A SUNNY Sunday saw an impressive 597 riders race off from Woolmer Hill sports ground for Little Lumpy Cycle Sportive 2018.

Now in its 10th year, the popular ‘not-for-profit’ charity event was in aid of Haslemere Festival and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care.

Firmly established as one of the top sportives in the South of England, it offers riders a choice of three circular routes through some of the prettiest countryside up and over the South Downs.

Most riders chose the 100-mile Epic route, which involved gruelling climbs of some 8,500 feet in total.

Tadworth Fat Boys team member Jamie Abbott won the Epic with a finish time of seven hours, 17 minutes and three seconds.

Paying tribute to his huge team of loyal helpers, event organiser Ken Griffiths, and who is chairman of the town’s fringe festival committee, said: “Once again, the community spirit in Haslemere has been phenomenal.

“The event is entirely run by volunteers and on Sunday we had over 60 volunteers spread along the entire route.

“They were doing everything, from manning the four food stations at Teglease Down, Chalton, South Harting and Lurgashall, to driving support vehicles along to pick up people with mechanical breakdowns or other cycling problems.

“Not only do we rely on volunteers on the day, but all the food made for the riders is freshly cooked or baked by the good people of Haslemere and the surrounding district and that involved more than 40 volunteers.

“Among the volunteers, Haslemere Air Training Corps assisted with car parking and general stewarding throughout the day.

“Special thanks must also go to our sponsors M&B Cyclery, Barons of Hindhead and Tesco. Fringe partner Kane FM broadcasted the event live from start to finish.”

One of the participating clubs, Crawley Wheelers team, added: “Everything was wonderful, from the marshals guiding us around, to the ladies on the sign in desk, the breakfast cooks, the cake bakers, and the guys at the feed stations.”