From Humble Beginnings
Scone Runs evolved in the mid-1990s when Mike Williams (of Mike, Laurie and Al fame), Bermuda import Frank Hesketh (he of Frankie Goes to Orrisdale fame), the infamous Lionel Cowin and one or two more golden oldies started going out for regular Saturday morning social rides over the northern plains, starting from Mike’s house in Kirk Michael.
As all were members of the Ellan Vannin Cycling Club it soon became the nucleus of the club’s regular chain gangs, catering for all ages from teenagers to OAPs.
Others such as Stewart Bennett, mountain bike converts Geoff Ennett, John Watterson and Mike Duffy joined the ranks.
Former club chairman Nick Corkill, a member of the Isle of Man’s road race team at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica – when Manx born Peter Buckley famously won the gold medal – was another regular and popular member of the group before a debilitating illness restricted his mobility in 2006. He is now making a steady recovery and is determined to return to the fold for the group’s annual Christmas ride in 2008.
Jacqui Fletcher and Sharon Watterson, two of the Island’s leading female riders around the turn of the century, became regulars, the latter being quite new to the sport but soon to join Jacqui at Island and Commonwealth Games level.
Cayley Ennett continued the fragrant theme and was initially seen riding with her parents and the rest of the rapidly expanding group at the age of 13. She has since become a national time trial champion at junior level and an Island Games silver-medallist at senior level.
Thomas Mazzone is another rising young star from the ranks, while others include a number of regular triathletes and one or two notable motorcycle road racers, including TT ace Conor Cummins. All use the rides to improve their general fitness and gain experience riding in larger groups in a relatively safe and friendly environment.
The northern plains, as the description suggests, generally encompasses the wide open, relatively flat and lumpy areas in the far north and north west of the Isle of Man exposed after the Ice Age. It makes excellent cycling terrain with endless quiet lanes and roads, beautiful coastal scenery and sheltered curragh areas.
Along the way, a regular comfort break is made at the public conveniences in either Andreas and/or Bride villages, but the main roads are avoided where at all possible.
The highlight of the ride for many are the marvellous scones and jam, tea and coffee stops at the Sulby Glen Hotel on the TT Course in Sulby village. Originally, the coffee breaks were made at the Swimming Pool café in Ramsey, but the venue changed to the Sulby Glen when the scone-maker gravitated there.
On pleasant summer and spring days the refreshments are enjoyed on the bench seats and tables outside the popular hostelry, but on cold winter days the warmth of a welcome coal fire is infinitely more attractive. The rides are timed to converge at the Sulby Glen Hotel around 11.30am, where members of the Isle of Man Fellowship of Veteran Cyclists also meet after a shorter ride in the plains.
All riders are most welcome to partake of the cycling, pleasant countryside, excellent camaraderie, coffee and scones and it is not necessary to be a member of the Ellan Vannin Cycling Club, though it is warmly encouraged:-)