A GROUP of cyclists - the Llancarfan Riders - has successfully completed a Le Tour de Galles challenge to cycle 400 miles around Wales in four days in order to raise money for Tros Gynnal Plant children's charity and Llancarfan Primary School.

Made up of parents of pupils at the school, friends of Llancarfan and the head teacher, the group set out from the Vale village on a Friday in glorious sunshine and had over 100 miles to ride that day. With fresh legs, they got to Borth, in Ceredigion, despite never having trained all together before. The planned route from Llancarfan to Borth, then to Cwm Pennant in the north west, then to Clun in Shropshire and finally back to Llancarfan showed off Wales’ stunning scenery, but also meant they had to tackle punishingly long and steep hill climbs along the way.

By the second day they were stiff and a little sore, but were now starting to cycle as a team not just a group of cyclists, maintaining good pace and formation. On the third and fourth days they were again blessed with glorious weather and, with the end in sight, they ploughed on to arrive safely back at Llancarfan school in the middle of sports day, where the whole school cheered their arrival. There were emotional greetings from families and many tears of joy for their safe arrival home.

The ride was extremely well supported and the aim to raise £4,000 achieved.

Pictures of the ride can be seen on Llancarfan Primary School Facebook page and donations can be made to the Tros Gynnal Plant children's charity by going to https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/trosgynnalplant.