Phil's Ride
Phil's Ride 2023
Fundraising for East Anglian Air Ambulance
Story
Phil's Ride is now in its 8th year and the event is becoming more popular year on year. As before we've set our bar pretty high again as we target to beat last time's total of £30,068.86 again by just 1p. Considering last years Sahara expedition by Phil's brother David and his family and friends, it'll be a very hard one to beat indeed but lets all hope for a good year and with your help we'll all do the best we can.
Phil's Ride 2023 Main Event
Sunday 27th August
Our usual big rides for both the motorcycles to Blakeney and push bikes to Stowbridge and for all those not on two wheels who'd like to still take part, there will be the 6 miles, two laps of Southery Common.
Our usual big rides for both the motorcycles to Blakeney and push bikes to Stowbridge and for all those not on two wheels who'd like to still take part, there will be the 6 miles, two laps of Southery Common.
Taking Part
If you would like to take part and join in, no matter what form of 2 wheels or footwear you have, simply turn up with your steed of choice at the Old White Bell, Southery (PE380PA) from 11.00am [onwards] on Sunday 27th August 2023. (NB: Due to the popularity of the event, car parking will be congested, so we advise people arriving by car to park sensibly in the side streets and the Village Hall car park, located close to the playing field and of course be mindful and respect local residents.)
The Itinerary is as follows;
- 11.00am Registration opens Hand in any sponsorship forms and collect the loan of Phil's Ride High Vis (NB: For riders only.)
- 12.30pm Motorcycles will ride a c.109 mile return route to Blakeney
- 12.35pm Bicycles will ride a local return route to Downham Market to the Wimbotsham Chequers of c.20mile or complete the longer challenge to continue to The Heron in Stowbridge, a c.24mile ride. The exact route is TBA but will follow the previous years routes.
- 12.37pm Walkers set off on their 2 laps of "The Common"
BBQ fires up, providing food at reasonable prices to patrons.
- 2.30pm to 3pm Walkers return
- 4.30pm to 5.00pm Riders return
- 5.00pm Live Music Starts
- 10.30pm Close
All we ask for taking part is a donation in one of our two collection buckets upon arrival at time of registration of a suggested amount of £10, or if you'd rather sponsorship forms are available to download and print. All donations, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated.
A "Phil's Ride - In Aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance" high-vis will be loaned to all riders (subject to availability) upon your registration. These have cost our sponsors quite a bit of money so please return this after your ride.
Bicycles
A "Phil's Ride - In Aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance" high-vis will be loaned to all riders (subject to availability) upon your registration. These have cost our sponsors quite a bit of money so please return this after your ride.
Bicycles
The bicycles will be organised into groups at registration for marshalling purposes consisting of Casual, Experienced and Enthusiast. The groups will have staggered starts to aid the marshals and the impact of the short ride on the A10 for other road users.
Should a cyclist be unable to do the full distance, simply wait for one of our support vehicles to take you and your bicycle back to the Old White Bell.
Motorcycles
Should a cyclist be unable to do the full distance, simply wait for one of our support vehicles to take you and your bicycle back to the Old White Bell.
Motorcycles
The motorcycle ride will again be riding the c.110 mile to Blakeney as frequented so often by Phil and Jane on his bike.
We advise all motorcycles to brim their tanks before arriving. For those not familiar with the area, the nearest petrol station is Stone Cross, Downham Market, PE380AD to the north of Southery or BP, Littleport, CB61JJ if coming from the south.
The ride will be marshalled by riders in orange high-vis and will follow a fairly simple main road ride to Blakeney via Mundford and Swaffham, stopping at Blakeney where the burger van will [hopefully] be prepared for our arrival for a 40min stop. If you're in need of fuelling, Wells-Next-The-Sea, which will be on our return leg shortly after departing Blakeney, is the option for riders. Wells-Next-The-Sea seem to enjoy our return each year!
The return leg will be almost the same as previous years routes via Wells-next-the-Sea, turning left after Holkham Hall estate, through Burnham Market to Docking, left on to the B1153 toward Bircham Newton, then Fitcham, Grimston, Gayton, East Walton, Narborough and then pick up the Swaffham Road near RAF Marham and back to Southery - however this may be subject to change if there are any unforeseen roadworks, etc. All being well, motorcycles will be entering the northern entrance to the village at roughly 4.30pm and will escort the cyclists the last few hundred yards back to the pub.
The ride will be marshalled by riders in orange high-vis and will follow a fairly simple main road ride to Blakeney via Mundford and Swaffham, stopping at Blakeney where the burger van will [hopefully] be prepared for our arrival for a 40min stop. If you're in need of fuelling, Wells-Next-The-Sea, which will be on our return leg shortly after departing Blakeney, is the option for riders. Wells-Next-The-Sea seem to enjoy our return each year!
The return leg will be almost the same as previous years routes via Wells-next-the-Sea, turning left after Holkham Hall estate, through Burnham Market to Docking, left on to the B1153 toward Bircham Newton, then Fitcham, Grimston, Gayton, East Walton, Narborough and then pick up the Swaffham Road near RAF Marham and back to Southery - however this may be subject to change if there are any unforeseen roadworks, etc. All being well, motorcycles will be entering the northern entrance to the village at roughly 4.30pm and will escort the cyclists the last few hundred yards back to the pub.
As ever, full info for all our fundraising and events will be updated on our web page at http://www.philsride.org and you can email us on ride@philsride.org, so stay tuned to all the latest news as it develops.