CYCLING: Ives completes 530-mile charity ride

Baginton’s multi World Masters cycling champion 76-year-old Mick Ives completed a tough five and a half days of cycling last week, covering 530 miles.

Mick, boss of Team Jewson-MI Racing-Polypipe had completed two earlier rides for the Injured Jockeys Fund, and on this occasion was asked by the IJF if he would design a route from their northern rehabitation centre called Jack Berry House, at Malton in North Yorkshire, down to the southern rehabitation at Oaksey House in Lambourne, Berkshire, but taking in race meetings on the way at York, Newmarket, Newbury and Stratford on Avon. The route also called at Jackdaw Castle Training establishment of JonJo O’Neill way up high in the Cotswolds. The Yard is sponsored by Coventry based Jewson, Mick’s main race team sponsor, who also partly sponsored the ride.

Mick was also asked to lead the select group of two ex jockeys and a race horse owner on this very tough journey, made harder by very strong winds and stiff climbs over the Berkshire Downs and Cotswolds.

The person responsible for organising the ride was Anthony Fison, who was one of the riders taking part. Anthony’s partner Angela suffered a freak accident that left her paralysed in 2008.

The picture shows Mick Ives (left) with fellow riders being flagged off by Jack Berry ex jockey/trainer, from Jack Berry House at Malton.

Donations can still be made to https://www.justgiving.com/Matthew-Gingell1

Further information available from: www.ijf.org.uk