Gales, graft and saddle sores but Hertford RFC's Tom Dewhurst makes it

Midlands rugby players get on their bikes for Injured Players Foundation

Hertford RFC player Tom `Dewy' Dewhurst is cock-a-hoop now that he's completed his 941 mile Lands End to John O'Groats charity cycle ride in support of the RFU Injured Players Foundation.

In all it took him nine days, with 66 hours in the saddle from start to finish, in which time he also climbed around 51,000 feet and burnt off more than 50,000 calories.

But all the saddle sores and hard graft in all kinds of weather were richly rewarded as his efforts raised over £1,900 for the IPF. The money will be used to provide more support for seriously injured players like Dewy's own pal, Tom Horey, who was unfortunately paralysed in a rugby match in 2010.

Exhausted but elated by having finished the ride he said afterwards: `It was great to travel the length of the UK and my favourite was the Scottish Highlands.

`I started off not liking Scotland at all because of the gale force winds that were the remnants of Hurricane Katia that hit the UK and the heavy rain made hard work of the days from Penrith to Fort William.

`That was probably one of the low points when I could hardly make any headway and even the Tour of Britain had been cancelled due to high winds!

`The second last day I cycled to 9pm at night and did 130 miles so I could finish the following day which was then just over 100 miles.'

During the ride he was accompanied by mum Sue acting as his support group and nurse maid while amongst the messages of goodwill he received was a `tweet' of good luck from England and British Lion Will Greenwood which gave him a huge lift during the final stages.

And a very grateful IPF Fundraiser, Ian Jenkinson said: `It's through efforts like this that we can provide more support to seriously injured players and expand our work to make the game safer for everybody, so thank you Tom.'

If you would like to make a donation and swell Tom's charity fund you can do it via the web site: www.justgiving.com/tomdewhurst.

If you'd like to take part in a challenge of your own and raise funds to support and protect your rugby family visit www.rfuipf.org.uk/getinvolved