What happened on the Midi-Smiddy ride? Anna was one of the 60 Smiddy riders that completed the challenge, and helped raised over $160,000 for cancer research. Thank you to all the Vision Triathlon club members who donated!!
Read the following report written by Mark 'Sharky' Smoothy. To find out more about the event and the cause, please check the Smiling for Smiddy website, www.smiddy.org.au.
The inaugural Bottlemart Midi-Smiddy was a wonderful success with the team completing an epic three days that turned into a tale of survival with long days in the saddle and some incredibly bad weather. The ‘Midi’, a spin off from the annual 1600 kilometre Challenge event in September, was a 560 kilometre three day cycle around south east Queensland, taking in Toowoomba and Warwick before returning to Brisbane.
Day One: Brisbane to Toowoomba, 205kms
On Friday 28 May a team of 60 cyclists, including Australian Paralympic champion Michael Milton, a road crew of 10 and film crew, left the University of Queensland at 6.30am. The day’s stage was to be the only one that didn’t see the cyclists saturated by constant rain or buffeting winds that hit the group on days two and three. The highlight of the day was of course the King and Queen of the Mountain awards up the four kilometre lung-busting Flagstone Creek Range, and this was won convincingly by Tim Gado and Emma Coman-Jeffries. The team enjoyed a great feed and a few drinks at Bottlemart’s Southern Hotel while looking back on the day’s achievement.
Day Two: Toowoomba to Warwick, 160kms
Toowoomba has been in drought for seven years, the dams were under 10 per cent capacity and despite all the rain that Queensland has been hit with in the past six months, very little of it actually made it to Toowoomba. That was until 60 cyclists rode into town. At precisely 7:30am, as the riders commenced day two, the heavens opened. Mother Nature threw in a stiff cross wind and bone numbing chilling temperatures to also test our mettle. By the time we rolled into Pittsworth some three hours later, most of the riders were chilled to the bone and looking forward to the sheltered morning tea stop compliments of the local Bottlemart pub. 20 minutes later it was time to move and while the rain had stopped, the lacerating icy winds were making their presence felt.
Next stop was for lunch at the Clifton O’Shanley’s Irish Pub, where owners Kathleen and Fletch O’Shanley warmed all the riders with a hearty Irish Stew - surely the greatest tasting stew in living memory! The remaining kilometres into Warwick were enjoyed with a slight tailwind, which helped the group recover lost time and arrive only 45 minutes behind schedule. Southern Downs Regional Council Mayor Ron Bellingham and Professor Ian Fraser (2006 Australian of the Year for his cervical cancer vaccine) were there to see the team ride in and be part of the Smiddy huddle - basically a big group hug with lots of cheering!
The only downside to the day was seeing three riders go down in the wet, treacherous conditions. All bounced up ok but unfortunately Sue Laird was unable to continue due to a hand injury.
The night’s entertainment brought together the Smiddy team and the local community with Smiddy rider Michael Milton as guest speaker. Michael’s performance over the past two days was nothing other than inspirational for the riders and road crew. Michael’s 30 minute presentation was heartfelt and thought provoking and is a night we will all remember for a long time.
The beds at Bottlemart’s Horse & Jockey Hotel Motel were well received by the team!
Day Three: Warwick to Brisbane, 218kms
You could hear the groans as right on cue when we were about to leave at 6:30am the rain came down once again. It was a teeth chattering, bone numbing start to the day. The climb up to Queen Mary Falls and onto The Head lookout will always be remembered for the freezing winds that cut through our clothing as if we wore none at all! The wet, blustery conditions made descending dangerous and a few riders opted to get a lift down two of the more hair-raising descents.
It was a long, hilly cold day that saw the peloton lose time as the day went on. A mad dash for home after Ipswich saw us make some time to eventually arrive close on 6pm – almost an hour after we were expected in. The reception we received was most welcomed by the riders and crew as up to 100 or so family and friends lined Park Road to enthusiastically cheer us in.
The first Midi-Smiddy has smashed our original fundraising goal $100,000 and we’re closing in on the $150,000 mark. Thank you to our great sponsors Bottlemart, Sunsuper, Daikin and Hitachi, and other partners. Without them and of course our donors and the commitment from the riders and road crew none of this would have been possible.
Once again the Smiddy spirit shone through and delivered an experience that will long be remembered!
Until next time.
Mark ‘Sharky’ Smoothy
See the video footage of the midi-Smiddy ride here!!!
