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Carten 2020/21
CARTEN100 2020 was cancelled on two occasions due to COVID-19 restrictions followed by a a cancellation in May 2021. We were determined to try to get the ride away and on the 18th September 2021 the ride finally happened with a rolling start and a new finish site at Tenby AFC. With a reduced entry, under the climate of COVID-19 capped at 1500, rather than our usual 2500, there was relief all round and a chance for our riders to get on the road and have some normality.
2020/21 Charities
Fundraising was reduced due to our capped entry number and the costs associated from the 3 cancellations, but to date the 2021 CARTEN100 has raised over £112,000 for our chosen charities. Velindre Cancer Care was our main beneficiary, but we also donated to a number of smaller charities including HOPE, PATCH, Blood Bike Wales and Horatio’s Garden as well as making donations to the charitable organisations helping us on ride day:
- Velindre Cancer Care
- National Association of Blood Bikes
- Horatio’s Garden
- HOPE
- Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship (PATCH)
- Tenby Sea Cadets
- Raglan Boys and Girls Club for their help in hosting us for a refreshment stop
- Burry Port RNLI for their help in hosting us for a refreshment stop
- Carmarthen Athletic RFC
Finally the ride happens!
CARTEN 2021 was the ride that nearly didn’t happen. In 2020 the ride was cancelled 2 times, in May and September due to COVID-19 restrictions and then cancelled again in May 2021. After a lot of work to make the ride as safe as possible, the ride took place on the 18th September. The ride started in Cardiff City Hall as previously, but the riders were able to roll straight away through the start and get going, no group briefing this year!
On the road, social distancing was not a problem, but at the feed stations did need some thought, though the reduced numbers did help. In Tenby, we decided a finish in the town square wouldn’t be suitable, so the finish was setup at Tenby AFC, a large spacious site which allowed the finish arch and the finish pavilion to be close by. The Tenby Lions and Tenby Sea Cadets both helped to make the finish work smoothly and get riders through to get food, drinks and collect their luggage.
The weather was kind until late afternoon when the rain set in, but relief all around was the main feeling. Bring on 2022.
We had a great photographer on the day, Polly Thomas who took shots at different stages, see if you can find yourself! follow the link above to the 2021 album. You are welcome to download them free of charge.
2020/21 Sponsors
Our fundraising campaign for 2020 came up against the COVID-19 restrictions, so as with the 2020 Olympics we carried the ride over to 2021. Good enough for them, good enough for us.
We are very grateful to our regular sponsors Resolve it, Tuborial, Romilly Financial, Bridgend Ford, Redrow, AD Gas Services, and Integral Geotechnique for their continued support. We were also delighted to welcome new sponsors , JCP Solicitors, FBM Holidays and Prostone on the CARTEN100 shirt for the first time. Thank you all very much for your very generous donations!
In addition to our shirt sponsors we also receive invaluable help and support from numerous other individuals and businesses. We would like to particularly thank Bridgend Ford and Sigma3 for their provision of support vans on the day of the ride. We would also like to thank those volunteers for their technical support on the day.