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    Potterne Spinners visit Bristol County Ground

    26 August 2020

    Five cricket enthusiast friends from Wiltshire today visited the Bristol County Ground as part of their bicycle journey to all 18 first-class county cricket grounds across England and Wales.

    ‘Potterne Spinners’ set off on their epic cycling challenge on Wednesday 26 August to raise money for two charities close to their hearts – The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Cancer Research UK. They started the 1,100-mile trip in Taunton (Somerset County Cricket Club), and will return to their home of cricket, The Grove in Potterne, 11 days later.

    Mark Colyer, 52, from Potterne; Sam Gaiger, 42, from Market Lavington; Tim Richards, 47, from Eastcott; Jon Weeden, 47, and Steve Wells, 58, both from Rowde, had to postpone the challenge from May to August, due to coronavirus restrictions, and adapt their tough training regimes accordingly.

    Mr Gaiger, a director of Gaiger Bros in Devizes, is the brainchild behind the challenge. His wife, Louise, 12-year-old son, Elliot, and daughter, Sophie, 10, all suffer from cystic fibrosis - a life-limiting condition that affects the lungs and digestive system.

    Potterne Cricket Club has boosted the Spinners’ £45,000 target by almost £3,000 as part of the club’s wider fundraising initiatives during lockdown. The club’s members and supporters are set to give the cyclists a huge welcome home on Saturday 5 September.

    Potterne Spinners will cycle approximately 100 miles a day, from Somerset to Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Durham, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Essex, Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, before the home leg to Potterne.

    Gloucestershire Cricket Head Coach Richard Dawson said:

    "It was great to welcome Potterne Spinners to the Bristol County Ground today. They have undertaken an incredible challenge in aid of some very good causes and we wish them all the best on their trek across England and Wales."

    To donate, go to:

    https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PotterneSpinners

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