MORE than 1,000 islanders jumped into the saddle for charity yesterday. Better-than-expected weather encouraged hordes to take up the Rock to Rocque challenge in aid of Les Bourgs Hospice – its main annual fund-raiser.

Organisers were delighted to collect more than £22,000 sponsorship on the day, but with more coming in, they are confident of smashing the £30,000 barrier.

‘It’s really nice that families are involved because hopefully the hospice will be around for a long time for the benefit of the island and this is a way that youngsters can support us as well as the older generation,’ said Friends of Les Bourgs chairman Jack Honeybill.

‘The profile is very important to us and we are very appreciative of all the sponsors and sponsorship and the public generally.’

He was hoping to reach last year’s target of £34,000.

‘The hospice relies on fund-raising and donations from the public and it’s provided entirely free to the Bailiwick.’

There were three different starting points for this 11th running of the event, but the main route took cyclists from Elizabeth College down to the roundabout, up Le Val des Terres and around the coast to finish at North Beach.

Some started early but most left the college shortly after 10am.

They included Victoria Randall, 7, who raised a whopping £471.

‘She has been on the road in Guernsey for only three weeks and has been in training,’ said her dad, John, a local radio broadcaster.

‘She learnt to ride her bike in France and has been whinging to do this for a while and is adamant she will complete it.’

A Guernsey Press appeal last year led to the recovery of mortgage adviser Conor Burke’s stolen mountain bike, on which he was able to participate yesterday.

‘I missed out last year because I was in Ireland but it’s my favourite charity in Guernsey and it’s a great day out for cyclists for a good cause,’ he said.

Self-employed builder Mark Edmonds, 39, took part for the second year running with son Daley, 11, a Vale Junior School pupil, and a group of friends from The Parrot pub.

‘It’s a good cause and I got a full sheet of sponsors in The Parrot last night. We will get a bar meal and I’ll have a pint of Guinness at the Rockmount halfway round.’

Air stewardess Paula Jenkins, 40, was taking part for the first time with daughter Lucy, 12, from Ladies’ College.

‘We just wanted to get fit and we have got sponsored. I’m looking forward to stopping at Cobo and having a cup of tea and a cake,’ she said.

Main organiser Mira Domaille was delighted with the turnout.

‘There are over 1,000 entries and anything we raise has to be good for the hospice.’

Many were novices but there were also many stalwarts.

‘Everyone seems to have come later this year – we were a bit worried at 9.30, but over the last half hour it’s been really busy and they are still piling in, but that was probably due to the weather,’ she said at 10.15.

‘It’s amazing how people turn up year after year.

‘I reckon we will collect more than £30,000, which is brilliant considering all the other charity events this month,’ she said in the afternoon.

The event’s main sponsors were Ian Brown’s Cycle Shop, Raleigh Cycles and HSBC, but there were many more.

Each cyclist received a medal and a goody bag.

Every entrant who raised more than £100 went into the hat for a draw to win a Chopper bike – the winner was Mark Penn.