Heriot’s Rugby Club is delighted to have formed a partnership with charity Capability Scotland. Capability Scotland, founded in 1946, aim to deliver support, education and empowerment to disabled children and adults across Scotland.
We are planning a wide range of activities for this partnership, but one close to Heriot’s Rugby Club President, Iain Duckworth’s heart is a fundraising cycle in May 2022. The idea is that this will link up all the Capability Scotland centres throughout the country.
We are looking for volunteer cyclists who are willing to raise a minimum of £500 to join us on the 260-mile cycle. This will take place over 4 days in May 2022 (dates to be confirmed). If you are interested in taking part, to join Iain Duckworth and some of our players, please register your interest by emailing president@heriotsrugbyclub.co.uk
Read below how Iain Duckworth, Capability Scotland’s Ben Bradbury, together with Heriots’ Cat Brough, Fiona Hay and Ross King got on when they joined up to test the suggested route last month:
DAY 1 (56 miles)
Starting from Craigmillar the team took to the road from Edinburgh mid-morning, with the plan to finish for the day in North Lanarkshire. They headed off in beautiful sunshine along the innocent railway visiting the Haymarket office, then out along the canal to Heriot Watt Uni to the 3rd service centre. The whole trip seemed to be into a perpetual headwind but this day was particularly strong as they headed along the lang whang, a busy road. With the weather forecast of “all the rain has headed north”, they team knew they would have to don their waterproofs and so it proved.
Cat Brough, who plays for our Blues Women team, her mother and boyfriend rode with the team to Lanark and Ben Bradbury, from Capability Scotland, and Iain continued to Motherwell. The team rested their heads at the Premier Inn in Motherwell (staff were superb and stored the team’s bikes in their linen cupboard, which kept them safe overnight).
Day 2 (57 miles)
As is the way with Satnav there were initial technical issues with the Garmin navigation, but it settled down (it always took a few minutes each morning to locate the team, but they were back on track) Day 2 saw the team travelling through Glasgow on busy roads but being Sunday was a bit quieter. They passed Parkhead and Glasgow Green where Transmit festival was on and although they were on main roads there are clear bike lanes and the weather was set fair. The team cycled through Johnstone to the Capability Scotland service centre at Corseford School which they hope some of the customers can take part in a wave by on the day. The team then rode back into Glasgow, along Sauchiehall St which was busy with shoppers, so was a bit of a challenge.
Once out of Glasgow there was a lovely route along country roads into Cumbernauld with a bit of tricky navigation at the end, as the hotel is in the middle of shops and houses. Once they arrived, at the hotel, however, they were yet again superbly looked after, dining well at the adjoining food establishment and were raring to go for Day 3.
Day 3 (82 miles)
As was planned, day 3 was the long one, but a beautiful ride along the Forth and Clyde canal, past the Falkirk wheel and the Kelpies. It was mostly quiet roads and beautiful scenery. The weather was lovely and just a great day for cycling, even with the wind in our face again! They finished along a cycle path right by the Premier Inn, the Discovery and V&A in Dundee. Ben had to leave at this point and took the train back to Edinburgh, so Iain dined out in a superb Japanese restaurant in the city.
Day 4 (66 miles)
Club President, Iain was flying solo on the final day back to Edinburgh. After singing Happy Birthday to former Heriot’s teacher Douglas Urquhart who was staying a few hundred metres away he set off back to Edinburgh, feeling a bit lonely and tired, it being Day 4. The route over the silv’ry Tay (well a bit dull and grey on the day) with a cycleway that runs right down the middle of the bridge and takes a bit of finding. The route however is stunning, along the south bank of the Tay then turns south to Kinross, through Newport, Newburgh, up to Glenfarg past Loch Leven along quiet country roads with beautiful scenery.
The cafe stop in Kinross was divine, double shot americano and a home baked custard cream and he was all set and turbo charged back to Edinburgh, over the Forth bridge.
The plan in May 2022, is that the cycle will finish at Goldenacre where supporters are welcome to join in to cheer those taking part all over the finish line.
