John Chick
I’d like to pay tribute to John Chick, who is back home after completing an epic 10,000 kilometres solo charity bike ride to Istanbul and back.
I was at the Senedd with a crowd of enthusiastic supporters as John, who lives in Rudry with his family, returned home after his mammoth ride which took him through France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.
He was apparently the first person to attempt this route going over the Swiss and French Alps.
And his efforts have raised more than £12,000 for Ty Hafan, which cares for children with life-threatening illness, and Velindre Cancer Centre which provides support and care for cancer patients and their families in Wales.
Among those to greet John at the end of his epic journey was Enzo Calzaghe, father and trainer of former world boxing champion Joe Calzaghe. What a fantastic effort by John.
Bradley Wiggins
Friday, September 14, is going to be a red letter day in Caerphilly when the Tour of Britain comes to the town for a second year running.
This will give sports fans the chance to welcome Tour de France winner and Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins, who will be riding for Team Sky in the event, his first major race since the London Olympics.
Also joining Bradley will be his Team Sky colleague Mark Cavendish, who is the road race world champion but missed out on a medal at the Olympics.
Last year’s event was hugely popular but the Olympic success of the GB cyclists means interest will be heightened and it is a great opportunity for local people to see two of the world’s greatest cyclists.
The sixth-stage Tour of Britain in the county borough will see 100 top cyclists racing through Nelson, Ystrad Mynach and Llanbradach but it will be the two climbs to the top of Caerphilly Mountain which look set to prove a tester for even the best.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales East