Rainbows to benefit from Loughborough Mince Pie Run
ON the last Sunday before Christmas in most years, the small Leicestershire village of Belton becomes congested with cyclists.
Over two hours from roughly 10.30am hundreds of cyclists migrate from across the county and beyond for the annual Mince Pie gathering.
Belton Village Hall awaits them with tables and chairs laid out and food (including of course mince pies) piled high on the counters. Large pots of tea are made and the volunteers make ready for the invasion. How many will come is dictated by the weather. All are welcome, but potential riders should visit the website www.ctclr. org.uk before setting out to check that the event is on, as it may be cancelled if the forecast is for extremely bad weather.
A spokesperson said: “Just before 10.30am cyclists arrive and enter the hall. Racing club resplendent in their club colours and touring cyclists in black lycra, coloured clothing or tartan plus-fours.
“They come from all points of the compass, Nottingham, Derby, Burton, Hinckley, Leicester, Melton Mowbray, Ashby, Loughborough.
“Tall cyclists, short cyclists, young cyclists, old cyclists, seasoned cyclists, novice cyclists, recumbent cyclists, tandem cyclists and car assisted cyclists, they all come, one and all. The tables fill up, the seats are moved randomly, noise and temperature levels rise. Clothing, helmets, hats and gloves are abandoned to any spare space, tea is drunk, cakes, savouries and mince pies are eaten, tombola tickets bought, Christmas cards swapped, long lost friends reunited and stories of the past year, plans and aspirations for the following year are shared.
The tombola raises hundreds of pounds for Rainbows Children’s Hospice (£950 in 2019).
Peter Hopkins (a past President of Leicestershire & Rutland Cyclists’ Touring Club) said: “Strange to think that it all began so informally on a wet Sunday on Christmas Eve 1978, when Jessie and Ian Hay invited the half dozen bedraggled touring cyclists home to Long Whatton for hot mince pies and coffee. Then their son Nigel turned up with some equally sodden Loughborough Road Club members - and the idea for the Mince Pie Run was born!
“The following year we decided to hire Long Whatton School hall, lay on tea, coffee and goodies, and ask local cyclists to come along for our first prize presentation. We sent out invitations to all the cycling clubs in the area and they certainly came! It was an immediate success.
“By 1982, it was no longer necessary to send out invitations. Loughborough Mince Pie Run had already become an institution: all East Midlands cyclists knew THE place to be on the last Sunday before Christmas.
“Of course, over the years there have inevitably been some changes. After the first Christmas, Long Whatton school hall was no longer available and the event moved to Belton village hall.
“Sadly, Jessie and Ian are no longer with us, but years before they died they had seen their hospitable get-together for a few friends on that long ago Christmas Eve develop into a major event on the cycling scene.”