Dubbed the ‘Cefn peleton’, the trip took 15 cyclists, including Lewis and members of the Cefn club as well as participants from Pyle and Kenfig Hill rugby clubs, on a 44-mile round trip from the site of the proposed club house in Bridgend to Mumbles in Swansea.
The ‘Tour De Cefn’ raised in excess of £1,000 towards the club’s building fund and Lewis, who is also president of Cefn Cribwr, had been invited to wave the starting flag which sent the riders on their way.
But the WRU group chief exec went a step further and turned up at the event with his bicycle, crash helmet and lycra determined to take a full part, completing the course alongside fellow riders in a respectable 4hrs and 45 minutes.
“I couldn’t just turn up, blow the starter horn and wish them on their way,” said Lewis.
“The drive and enthusiasm that the organising committee have shown towards getting this project funded and off the ground and towards its continued fundraising is an example to all clubs out there of what can be achieved.
“The WRU wants everyone involved in the community game to be fully aware of the available funding streams which have resulted in almost £27 million being received by rugby clubs across Wales from the governing body over the past five years, with Cefn being an excellent example of how to do it.”
Cefn’s next fundraising event is the fourth Annual golf day ‘the Cefn Classic!’ on Friday 17th May – where sponsored celebrity laden teams of 4 pay £300 for a round of golf at Pyle & Kenfig, followed by a buffet and auction of donated prizes (one of which will be the signed spade that Warren Gatland used to ‘cut the first sod’ at the site of the new Cefn Club House).
International and former rugby internationals are invited to accompany each team around the course (with the likes of Gareth Edwards, Martyn Williams and Shane Williams all at last year’s event).
“We would like to thank all of the cyclists who took part, they travelled to Mumbles in the poorest of weather conditions, and eventually returned to the old club house in some sunshine, with the wind at their backs up the gruelling hill,” said Paul Wintle, Honorary General Secretary, Cefn Cribwr RFC.
“It was a great surprise to have Roger turn up to take part, especially as he began incognito with his cycle helmet firmly in place, and we would also like to thank him warmly for his efforts.”
The full cycling squad were Roger Lewis, Darwell Burnell, Darren Leyshon, Richard Stephens, Anthony Bates, Jeff Jones, Ryland Downs and Phil Davies (Organisers), Mike Kelly, Aled Jones, Jac Briggs, Sam Young, Chris Hooper, Chris Webster, Matthew Evans.
After all of the hard graft, and good fun, the ride is expected to raise more than £1000 towards the building fund.
Anyone wishing to help with fundraising or interested in the golf day should contact: Gwyn Hodges, Hill Top, Cefn Road, Cefn Cribwr, Bridgend, CF32 0B. Tel: 01656 740 277 or email: gwyn.hodges1@virgin.net
