Loudoun Academy cyclists take on gruelling trip

Jul 2 2008 By Lorraine Waddell

A GROUP of courageous pupils and teachers from Loudoun Academy have set off on a gruelling 10-day trek of the West of Scotland.

The team, made up of 11 pupils and eight other cyclists including teaching staff and other adults, left the school on Thursday on the Hebridean Challenge.

Their week and a half trip will take in the likes of Arran, Oban, Stornoway, Ullapool, Armadale and Crianlarich.

Technical teacher, John McCracken, was inundated with requests to organise a trip following a cycle between Lands End and John O’ Groats two years ago.

He said: "Initially, a weekend to Arran last summer.

"It was very successful and that promoted this adventure, a longer, bigger adventure to the north of Scotland and out to the Hebrides."

John has been key in organising the routes and where the group would stay on the way.

He continued: "What I then was able to do was I was able then plan a route particularly using hostel accommodation because that’s a big help.

"I plan the route with the objective of having about 60 miles a day because that’s what pupils of this age can comfortably do while taking in the scenery.

John and his wife Nan are both keen cyclists and have been delighted to see the progress in the pupils.

He said: "It is fulfilling a past time of myself and hopefully the kids as well will take away from this that cycling is good for them and that they will enjoy it in the future as well.

"As the year and a half since we first started cycling , they’ve all become keener cyclists and they’ve all, by virtue of very kind parents, bought the correct machinery for the job."

As well as being rewarding for the children and adult cyclists, they are going to be raising money as a result including cash to a charity close to the teachers’ hearts.

John said: "There are four charities nominated this time. There’s the Beatson Institute, The Haemophilia Society, Ayrshire Cancer Research and the Red Cross.

"We have a member of staff who has gone through ill health this year and we’re only too keen to promote the Beatson Institute which he was part of for his treatment. "We’re very happy to be cycling for that charity and the others as well."

John feels that the trip not only promotes health and fitness to the group but helps create an inner strength which can lead them onto becoming ambassadors for the school and any groups they may join in future.

He has appreciated the help given by various sources including Alistair Fleming who have provided the van they are using, free of charge.

He continued: "East Ayrshire transport department have been exceptionally good. Smithkline Beecham has given us power drinks and power food.

"Catering Direct, who provide the meals in the school, have also given us a donation of food, power bars and drinks for the pupils.

"Agricar, Scottish Pride Milk, Campbell Fuel Oils from Kilmarnock and many others have been a help.

"There’s quite a long list to add to that and, of course, the Valley community which is always very generous in times like this. They’ve also been very good and there’s been a lot of staff who’ve helped us fundraise and that’s been warmly appreciated."

Fifth year pupil Kelly McNee who is one of the pupils on the trip said: "The hills are going to be the worst thing.

"We’ve got a hill in Ullapool called Applecross that’s 1,000 feet above sea level and it’s a gradual climb so it’s going to take probably an hour or something but we’re looking forward to all of the new challenges, new places. It will be a group effort I think so as long as we’re together, we’ll probably cope well with it.

"We try and go out every Sunday wherever we can, the further the better obviously because your muscles build up you can go further in the long run."

Pupil Callum Smith who is also on the trip said: "I heard Mr McCracken was setting up a cycling group and thought it would be fun, came along to the meetings and we’ve been involved ever since.

"We’ve been out just about every Sunday for a year and a half."

Tarbolton boy Billy Morton said: "I’ve been biking to school and back because I live about eight miles away. I’ve been working so I never get out on Sundays."

Steve Lockhart from Walkers Cycles in Kilmaurs is also on the trip and is on hand as a ‘roving mechanic’.

Before they left, he told the Standard: "I’m looking forward to the whole thing. I’ve been to Skye before so I’ve seen a lot of that but I’ve never been as far north or as far west as we are going.

Steve got involved in the trip as he had just joined the shop when the group went on the last cycle.

Walkers Cycles have been on hand to give advice on how best to set out on the trip.

Steve continued: "We have offered them discounts and plenty of advice for the trip. I will be with them as the roving mechanic."

The pupils on the trip are Emily Collins, Amanda Turnbull, Lesley Moore, Rachel Currie, Billy Morton, Kelly McNee, Callum Smith, Kirsty Clark, Harriet Earp, Blair Biggar and Craig King.

The adults on the trip, in addition to John and Steve, are Nan McCracken, Andy Rennie, Maureen Hislop, Sheila Forsythe, Stuart McGougan and Christine King.

The driver is Jim Armour.

You can keep in touch with their progress and send them messages of support by logging onto www.loudounacademycyclegroup.net.