Ride to Gold raises £2,000 for Minerva Bath loos

Six rowers from Minerva Bath Rowing Club rolled into the GB Rowing Team’s Caversham training base last week, after an 84-mile sponsored bike ride from the club site in Newbridge, Bath. 

Olympic Champion Helen Glover, the club’s patron, and team mates Heather Stanning and Vicky Thornley were on hand to welcome the Bath rowers at the end of their gruelling ride.

The team set off from Bath at 6am, aiming to arrive and meet the Olympians at 3pm. Three punctures, some tricky narrow tow-paths, several unexpected gates and numerous level-crossing delays later, they finally made it to the Pinsent/Redgrave lake just 15 minutes after their planned arrival time.

The group have so far raised over £1,000, which will be doubled by Roper match funding to £2,000.  Building work, which has been hampered by endless delays and additional costs, is due to commence on building the new facilities this week and should be completed by the year’s end. It will provide the club with loos and showers, the first in its 100 year history.

Jane Turner (MBRC fundraising committee) said, “What an amazing effort by the whole team cycling to Caversham, and in particular their valliant support crew who get less of the fun and none of the glory. Their efforts have taken us over our total target for the generous Roper matched funding we have been offered. I am so proud of them all – and all their friends and relatives who have sponsored them. It really is a magnificent and fitting way to end a stonking 12 months of fundraising”.

Donations can still be made by contacting the club [email protected]. For more information, visit www.minervabathrc.org.uk.