Paul Bowman is a New Zealand-born village cricketer based in London. But today he’s swapping his whites for lycra and hitting the road in a very good cause. So what’s he doing, and why? Here’s Paul to explain…
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Let’s open with a simple quiz: what do Hamish Marshall and yours truly have in common? Assuming that we’ve met or you know of me then you probably answered that we are both Kiwis playing cricket on this side of the world. You aren’t too wide of the mark, but the correct answer has slightly more to it than that.
Here’s another clue. What if I toss into the mix the names Marcus Trescothick, Phil Mustard, Alan Mullally, Graham Napier, Freddy Flintoff, and (Assistant CEO of the Professional Cricketers Association) Jason Ratcliffe? I’m guessing that trying to find a reason to place me among this mix of cricketing luminaries might have you stumped.
The full answer is that we are all part of a team of more than sixty members of the cricket family who have pitched in to be a part of The Big Bike Ride – a 441 mile, five-day cycle from Durham’s International Cricket Ground to Lord’s, via Headingley, Old Trafford, Trent Bridge, Derby, Leicester and Northampton.
This marathon ride isn’t just for our fun, though, or some new style of cross-training designed to get everyone fit for next season (I have no doubt thought that this event will amply provide for these on both counts). There is a very serious side to this event, as it’s raising money for two very worthy causes: the PCA Benevolent Fund, and the Tom Maynard Trust. There is a wealth of information online about the great work that both these organisations are doing so I’m not going to repeat it here, but I would like to highlight some great recent interviews with Tresco in The Guardian, and Cricinfo for further reading.
Back to me and the question of why I’m part of this. I’m riding this in memory of Tom. Like many other members of the cricket family I was deeply shocked to hear of his loss. I’m sure that you too have seen and enjoyed first-hand the lifestyle that intrinsically goes in partnership with playing and supporting every level of our game.
Having a laugh and enjoying the company of your mates is fine, but excesses of this lifestyle can and regularly do catch people out regardless of whether it’s pub (the clue is in the name) and friendly cricket, or right up at the top end of the international game (‘celebrating’ on the Oval wicket, a ‘dopey’ brai on tour in South Africa, taking a trip on a pedalo at the World Cup, to name a few). I’m also sure that like me you would never want to see these excesses culminate in a repeat of the tragic events that played out in SW11 last summer.
So when the opportunity presented itself to support the work of the Tom Maynard Trust, to help something good come from this tragedy, and give something back to the game that’s given me so much, I had no hesitation in signing up. I’d love to test myself by being out there for all five days, but circumstances dictate I can only take guard today, on day five of the event, and ride the final 85 miles from Northamptonshire’s County Ground to the home of cricket in St John’s Wood.
If after reading this you’d also like to take this chance to give something back to our great game, then I’d be very grateful if you could make a donation of any size either in my name, or via one of the other riders you support, or direct to the overall event fund. A highly challenging fundraising target has been set for us to chase down, and every donation will help the two charities to build on the invaluable work they are already doing. Thank you to event sponsors Brewin Dolphin and Cotswolds Cycles, and everyone else involved – as without you this event wouldn’t be taking place.
The ride got under way on Friday 18th October, and the daily route can be viewed on the main event page. If you live along the route please pop outside and cheer us on – and the grand finale will see everyone arriving at Lords around 4pm today, Tuesday 22nd October. You can also follow the event in real time on Twitter at @Big_Bike_Ride, and my own progress at @the_other_kp
