10/06/2026
🚴♂️ Over £10,000 Raised in Memory of Simon Jones 🚴♂️
What an incredible day, and one that all 16 riders will remember for many years to come.
This weekend, our cycling group completed a charity bike ride in memory of our great friend Simon Jones, raising over £10,000 for two fantastic causes: the Youth Sport Trust and Northop Cricket Club. Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters, we increased our fundraising target several times and were overwhelmed by the response.
The ride began at Northop Cricket Club before making an early-morning stop outside Full Circle Security's offices for a team photo. At 6am, a lady waiting for her bus was understandably surprised when 16 cyclists in full lycra suddenly appeared around her!
Splitting into two groups of eight riders, we set off on our journey. Unfortunately, mechanical issues struck early, with the first puncture arriving in Shotton and several more problems throughout the day. Two bikes became unrideable, but thanks to our support vehicles and drivers, riders were quickly back on the road and able to continue.
Our first landmark stop was Manchester United's iconic Old Trafford Stadium before heading to Rudy's Pizza in Altrincham for a much-needed breakfast stop. After battling torrential rain, the warm welcome, bacon and sausage baps, refreshments, and hospitality provided by Rudy's were greatly appreciated by everyone.
The day wasn't without its challenges. A road closure diversion saw the first group accidentally add an extra eight miles to their route, while the second group managed to find a much shorter detour and rejoin the original course. Sometimes luck is on your side!
As the ride continued, the weather finally turned in our favour, with sunshine appearing as we arrived at Wrexham AFC's Racecourse Ground for another memorable photo opportunity.
The final leg saw all riders regroup at The Boot Inn for a well-earned refreshment before cycling together back to Northop Cricket Club. We were greeted by an incredible welcome from friends, family, and supporters waiting for our return — a fitting finish to a truly special day and a wonderful tribute to Simon.
A huge thank you goes to everyone who helped make the event possible:
👏 Stevie, Kev, Matt and Stu for organising such a fantastic event.
👏 Our support drivers Nic, Paul, Chris, Mark, Tom and Leo, whose help throughout the day was invaluable.
👏 Neal and the team at Rudy's Pizza for their exceptional hospitality and refreshments.
👏 Iceland for their generous donation of bananas, water, flapjacks and chocolate bars.
👏 Our sponsors:
• MPH Construction
• Fairway Design to Print
• Direct Interiors
• Europlas PVCu
• Polyroof Advanced Liquid Roofing
• KBH Construction
• Summit Chartered Accountants
And finally, thank you to every single person who donated, supported, shared our fundraising efforts, and encouraged us along the way. Your generosity has helped us raise an incredible amount for two very worthy causes.
An unforgettable day, an amazing team effort, and a fitting tribute to a much-missed friend.
💙 Thank you all.