DOZENS of saddle-sore cyclists pedalled their way up to Tavistock Rugby Club last Wednesday, as the club hosted the first leg of the Lexus Great British Bike Ride.

The riders were cycling from Land's End to Twickenham, stopping overnight at Tavistock RFC, Ivel Barbarians RFC (Yeovil) and Winchester RFC before riding into Twickenham rugby union stadium on Saturday during the annual 'double header' games between Harlequins, London Wasps, London Irish and Saracens.They were joined on Wednesday by former rugby world cup star Richard Hill, and Graham Dawe, former England international and West Devon resident, who welcomed the cyclists and conducted a rugby training session.

The event raises money for Help for Heroes, the RFU Injured Players Foundation and the RPA Benevolent Fund.

Members of the club colts' and girls' squads greeted the rides at the finishing line, holding the bicycles while the wobbly-kneed competitors registered.

The army provided a support team who preceded the riders, setting up tented villages at the overnight stops.

The first leg was the 97 miles to Tavistock RFC at Sandy Park club with some riders riding round the town just to clock up to a round 100 miles.

The last steep hill up Kilworthy road challenged them all but a superb spread provided by the club's catering team from Dukes of Tavistock soon revived them.

The riders and support teams disappeared into the early mists of the moor on their next gruelling leg on Thursday morning.

The rugby club wish to thanks their neighbours in Trelawny Road and Kilworthy Road for their tolerance over the 48 hours of the event.