Legal executive Alastair Wareham wanted to take part in Huddersfield Town’s Pedal for Pounds charity bike ride again – but couldn’t spare the four days off work.

So he decided to complete the 210-mile London to Huddersfield epic in just 14 HOURS.

Alastair, 29, who works at Huddersfield law firm Chadwick Lawrence, captained Town chairman Dean Hoyle’s team on last year’s Tour de Yorkshire ride.

He couldn’t justify taking so much time off this year but his boss Jeremy Garside twisted his arm and said: “If you can’t do it in four days, what about one day?”

Alastair said: “You don’t say ‘no’ to your senior partner and so we set about working out how we could do it.”

Cyclist Alastair Wareham who took part in last year's Pedal for Pounds ride and captained Town chairman Dean Hoyle's team
Cyclist Alastair Wareham who took part in last year's Pedal for Pounds ride and captained Town chairman Dean Hoyle's team

Cycle racer Alastair, who lives in Taylor Hill with wife Lyndsey, 28, enlisted the support of colleagues and the challenge was on.

Town fan Alastair and solicitor Tom Rogers, 40, from the firm’s Wakefield office will both do the ride while Jeremy, Alasdair Urwin, Peter Harling and Lyndsey will make up the support crew.

They will follow the riders in a camper van provided by Shepley-based Wellhouse Leisure and a brand new BMW X3 loaned by Sandal BMW, of Huddersfield.

The 200-plus Pedal for Pounds riders leave Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium on Wednesday arriving at the John Smith’s Stadium ahead of Town’s final home game of the season against Leicester on the Saturday.

The ride was chosen to celebrate legendary Town boss Herbert Chapman who led the club to two of their three First Division championships and an FA Cup in the 1920s before leaving for Arsenal in 1925 where he repeated the feat.

Alastair, a time trial cycle racer with Hull-based Team Swift, and experienced long-distance rider Tom need to average at least 14mph to make it back in time.

They will set off at 10pm on Friday and Alastair said: “It’s the night riding and lack of sleep I am not looking forward to.

“We will probably ride non-stop apart from a few comfort breaks. There won’t be much time for sleep. If we can get ahead we might get a 15-minute nap but that’s all.”

Last year Alastair raised £1,000 for the Keep It Up Campaign, which splits funds between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Town’s Academy. The target this time is £5,000.

The helicopter was called out when one of Alastair’s friends, Lenny Grayson, 75, was killed on a cycle event in 2012 on the A19 near Thirsk.

“It’s a great cause,” said Alastair.

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