Shropshire Star feature writer ANDY RICHARDSON is hoping to raise £2,500 for charity on a mammoth cycle ride . . . and get home in one piece.

Tears, rain and a fashionably-late arrival by Deloitte Ride Across Britain founder James Cracknell have dominated the opening two days of the nine-day cycling marathon.

The event began at 7am on Saturday morning and 650 participants are planning to cycle a 1,000-mile route to Land’s End in just nine days.

The start was delayed by 10 minutes because the man who has launched the event was late.

Double Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell was heckled by good-humoured riders, who joked that he’d probably been enjoying himself in a luxury hotel – rather than braving the event campsite.

Shropshire Star writer Andy Richardson is among a number of county competitors who are hoping to complete the challenge.

He said: “It’s been fairly tough over the first two days, with heavy winds and rain. A number of people have been in tears and there have also been a few crashes.

“But people are encouraging one another to get through each day. The hardest days lie ahead, we’ve ridden just over 200 miles since Saturday morning.”

The Ride Across Britain route passes through Shropshire on Thursday, when competitors will have to scale the 1,600ft Long Mynd.

Mr Richardson added: “There’s been a lot of animated debate about the Shropshire leg because the Long Mynd marks the highest point of the route.

“A number of riders have pinpointed that stage as being one of the trickiest because they’ll have to scale the Long Mynd, having already ridden 700-plus miles.”

Ride Across Britain is generating a million pounds for the Great British Paralympic team and Telford-based paralympic horse rider Ricky Balshaw, who won silver at the Beijing Games, has backed the event.

Mr Richardson’s attempt is on course to raise £3,000 for the Hope House Children’s Hospice and readers can support the Oswestry-based charity by donating online at www.justgiving.com/ridingforhope