Home of Essex cricket hosts cyclists for century challenge

National charity Action Medical Research is joining forces with Essex County Cricket Club for a new 100-mile cycling challenge taking place on Sunday, September 20.

The event, which will start and finish at the Essex County Cricket Club ground in Chelmsford, will be the last in the charity’s packed 2009 season of Take Action 100 rides, a series of popular one-day bike rides taking place across the UK.

Participants can register now to secure their places in the first Essex 100. The ride will follow an undulating circular route along quiet country lanes, taking cyclists through some stunning scenery and quaint villages such as Matching Green, Thaxted and Finchingfield.

Riders will be fully supported with regular refreshment stops including a lunch stop, marshals, first aid and support vehicles.

Action Medical Research is a UK charity with a special focus on child health. Cyclists participating in the event will be raising money to help fund vital work that aims to prevent, cure or treat conditions that devastate the lives of many thousands of babies and children and their families.

Mark Trott, UK Cycling Development Manager for Action Medical Research, said: “The Essex 100 will be cyclists’ last chance in 2009 to make a century with Action Medical Research and what better place to do it than from the home of Essex cricket? We’re really bowled over to have the opportunity to start our new ride from such a unique location. We are hugely grateful to Essex County Cricket Club for their support.”

For more information and to register to ride in the Essex 100, visit www.action.org.uk/essex100.

The last Action Medical Research charity ride saw a team of TV doctors, made up of Dawn Harper, Pixie McKenna, Sarah Jarvis and Rob Hicks, cycle a four-day 300-mile London to Paris bike ride in July for the charity’s Touching Tiny Lives appeal.