You can now find the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge on Facebook:
Planning for SQ2SQ 2011 is underway
February 11, 2010 By
Planning for the next Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge, SQ2SQ 2011, is now underway.
Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2011 will see a team of cyclists complete the challenge of cycling 1,400 to 1,600 miles each in 14 days from St Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight to Casemates Square, Gibraltar in September 2011.
A formal launch will take place in September 2010, when fundraising and promotion will start for the chosen charities.
The cyclist and support crew are now working hard to ensure the challenge is a great success.
Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2011 follows on from challenges completed in 2005 and 2008 which have raised £86,500 for charity to date; in 2005 the team cycled 1,014 miles in 14 days from the Isle of Wight to Prague, Czech Republic, whilst in 2008 the team cycled 1,488 miles in 15 days from the Isle of Wight to the Vatican, Italy.
SQ2SQ 2008 Team complete their challenge.
September 18, 2008 By
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 Team complete their challenge, 1,488 miles in 15 days.
The challenge sawa team of Isle of Wight Firefighters cycling 1,488 miles each over 15 days from St Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight, Great Britain to St Peter’s Square, Vatican, Italy, including round the island on the departure day.
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 Appeal is raising money for the diagnosis, treatment and care of Isle of Wight cancer and leukaemia patients. The total raised to date is £57,500, with the current target of £60,000; the original target set on launch of the challenge in August 2007 was £25,000. The appeal has received tremendous support from the public, as well as local, national and international businesses.
The challenge is dedicated to and in memory of Anthony Minghella, CBE, by kind permission of his parents.
The SQ2SQ 2008 Team comprised of ten cyclists and five support crew and they will start their departure day with a cycle around the Isle of Wight, starting at 8am from St Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight on Saturday 30th August 2008.
SQ2SQ 2008 Team prepares for departure on Saturday 30 August 2008
August 18, 2008 By
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 starts on Saturday 30th August 2008.
The challenge will see a team of Isle of Wight Firefighters cycling 1,400 miles each over 14 days from St Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight, Great Britain to St Peter’s Square, Vatican, Italy.
The Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 Appeal is raising money for the diagnosis, treatment and care of Isle of Wight cancer and leukaemia patients. The total raised to date is £57,500, with the current target of £60,000; the original target set on launch of the challenge in August 2007 was £25,000. The appeal has received tremendous support from the public, as well as local, national and international businesses.
The challenge is dedicated to and in memory of Anthony Minghella, CBE, by kind permission of his parents.
The SQ2SQ 2008 Team comprises of ten cyclists and five support crew and they will start their departure day with a cycle around the Isle of Wight, starting at 8am from St Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight on Saturday 30th August 2008.
During this circuit of the island they will be calling at all ten Isle of Wight Fire Stations, returning to St Thomas’ Square, Newport at approximately 2pm.
The SQ2SQ 2008 Team then rest for a few hours before returning to St Thomas’ Square, Newport at 6.30pm for the send off, with a speech from the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight and the Chief Fire Officer, Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service.
The Team then leave the square at 7pm.
Sincere thanks to Mark Adams, of British Cycling, for his kind assistance and knowledge in planning the route.
SQ2SQ CHARITY CYCLE CHALLENGE 2008 ROUTE AND DAILY SCHEDULE
The SQ2SQ Team 2008 will be cycling a minimum of 1,400 miles each over 14 days.
DA PIAZZA A PIAZZA Sfida ciclistica per beneficienza 2008
DE PLACE À PLACE Défi charitable en vélo 2008
Saturday 30 August 2008 to 13th September 2008: Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge starts -
Provisional timetable (subject to confirmation near the date of the start of the challenge).
8am leave Newport Fire Station – SQ2SQ cycling around the island calling at all fire stations – anti-clockwise direction – circa 70 miles
A1 (Newport) – A10 (Yarmouth) via St Thomas’ Square
Start time 0755 hrs from Newport Fire Station to St Thomas’ Square
08.00hrs leave St Thomas’ Square to A10 (Yarmouth)
Arrive A10 (Yarmouth) approx 0840 hrs. Depart 0845 hrs
Arrive A9 (Freshwater) approx 0900 hrs. Depart 0905 hrs
Arrive A8 (Ventnor) approx 1030 hrs. Depart 1035 hrs
Arrive A7 (Shanklin) approx 1050 hrs. Depart 1055 hrs
Arrive A6 (Sandown) approx 1110 hrs. Depart 1115 hrs
Arrive A5 (Bembridge) approx 1145 hrs. Depart 1205 hrs(20 min lunch break)
Arrive A4 (Ryde) approx 1230 hrs. Depart 1235 hrs
Arrive A3 (East Cowes) approx 1305 hrs. Depart 1310 hrs
Arrive A2 (Cowes) approx 1320 hrs. Depart 1325 hrs
Arrive St Thomas’s Square 1345 hrs.
2 to 2.30pm approx. return to Newport Fire Station
6.30pm St Thomas’ Square – Attended by HM Lord Lieutenant and Mrs White, Chief Fire Officer Paul Street
7pm leave St Thomas’ Square
Wightlink ferry: Fishbourne to Portsmouth – 30th August 2008 (2008/08/30) – 8pm
LD Lines ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre- overnight on 30th August 2008 (2008/08/30) – 11pm – arrive Le Havre at 8am on 31st August (2008/08/31).
The distances are conservative, for many of the days the distances will be plus 10 miles.
Day 1: Sunday 31 August 2008: Le Havre , France to Evreux, France – 105 miles/169km
Day 2: Monday 1 September 2008: Evreux, France to Orleans, France – 102 miles/164km
Day 3: Tuesday 2 September 2008: Orleans, France to Nevers, France – 101 miles/163km
Day 4: Wednesday 3 September 2008: Nevers, France to Roanne, France – 106 miles/171km
Day 5: Thursday 4 September 2008: Roanne, France to Creys Mepieu, France – 107 miles/172km
Day 6: Friday 5 September 2008: Creys Mepieu, France to Briancon, France – 105 miles/169km
Day 7: Saturday 6 September 2008: Briancon, France to Asti, Italy – 101 miles/163km
Day 8: Sunday 7 September 2008: Asti, Italy to Milan, Italy – 100 miles/161km
Day 9: Monday 8 September 2008: Milan, Italy to Palma, Italy – 100 miles/161km
Day 10: Tuesday 9 September 2008: Palma, Italy to Ostellato, Italy – 98 miles/158km
Civic reception from Ostellato Town Mayor.
Day 11: Wednesday 10 September 2008: Ostellato, Italy to Forli, Italy – 100 miles/161km
Day 12: Thursday 11 September 2008: Forli, Italy to Siena, Italy – 91 miles/146km
Day 13: Friday 12 September 2008: Siena, Italy to Sutri, Italy – 103 miles/166km
Day 14: Saturday 13 September 2008: Sutri, Italy to St Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Italy – 40 miles/64km
The distances are conservative, for many of the days the distances will be plus 10 miles/16km.
Updates for the route will be shown on this page.
The route shown below is as accurate as possible within the limitations of Google Maps systems.
The total distance will exceed 1,400 miles due to the need to use minor roads.
SQ2SQ 2008 Team complete training weekend in New Forest.
July 31, 2008 By
The SQ2SQ 2008 Team complete a training weekend in the New Forest
Over the weekend of Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July 2008 the SQ2SQ 2008 Team completed 180 miles of cycle training in the New Forest.
The training weekend was designed to give the team an idea of what it will be like to complete near 100 miles per day back to back. For many of the cyclists this would be the first time they would have completed such a mileage on back to back days.
SQ2SQ 2008 cyclists on their training weekend in the New Forest
It was their first opportunity to complete some cycle training with one of the team, Mark Adams, who passed on much of his cycle coaching knowledge from his work in British Cycling.
Mark also planned the weekend, with the routes around an area where is a good knowledge of the terrain.
The training was over varied terrain in superb, but hot weather.
Cyclists were able to gain important knowledge about riding as a larger group consistently over 90 miles each day, as well as dealing with fluids and food in the heat.
Pace was a consistent average of 15-16mph, with the team covering 50 miles in around 3 hours 15 mins in the saddle.
This pace ensures that the team are on target to complete a similar pace for the challenge, with 100 miles completed in around 8 hours per day, including breaks.
SQ2SQ 2008 cyclists on their training weekend in the New Forest
The support crew were also able to gain valuable experience and an insight into the challenges that will face them providing support for the challenge.
Again the generosity of the public and businesses coming to the fore.
Forest Holidays Hollands Wood camp site in Brokenhurst kindly provided camping facilities free of charge and generously donated £50 to the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal.
A member of the public donated £10 to the team during the training ride and two couples donated £30 between then whilst the team were eating a meal in a local pub.
Thank you.
Some of the SQ2SQ 2008 cyclists are photographed here during their training ride and during a break.
Henry the Bear from St Mary’s Primary School, Ryde, Isle of Wight also makes an appearance, joining the team for the first time on their training.
Henry the Bear is one of the mascots for St Mary’s Primary School and he has travelled all around the world on various trips.
Henry the Bear will be joining the team whilst they complete the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008.
Photograph to left: from left to right: Darren Bacon, Mark Adams, Gareth Drisoll, Henry the Bear, Andy Cooper, Ian Rock.
Statistics for each day of the training rides appear below – heart rate and calories stats relate specifically to Coops.
Training ride: 27 July 2008:
Route: Day One: SQ2SQ 2008 training weekend in the New Forest
Cycle Training: road cycling
Distance: 90 miles
Time: 5:51
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,603 m / -1,609 m
Min/Max Elevation: 0 m / 169 m
Avg Speed: 15.3 mph
Max Speed: 34.1 mph
Heart rate average: 123 bpm
Heart rate max: 147 bpm
Calories used: 4,617 kcals
Training ride: 26 July 2008:
Route: Day Two: SQ2SQ 2008 training weekend in the New Forest
Cycle Training: road cycling
Distance: 90 miles
Time: 5:35
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,704 m / -1,662 m
Min/Max Elevation: 0 m / 169 m
Avg Speed: 15.7 mph
Max Speed: 38.8 mph
Heart rate average: 125 bpm
Heart rate max: 166 bpm
Calories used: 4,574 kcals
Wessex Cancer Trust West Wight Group raise £2500 for the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal.
July 12, 2008 By
Wessex Cancer Trust West Wight Group raise £2500 for the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal
The Wessex Cancer Trust West Wight Group raised and donated £2,500 for the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal.
These hardworking fundrasisers for the Wessex Cancer Trust kindly donated the £2,500 to the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal at a meeting on Thursday 10th July 2008.
Wessex Cancer Trust West Wight Group raise £2500 for the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal
Andrew Cooper, co-organiser of SQ2SQ 2008, expressed his gratitude to those present at the meeting “This is a superb effort by all involved in the WCT West Wight Group. Fundraising is hard work and few realise this until they are involved themselves. This latest donation of £2,500 brings our total raised to an amazing £43,762.92 since the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal was launched in August 2007.
The ladies in the WCT West Wight Group have been involved with SQ2SQ 2008 from the outset and their involvement is invaluable to making it a success.”
Sincere thanks from all the SQ2SQ 2008 Team for the donation from the WCT West Wight Group.
The SQ2SQ 2008 appeal total is now raised to £43,762.92.
SQ2SQ 2008 Grand Prize Draw tickets now available
July 11, 2008 By
Tickets for the SQ2SQ 2008 Grand Prize Draw are now available
The SQ2SQ 2008 team are pleased to announce the availability of the SQ2SQ 2008 Grand Prize Draw tickets, with the main prize of a bike and accessories worth £600 kindly donated by Wight Mountain, Newport, Isle of Wight.
There are more prizes available: see here for a list of the prizes in the SQ2SQ 2008 Grand Prize Draw
If you are able to help us with prize draw prizes or selling of the prize draw tickets please contact us here.
The SQ2SQ 2008 Grand Prize Prize Draw tickets cost £1 each or in a book of five tickets at £5.
All proceeds from the sale of the prize draw tickets will go to the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge Appeal 2008 for the diagnosis, treatment and care of cancer and leukaemia patients.
The SQ2SQ Team and supporters will be promoting and selling the prize draw tickets at various events and locations on the Island.
SQ2SQ 2008 GRAND PRIZE DRAW
c/o Fire Station
South Street
NEWPORT
Isle of Wight
PO30 1JQ
Please allow 7 to 14 days for receipt of your SQ2SQ 2008 Isle of Wight Prize Draw tickets.
The prize draw takes place on Saturday 25th October 2008 at Cowes Yacht Haven, Isle of Wight from 7pm.
vectis Quilters raise £1,150 with prize draw for SQ2SQ 2008 appeal.
July 11, 2008 By
The Vectis Quilters of Newport, Isle of Wight kindly raise £1,150 with prize draw for the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal
A group of quilters on the Isle of Wight manage to raise an impressive £1,150 from their prize draw to win a quilt, with the funds raised going to the SQ2SQ 2008 appeal.
Vectis Quilters raise £1,150 with prize draw for SQ2SQ 2008 appeal.
The Vectis Quilters group presented their cheque to Kelvin Wright and his colleagues from Green Watch at Newport Fire Station on Thursday 10th July 2008.
Sincere thanks from the SQ2SQ 2008 Team for all the hardwork of the Vectis Quilters in not selling the prize draw tickets and raising £1,150 for the appeal, but also making the quilt for the draw.
The SQ2SQ 2008 appeal total is now raised to £41,213.04.
Trimble Mobile Resource Management complete fitting of tracking and WiFi equipment to SQ2SQ 2008 support vehicles
July 9, 2008 By
Tracking and WiFi equipment is fitted to support vehicles by Trimble Mobile Resource Management
A team of engineers from Trimble Mobile Resouce Management, based in Ipswich, Suffolk, visited the Isle of Wight recently to complete the fitting of tracking and WiFi equipment to the two support vehicles for the Square to Square Charity Cycle Challenge 2008.
Trimble Mobile Resource Management (MRM) is a leading, global provider of end-to-end Mobile Resource Management solutions designed to help businesses optimize fleet performance and the service delivery process by automating the management of their mobile workers, their mobile workers’ work and their mobile workers’ assets in the field.
The equipment fitted to the SQ2SQ 2008 support vehicles will allow the team to be tracked online by visitors to the SQ2SQ website, as well as allowing the team to update the SQ2SQ website and communicate with family and friends, as well as school pupils who may be contacting the team.
The sophisticated system will show the distance and speed of the challenge as the cyclists progress on their 1,400 mile trip through France, over the Alps into Italy and onto St Peter’s Square, Vatican City.
More details of how the team can be tracked and contacted will be released nearer to the date for the start of the challenge.
Sincere thanks from the SQ2SQ 2008 Team to Trimble Mobile Resource Management for their time and generosity in helping the team with their challenge.
The SQ2SQ Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 will see a team of Isle of Wight firefigthers cycling 1,400 miles each from St Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight to St Peter’s Square, Vatican, Italy in September 2008.
The Team start their challenge on Saturday 30th August 2008.
Trimble Mobile Resource Management
SQ2SQ Team exceed their target of raising £40,000 for the diagnosis, treatment and care of Isle of Wight cancer and leukemia patients
July 9, 2008 By
SQ2SQ Team exceed their target of raising £40,000 for the diagnosis, treatment and care of Isle of Wight cancer and leukemia patient after eight months of fundraising
Following the kind donation of £1,000 from Shanklin Fire Station Social and Sports Club, along with the recent auction of eBay for two Bestival tickets raising £468, the SQ2SQ Team 2008 are pleased to announce that the target of £40,000 has been exceeded.
This is fantastic news and a reflection of the response from the public and businesses to the appeal, along with the hard work and time devoted to the challenge appeal since the appeal was launched in August 2007.
Back in May 2008 the SQ2SQ 2008 Team were pleased to announce that they had exceeded their original target of £25,000 and then raised their target to £40,000.
“We have been overwhelmed by the amount of public support and enthusiasm for this event, said Andrew Cooper, co-organiser of SQ2SQ 2008. Not only people keen to support an event that will provide equipment to be used locally in the fight against cancer, they are also interested in the unusual nature or the ride.
However, our fundraising efforts do not stop on reaching our second target and we are now raising our target once more to £60,000.”
Although primarily aimed at raising money, the ride is also keen to raise issues such as the benefits of keeping fit. As part of that, the Team have attended over 30 school assemblies promoting the challenge and British Cycling’s Go-Ride cycling development programme and explaining to pupils how they can get involved and complete their own mini Square to Square.”
The SQ2SQ Charity Cycle Challenge Appeal 2008 total now stands at £40,063 (as at 9 July 2008). A big thank you to all who have kindly donated to the appeal to date.
The money has been donated by many individuals, business and groups, along with the SQ2SQ Team 2008 fundraising with various events including charity car washes, collections at local stores and other promotional events.
The SQ2SQ Team are to continue their fundraising efforts and the target has now been raised to £60,000.
The SQ2SQ 2008 Team will be at Sainsburys, Newport from 9am on Saturday 12th July fundraising by bag packing for customers in return for donations.
The SQ2SQ Team 2008 have recently completed their visit to Isle of Wight schools as part of their promotion for the SQ2SQ Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 and the roll out of British Cycling’s Go-Ride scheme for all Isle of Wight pupils.
The SQ2SQ Charity Cycle Challenge 2008 will see a team of Isle of Wight firefigthers cycling 1,400 miles each from St Thomas’ Square, Newport, Isle of Wight to St Peter’s Square, Vatican, Italy in September 2008.
The Team start their challenge on Saturday 30th August 2008.