A rare encounter with the Heineken Cup

Just seeing the Heineken Cup can spur you into action and this is what happened on the 22nd of September when the staff at Bannon embarked on a charity cycle to Wexford in aid of the charity Welcome Home.

We set off from UCD at an early hour in chilly conditions but the important thing was we were on the road to Wexford. Banter and motivation were very much part of the menu as we slowly set off.

The first real test came on Calary Hill as the cyclists showed huge determination in their ascent to the top. The next stage from Roundwood to Arklow offered beautiful scenery and more manageable terrain and it made this leg of the journey a lot easier.

Lunch at Glanbia in Inch was a brief rest for the cyclists and more importantly a breather for our legs! The final 50km was as much a mental battle as a physical one as the distance (and the wind) brought an added pressure. On a personal level there was no greater feeling going through the finish line to collect the finisher medal.

Overall the cycle was a very rewarding activity and as we set off on the journey back to Dublin, be it with a few sore bodies, we could relax with the thought that we had tested ourselves and passed with flying colours.