SPAR-backed Wylam on Wheels cycle event returns

After its inaugural success in 2022 raising £5,000 for the community, the Wylam on Wheels cycle event returns to Northumberland’s roads this month.

Organised by the Wylam Sprockets Cycling Club and sponsored by SPAR, cyclists of all abilities will roll out of Wylam Jubilee Playing Field for the event on Sunday, 17 September as they tackle a choice of four different routes.

The beautiful Tyne Valley will be the backdrop to a ‘Couch to 25km’ route, a hillier ‘Challenger 60km’ route for those who cycle regularly, and a new ‘Super-Challenger 100km’ route for cyclists who want the toughest of challenges.

Those participating will cycle on a fully signposted and marshalled route, with feed stations along the way and mechanical assistance on the day if required.

The cost of entering the cycle event is £20 for adults and £5 for children who must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Also incorporated into the Sunday event this year is the Wylam Waggonway, an off-road route that is free of charge and open to cyclists of all ages and abilities. All types of bikes are welcome for the 6.3km route including adapted bikes for wheelchairs.

An afternoon tea will be held after the cycling and there will be live music entertainment from the Wild Women of Wylam, with all funds raised on the day going to the Wylam Jubilee Playing Field.

Places are still available for sign up and can be booked through the Wylam on Wheels website where further information on the event can also be found.

For the second year running the event is sponsored by SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR UK’s primary wholesaler and distributor for the North of England.

Long standing SPAR independent retailer Doug Bergstrand, who has his SPAR store in Wylam, is also providing a sponsorship contribution to the event.

“We are very grateful to SPAR for renewing its sponsorship of the event, and to Doug for his support too. The field is the village’s jewel in the crown, and it is fantastic that SPAR appreciate the value that it brings to community life in Wylam,” Sarah Grainger, from the Wylam Sprockets, said.

“It really is a great, sociable, community get-together as well as a cycle event, so we really are hoping to repeat the tremendous success of last year which saw us raise thousands for the playing field.”

Tom Murphy, marketing manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We are more than happy to continue our sponsorship of Wylam on Wheels and were delighted to hear the event was so well attended and raised so much money for Wylam last year.

“We really do understand the contribution of these events to community life at SPAR, and together with Doug, we are both looking forward to supporting Wylam on Wheels to be an outstanding success again.”