Autumn Q4 | Page 42

GOLFERS TAKE TO THE SADDLE IN RYDER CUP CHALLENGE It’s not often we hear of golfers casting aside their irons in favour of alternative pursuits but that’s exactly what four members of Northcliffe Golf Club in Yorkshire plan to do later this year when they undertake an impressive 1150 mile cycle challenge – The Tour de Ryder Cup. The four friends from West Yorkshire will take to the saddle, cycling a route which takes in all thirteen Ryder Cup host venues in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. As part of the nine day challenge, Andy Crowther, Darren Tordoff, Andrew Walker and Rick Gillgrass aim to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK and Melanoma UK, as well as raise awareness of the two diseases. On 21st September the team will arrive at Ganton on the North Yorkshire Coast before tackling the 220 mile stage to Scotland, taking in Muirfield on the 22nd and arriving at Gleneagles for the start of this year’s Ryder Cup tournament on 23rd September. On route the four will collect flags from all thirteen UK and Ireland Ryder Cup host venues, which they intend to present to the Ryder Cup teams when they reach Gleneagles. Cycling in Ryder Cup format, the four will set off from their home turf at Northcliffe Golf Club near Bradford on 15th September and head over to Royal Lytham, Birkdale and Southport & Ainsdale before crossing the water to the K Club in County Kildare. The Tour de Ryder Cup was inspired by the death of the riders’ mutual friend Simon Ashdown, also a p \