20k raised cycling for Benevolent

A wine industry bicycling challenge has raised over £20,000 for charity.

Last June a small group of keen cyclists from a range of wine-related jobs cycled from Champagne to Tain l’Hermitage in four days to raise money for The Wine and Spirit Trades’ Benevolent Society.

The ordeal, which involved over 600km of riding, was organised by Mentzendorff managing director Andrew Hawes to celebrate the Benevolent’s 125th anniversary, with each of the participating cyclists attempting to raise over £1,000 for the Benevolent.

Having completed the challenge and fundraising, it has just been announced that £20,134 has been amassed for the charity and a cheque will be presented to the Benevolent’s chief executive Cheng Loo tomorrow evening (Thursday, 21 July).

Among the ten cyclists was db editor Patrick Schmitt, whose report on the ride can be read here.

Patrick managed to raise £1,680 thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the drinks trade.

A particular thanks goes to his sponsors, listed on the next page, as well as the team at Bollinger for their support during the ride (Jérôme Philipon, Hervé Augustin and Stephen Leroux); Katie and Lucy at Mentzendorff for sustenance and map reading; Graham for skillful driving and constant encouragment; Chanson’s Gilles de Courcel for an incredible dinner and extremely good night’s sleep at his family château on day two; and Michel Chapoutier and Pierre-Henri Morel for a magnificent reception at Hermitage, complete with cycling pros, Champagne and dinner under the stars.

Thanks to:

Alan Lodge

Andy Smith

Anna Harris-Noble

Anna Krebiehl

Anthony Hawser

Asa W Karlsson

Ben Smith

Bert Grant

Bethan Wallace

Camilla Bowler

Chris Skyrme

Clark Estate team

Daisy Jones

David Rose

Debra Meiburg

Emma Dawson

Eugene Bacot

Fiona Taylerson

Garyth Stone

Graham Fortune

Hannah Kent

Jack Hibberd

James Miles

Jane Masters

Jenny Mac

Joanna Simon

Judith Candy

Julia Harding

Katharine O’Callaghan

Katherine Wilson

Katy Beurton

Lewis O’Sullivan

Louise Hill

Louise Vaux

Lucy Shaw

Lydia Schmitt

Marinel FitzSimons

Matt Dickinson

Melanie Jones

Melissa Draycott

Michael Schuster

Neil Tully

Niall Keenan

Patrick McGrath

Paul Evans

Paul Symington

Peter Darbyshire

Rachel Child

Ray O’Connor

Richard Woodard

Rosamund Hitchcock

Sally Hyam

Sara Muirhead

Sheila Crisp

Su-Lin Ong

Tim Wildman

Toby Hancock

Tony Latos

Warren Adamson