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Half-way there in Flight
of Earls cycle
11.07.08
A CLONMANY lecturer and
two friends have pedalled more than 1200km in just
eleven days so far in their Flight of the Earls
charity cycle.
On Tuesday, sports lecturer Michael Toland and his
old college pals Grahame Cleary and Damien Hardiman
reached the half-way point at Balsthal, Switzerland,
after leaving France and Belgium successfully behind
them. |
And they managed to
travel that marathon distance with just one fall,
two punctures, one broken wheel, and "one very nasty
gash".
"But it's all been worth it so far and more," said
Michael.
"Highlights have included the friendly French,
wonderful Leuven and the marvellous hospitality that
we received from Malachy Vallely and |
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all in the Irish
College there." The hardy trio also enjoyed the
"evocative town of Verdun with its haunting memories
of WW1" and the "awe inspiring scenery of the
mountains of Switzerland".
The aim is to cycle 2200km in 22 days. Among the
charities chosen to benefit from the charity
'flight' are the Donegal Hospice, Carndonagh hospice
services and the Irish Cancer Society.
The three pals started their marathon cycle on
Sunday, June 29, 2008 from Quillebeuf near Le Havre
in northern France. Their onwards journey is
currently taking in Rimini on the Adriatic coast and
then they veer south over the Apennines into Rome.
They are cycling an average of around 100km or
around 60 miles. The men's fundraising target is
€10,000 and so far they have managed to raise
€6,475.
To read more about the trip,
click here |
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