bigger thanks have to go to Adam from our wine merchants Boutinot. Adam is a very keen cyclist too and made all the arrangements for the event with the help of Tim and the pubs too. Adam also helped with the wines for the ‘Tim-bola’ and cycled the 100 miles for good measure!
This is the first time we have held the ‘Safari’ and it will now be an annual feature on the Cheshire Cat calendar! Thank you to all the cyclists who took part, including Rory who travelled from London to have a go!
See you all next year!
Ready for Refreshments at Cholmondeley!!
Regular customer Clare and cycling buddy Paul are the first customers to complete what is now called the Cheshire Cat Quad. They cycled between our four Cheshire Pubs and the total distance they cycled on Friday was 62.2 miles at an average speed of 17.1mph. The duration of the ride was just under 5 hours with a 30 minute refuel break of bananas, toast and tea at our Cholmondeley Arms pub near Malpas and a 20 minute puncture stop on the A49 at Bartington!!!
They were somewhat hampered from the start on the navigation front as they could not set the route on Paul’s new Garmin so had to wing it on memory!! This meant Clare and Paul probably did not go the most direct route!
They left our Three Greyhounds Inn in Allostock near Holmes Chapel at 8.30am heading towards the A556 through Northwich and Hartford(!) before hitting the A51 and then picking up the A49 at Oakmere. They then took a quiet route through Eaton village before climbing the Wrenbury road and arriving 29 miles later at our Cholmondeley Arms pub.
The return journey was repeated until they once again arrived at Oakmere but then they continued on the A49 past Weaverham up to Bartington and the puncture repair stop. Once on familiar turf they went on quieter roads through Comberbach , Great Budworth and on to Knutsford. The final leg was turning left onto the B5085 to our Church Inn pub in Mobberley for a quick photo before a downhill finish to The Bulls Head for 1.30pm to meet their family and have a much needed lunch and relax in the sunny beer garden.
On arrival at the Bulls Head Clare told us…..
“Paul and I both felt elated and relieved to have completed the ‘Cheshire Cat Quad’ especially as our navigation failed due to our inability to programme it correctly rather than technological failure! We had a brilliant cycle with favourable weather conditions and warm hospitality shown at all of Tim and Mary’s pubs. We will be by no means the fastest but at least we are the first to complete what will be a great cycle ride for many”
“Thank you for setting up a most enjoyable challenge”
Previously loyal customer and very keen cyclist Jonathon was the first of our cycling customers to complete the ‘Cheshire Cat Pub to Pub to Pub (Trio) Challenge’ last winter 2013 when we had just three pubs in Cheshire.
If you are a keen cyclist and want to be listed as a ‘Cheshire Cat Quad Cycling Challenge beater’ then let us know by emailing us at info@cholmondeleyarms.co.uk We can then help you plan your trip and ensure your photo is taken with your trusty bike at each pub. You will get your photo in our ‘hall of fame’ and we will welcome you at the final pub with a drink on the house!!
A FRIEND OF OUR PUBS TOOK THIS PHOTO IN ANNECY OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE!!!
AT CHOLMONDELEY
Loyal customer and very keen cyclist Jonathon is the first of our cycling customers to complete the ‘Cheshire Cat Pub to Pub to Pub (Trio) Challenge’.
Setting out from near Knutsford in pretty cold and snowy conditions Jonathon headed first to our Cholmondeley Arms Pub out near Malpas on the A49 heading to Whitchurch!! The picture shows just how snowy Cholmondeley was compared to the rest of the county. Having taken on a warm hot chocolate for energy, Jonathon then headed to our next pub the Three Greyhounds Inn at Allostock. Conditions here were much better for a cycling enthusiast. After another picture outside this pub it was on for the final leg of the journey to a rather misty Bulls Head before heading home for a hot shower and an early night. Just over 70 miles later without any performance enhancing drugs or a Steak and Ale Pie even!!! The respective pub teams gave Jonathon a warm welcome as well as helping with photo taking and ensuring he was back on his bike for the next leg of this journey!!
Jonathon commented “I was at a loss as to where to go on my Sunday ride today. So thought I would tackle that well known ride ‘The Cheshire Cat Trio’!! Cholmondley is a little further down the A49 than I thought and there was also more snow than I anticipated when I got there but I am thrilled to be the first of many to hopefully tackle the challenge!!”
Well done Jonathon a great effort and there is a Pie waiting at a pub of your choice from the trio as and when you have recovered!!!
If you are a keen cyclist and want to be listed as a ‘Cheshire Cat Trio Cycling Challenge beater’ then set out and ensure your photo is taken with your trusty bike at each pub with the signs in the background of each picture and send them to info@cheshirecatpubsandbars.co.uk. You will get your photo in our ‘hall of fame’ and we will send you a ‘refreshment voucher’ as well as a pint on us at the final pub!!
Thanks again to Jonathon for taking on the challenge and beating it!!!
AT THE BULLS HEAD
AT THE THREE GREYHOUNDS