40th Mince Pie Run
The weather leading up the run had been precarious to say the least, but once again on the morning of the run the sun broke through the clouds!
Pat and Rudi Graham arrived early to help with the set up, while Brian Lacey was first rider to arrive on his superbly restored Mobylette AV89. After that the floodgates opened, the car park was amass with bikes.
The run began at 11:00 with a wave of bikes leaving the car park for the assault on Bourne Hill. While reaching the summit and turning round, the haze of blue two stroke was something never to be forgotten! Mark Daniels (Dalek Scooter) and I shepherded the pack round the route; Dave Watson (Sun Autocycle) pulled up with a suspected fouled plug but managed to get going again. Nick Parker (NVT Easyrider), on his maiden run after having a hip operation, required a little assistance at Holbrook with yours truly to give him a little push in the right direction up Back Hill!
Everybody arrived en masse to the half-way stop: the Shipwreck at Shotley, who did a roaring trade taking some time to clear the 60 riders queuing out through the door.
I would just like to say a massive thank you for everybody who came and supported this year’s run, we had around 60 bikes counted. I would also like to say a massive thank you to Pat & Rudi Graham for helping with the teas and coffees; thank you Maureen Bloys with the breakdown trailer!
I am humbled by the riders’ kind generosity, we have raised £120 for the Evans family to be donated to Cancer Research. The Mince Pie Run will continue … see you next year!
A message from Gareth Evans about the Mince Pie Run
Dad was shining down on us all today. After the last few weeks of the wet weather it was nice of him to bring out the sunshine. The three years I’ve ridden the route have been on three different bikes. This year being special to ride with David’s grandson Rhys. Who knows what I’ll ride next year! Hopefully a moped and hopefully with Rhys on his own bike. Thanks Martin Gates for a well organised event.
