Dorset Man Cycles With Rugby and Cricket Stars

Persistent peddler, Andy Neill ditched his normal Westover working wheels and completed his very own 350 mile Olympic cycle ride alongside rugby and cricketing legends, Lawrence Dallaglio and Freddie Flintoff.

Recently back from four days of gruelling pedalling and still suffering sore knees, Andy, who took to his bike to support the sporting stars on their fundraising ride from Greece to the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, says: 

"Although I only joined Lawrence and Freddie on the last leg of their journey from Nancy in France to the Olympic Stadium in East London, it was still a long old ride - certainly further than I’m used to cycling in four days!

"Each day brought its own challenges - we battled 20mph headwinds on the first day; agonising cobbles near Roubaix on day three; and a one mile long, 18% hill climb in Kent on the final day. It definitely tested my mettle, both mentally and physically! The latest we got up in the morning was 5am and I had a maximum of four hours sleep each night, but I was really pleased with how I coped overall and it was a fantastic moment when we crossed the finishing line in Stratford after nearly 25 hours in the saddle - especially as my wife and two of my sons were there waiting for me.

"Lawrence and Freddie are both immensely talented, humble and likeable sportsmen and the work they do for charity is really inspiring -it was an immense honour to cycle alongside them. All in all, it was a great team and a great experience."

Andy lives in Colehill and is Group Financial Controller at local company, the Westover Group. He has currently raised more than £4,900 for the Dallaglio and Flintoff Foundations. 

It is still possible to donate at www.virginmoneygiving.come/AndyNeill