Knaresborough Cycling Club is set to host a family bike ride to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire.

The club was established in the same year, 2014, as a legacy project and this will be its third official family bike ride.

The club have teamed up with the Knaresborough Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts (FEVA) to host this year’s event. The ride will be held on August 11 starting at Conyngham Hall at 10am and will be cycling along the Ripley Greenway to Ripley Town Hall.

There are 66 members in the club and the event is open to 100 people. The ride is free to attend, although organisers encourage people to donate to Martin House Hospital.

Knaresborough cycling club family bike ride 2019

Amanda Stott, Chair of the Knaresborough Cycling Club said:

“We are blessed to have such a beautiful route. I would encourage people to come and join us and just be a part of it. It is incredible to think it has been ten years (since the Tour de France) time has flown and we are excited to celebrate it.”

Lots of people don’t get on a bike because they are worried about various things but we are here to support them. But there will be support all the way along the ride to encourage them, deal with any bike maintenance, and keep riders safe on the route as they wind their way at their own pace to Ripley.”

Refreshments will be served at the Village Hall before riders make their way back home.

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A dog from Ripley has become the first to claim every mountain in England, according to its owner.

Jon Birtle, a civil engineer, and Bentley, a nine-year-old Yorkshire Jack Russell terrier, completed the challenge this month.

Mr Birtle said Bentley had become the first dog to ever climb all of the mountains in England.

Their escapades date back to 2019 when Mr Birtle turned 50 and wanted to “do something out of the ordinary”.

So to celebrate his landmark birthday, the pair set out to climb Pen-y-ghent in the Yorkshire Dales. They enjoyed the challenge so much Mr Birtle decided to attempt the other two Yorkshire peaks with Bentley.

After that, Mr Birtle began researching all of Yorkshire’s mountains.

After climbing all 41, he upgraded the challenge to taking on all 180 mountains in England above 2,000 feet (610 metres), which are classed as Hewitts.

The pair battled bad weather, lockdowns, exclusion zones and injuries to complete this feat.

Man and dog averaged a climb every three weeks over five years in an adventure that has taken them from the Yorkshire Dales to the Peak District, the Lake District and Dartmoor.

They trekked over 600 miles and Bentley has recorded over half a million steps. Their climbs have now achieved the equivalent of scaling Mt Everest more than 15 times.

Bentley on Scafell in Cumbria

Mr Birtle took a date stamped photo of Bentley on every summit and soon amassed a keen following on social media who watched their journey.

He said:

“Our last summit was a bit emotional. Five years ago I didn’t even like walking now we have climbed every mountain in England. There are plenty of times I have wanted to turn around and Bentley has been running up in front, so we have pushed on.”

“We are going to carry on doing something, I love it and Bentley lives for it. As soon as I get my backpack on, he knows we are going. He is always in front waiting for me up the mountains, it is good for us both. Bentley may be nine, but he is still fit, I’m probably going to have to retire before him.”

After each mountain climb, the pair finished the day in a pub to celebrate with a lager and a treat for Bentley.

Mr Birtle added:

“My favourites have been Pen-y-ghent, because it was our first and was a wonderful experience, and Fountains Fell, which we did twice because I loved it. The most challenging has been the harshness of the North Pennines where there are almost no paths — it is a bit like a maze.

“The mental health aspect has been great, all the pressures of life are left up at the top of the mountain – it is like a soul cleanser.”

Jon Birtle and Bentley at Crag Hill summit.

Mr Birtle said he is now looking at taking on more long walks and is considering a coast-to-coast route for his next challenge.

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(Image above: a Frank Sinatra tribute act is performing on Easter Monday at Grantley Hall)

Easter has come early this year and there are some brilliant activities this weekend – see our 7 Easter activities to keep the kids entertained – but aside from this there are other goings-on in and around Harrogate; read on for inspiration aplenty…

Watch a Frank Sinatra tribute act at Grantley Hall

Listen to Phil Fryer belt out some of the most iconic Frank Sinatra songs of all time including My Way, Strangers In The Night and Come Fly With Me.

Dining during the performance is already fully booked for the event, but guests can sip drinks and enjoy the show in newly relaunched The Orchard’s lounge area where Phil will perform some of Frank’s biggest hits. Or you can always make a reservation to dine in Fletchers restaurant pre- or post-show instead.

Free, limited spaces available, first come, first serve, 1.30pm-3pm, April 1, Grantley Hall, Ripon, HG4 3ET.

Learn how to make pasta from scratch

Pixaby

If you’re walking or up in the Yorkshire Dales this Easter weekend and you fancy trying your hand at something a little bit different, why not take part in a pasta making workshop?

Keld resident Chris Giles demonstrates how you can make pasta from scratch using no specialist equipment. All ingredients are included, and afterwards you can savour the fruits of your labour with a hearty bowl of what you’ve cooked.

£30, March 31, 1-4pm, The Keld Resource Centre, Keld, Richmond, DL11 6LJ.

Take part in traditional Yorkshire Dales dancing 

Nidd Music and Dance

Did you know that there’s traditional music and dances that derive from Yorkshire Dales’ villages? Help to keep it alive by taking part in this event at Ripley Town Hall.

Each traditional Dales dance such as the Kendal Ghyll and the Huntsman’s Chorus is explained and walked through before you dance to them, all to the background of live folk music.

Free for children, £10 for adults, 6.30pm-10pm, March 30, Ripley Town Hall, HG3 3AX.

Visit Ripley Castle Markets

Ripley Castle Markets

Taking place on the last Sunday of every month from February to December, this month Ripley Castle Markets is holding a seasonal market. It will bring together more than 40 independent local artisans, producers and creatives to showcase their wares all to the backdrop of the Grade I listed building.

Goodies and treats that will be available include breads and cakes from Baltzersen’s, Skipton’s Antony’s Biltong, cookie boxes from Carlton Kitchen, cheeses from Wharfedale Fine Cheeses, plus something for your four-legged friends, as well as present ideas inspiration aplenty.

You can make a day of it too as on market day, the castle and grounds are free to visit. And there will be extra Easter activities including a bunny hunt, children’s craft activities – click here for more information – and guided tours of the castle.

Free, there’s an additional cost for the children’s craft activities and castle tours and pre-booking for these is advised, March 31, 10am-3pm, Ripley Castle, HG3 3AY.

Laugh out loud at a comedy show

Harrogate Theatre

If you’ve not yet been to one of the regular Hyena Lounge Comedy Club nights at Harrogate Theatre, this Saturday could be the opportune occasion as there’s a trio of brilliant stand-up comedians including Hal Cruttenden, Simon Evans and Jenny Hart, all led by the compere for the night, Danny McLoughlin.

From £20, 8pm, March 30, Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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