Friend the inspiration for 1,150 mile Ryder Cup cycle challenge

Moortown Golf Club captain Martin Duffield with Yorkshire golfers Andrew Walker, Darren Tordoff, Rick Gillgrass and Andy Crowther

The group, who have been inspired by a mutual friend who died in 2012, all live in West Yorkshire and have taken to the saddle for a nine day ride which takes in all thirteen Ryder Cup host venues in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

This weekend they visited Moortown Golf Club, Leeds, which hosted the prestigious Ryder Cup tournament in 1929, on Saturday and then travelled to Ganton Golf Club, near Scarborough, which played host in 1949, yesterday.

Andy Crowther, Rick Gillgrass, Darren Tordoff and Andrew Walker, are then heading towards Scotland ahead of the start of the competition at Gleneagles.

The challenge, which is raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and Melanoma UK, was inspired by the death of the riders’ friend and fellow golfer Simon Ashdown from Bingley, who, aged fifty, lost his battle with Melanoma in December 2012.

Mr Tordoff, 53, said the Tour de Ryder Cup would be a fitting tribute to a close friend.

“Simon lost his battle with skin cancer just two days before Christmas 2012.

“His passing was the inspiration behind the Tour de Ryder Cup and is what keeps us going - we’re thinking of him with every turn of the wheels”, Mr Tordoff added.

Donations in support of the Tour De Ryder Cup can be made at www.justgiving.com/teams/tdrc. The team have already notched up visits to Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Birkdale and other courses.