Cyclists turn out to raise funds for charity

Three charities will benefit from the efforts of 42 cyclists who took part in the fifth annual Frankie’s Charity Cycle Sportive on Sunday.

All proceeds from the event this year will be split between the Fishermen’s Mission, Cancer Research UK and Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Twenty-three cyclists completed the 40-mile ride – two times around a lap from Brae to Voe, up Dales Lees and back round in the face of a stiff southerly wind to Brae – with Pete Fenwick of Shetland Wheelers first home.

Seventeen did the 20-mile ride – one lap of the same course – with Dugie Gunn from Muckle Roe leading the group over the line, while 12-year-old Flora Quinnell was the first of the two riders in the 10-mile ride from Brae to Voe and back.

Flora, from Aith, said: “I was delighted. It was a really enjoyable ride out to Voe and back to Frankie’s.”

Local electrical retailer George Robertson Ltd has donated a set of Otone Bluwall Speakers which will be presented to each of the three winners.

Prior to the race Peter Dade, former superintendent of the mission in Shetland and now superintendent in North Shields, who was deputising for Audrey Jamieson, wished the cyclists well and thanked them for taking part to support the work of the charity.

After a welcome fish supper for all participants, a bumper raffle with a series of top prizes kindly donated by a wide range of sponsors was drawn. A final tally from entry fees, sponsorship and the raffle will be calculated shortly.

Since it began in 2011 the sportive has raised more than £20,000 for charities.

Frankie’s Fish & Chips manager Carlyn Kearney said: “It was a great day, with cyclists of all ages and abilities taking part and enjoying themselves thoroughly.

“I’d just like to thank everybody who took part, the staff here at Frankie’s for their hard work in arranging the event, Red Cross staff for medical back-up and manning one of the feeding stations, Steve Henry from Shetland Motorcycling Training for making sure the routes were safe and the boys from Brae Garage for support out on the road.”