Gymnast takes on 100 mile ride for Tynedale club

Incredibly she even found time and the energy to stop in Prudhoe WestWorld to attend her gymnastics class on the way.

She said: "It was good weather and easier than I expected. Climbing the big hill out of Greenhead was the worst moment.

"Once I got past Vindolanda it was all downhill, following the Tyne to the coast."

The idea came after her cousin completed the ride, and when she heard her club, Tynedale Gymnastics Club, needed to raise funds she thought it would be a good way to do it. She managed the ride in style and did not need the three days she had allowed for.

The Mowden Hall School pupil's efforts raised £600 for the club to buy necessary equipment such as mats, beams and vaults for their two gyms, in Prudhoe WestWorld and in the Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham.

Dad Paul, who accompanied her on the ride, said: "I knew I could do it but I wasn't sure if she could. But she also found time to go to her gym club because she was still full of energy.

"It's very good going - she's as fit as a flea and got stamina and determination. A lot of kids could do it but they'd lose interest."

Kate, who also takes part in Tynedale's gymnastics exchange with Mitry Mory in France, rode from Bowness-on-Solway to Tynemouth along the Hadrian Cycleway.

Club coach Gayle Crowell said: "This is a wonderful achievement by Kate.

"We are very grateful to her - all of our gymnasts will benefit from the new state-of-the-art equipment."

Now that Kate has got the cycling bug, she wants to attempt the 200-mile ride from Edinburgh to Tynemouth next year.

Kate Rogers presents her cheque to Tynedale Gymnastics Club

Meanwhile, she might have met some other keen fundraisers on the coast to coast route, as a group of pupils took on the challenge to raise money for the Calvert Trust in Kielder.

Ten lads from Newcastle School for Boys arrived at Calvert Trust Kielder after doing the ride in two days.

They visited the centre in Kielder Water and Forest Park before beginning to collect sponsorship to raise their target of £2,000. Supporting them in their trip were local companies Back Consulting Limited, Apex Radios and Purple Mountain.

The money will go towards the work of Calvert Trust Kielder which enable people with disabilities to achieve their potential through outdoor activities.

Hazel Munro, a fundraiser at Calvert Trust Kielder said: "We are thrilled the school has committed themselves to supporting us and we are impressed with the nature of the challenge they have taken on."

Charles Drax, a teacher at Newcastle School for Boys said: "Visiting the trust meant that the boys could see how the money raised from the challenge will help lots of people less fortunate than themselves to do things they never dreamt possible. "

Pictured: Lads from Newcastle School for Boys who cycled the coast to coast route to raise money for Calvert Trust Kielder. Left to right: top: Charles Drax, Karen Smith, LewisMackie, Peter Cockerill (CE Calvert Trust Kielder), Henry Percy-Raine,
Ubaydullah Iqbal, Dan Cupit, bottom: Mat Butler, Hazel Munro, Gordon Orr