Shaftesbury Rotary Club’s North Dorset Cycle Ride is gearing up for May 16.


This popular ride, which takes in the amazing natural beauty of towns and villages in the Blackmore Vale, is the club’s biggest fundraising event of the year and with many charities suffering financial hardship because of covid-19, this year’s event will more important than ever.

Shaftesbury Rotary Club are aiming to raise an ambitious £20,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and other local charities.

The main sponsor of the event is BV Dairy and managing director Jim Highnam said: “We are proud that our local family business is supporting the North Dorset Cycle Ride. We have some keen cyclists at BV Dairy, including myself, that will be taking part and many employees will be volunteering as marshals too. The stunning route, that takes riders to the South and West of Shaftesbury, will actually pass many of the local dairies that we buy milk from, so it’s a perfect fit for us.”

While entry numbers will be capped to allow for staggered start times and social distancing, the usual ‘charm’ of the event will be very much present, including the iconic Gold Hill ‘finish’ line that will involve cycling, or at least attempting to, up the famous Hovis hill. Cyclists can choose from three routes – a family- friendly 12-mile route, a tougher 25-mile route and a serious 50-mile ride. Registration will be online and will cost £25 for the 25- mile and 50-mile rides and £2o for the 12-mile route. Young people aged between 10 and 16 are half-price and children under 10 are free. Covid-19 restrictions mean entries will not be accepted on the day.

Riders can sign-up by going to cycleride.shaftesburyrotaryclub.org or ring Martin on 07341 866941.

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