Mum and daughter complete Great North Ride for Sabden FC

The Sabden twosome proved formidable as they cycled the 63 miles from Seahouses to Newcastle in the Great North Ride on Bank Holiday Sunday.

Jacqui (47) and Ribblesdale High School pupil Bethany (13) completed the challenge in five hours and seven minutes – including a three-quarter hour stop for lunch after 30 miles – and were delighted with their time.

Even more so as they have so far raised more than £750 for the village football club, which is aiming to improve its facilities at the Nutter Barn ground so it can form an Under-16s and a girls’ team, in addition to its adult team.

“When we improve the changing facilities with new showers and a new roof, we can then move forward to include the other teams and apply for grant aid to help,” said Jacqui, of Padiham Road, Sabden, acting chairman of the club.

“We have never done a major cycle like this before, so we did a few training runs beforehand, but it was an absolutely brilliant day, an amazing experience.

“We were riding with the wind in our faces, which was horrendous, but we coped and Bethany was an absolute star, I had to really cycle to keep up with her.”

Members of their extended family from outside the area also took part in the event, which attracted more than 2,000 riders, but Jacqui’s husband Mark injured his knee a few days beforehand so could not take part.

“It was our biggest challenge to date, but we enjoyed it so much we are thinking of doing a triathlon in the Lake District next year,” said Jacqui.

Donations are still being taken in aid of the football club and there are sponsor forms in the shops and pubs in Sabden.