Despite a “minor hiccup” the 36th annual Martin Jennings run was great success with nearly £8,000, so far, raised for the Stroke Association.
It was a double celebration for organiser David Saunby who was also highly commended in the BBC Radio Cornwall Make A Difference awards for his fundraising for the run over 36 years.
Talking about being recognised in the awards which took place last Thursday at Truro Cathedral, Mr Saunby said: “I feel very humbled and privileged to have been nominated in the BBC Radio Cornwall Make a Difference Awards fund raising group for the past 36 years of organising the Martin Jennings Memorial Motorcycle Run, raising approximately £180,000 for local and national charities".
While over a 1,000 bikers set off from Tregurra Park and Ride Car Park Truro at 11am on Sunday there was a problem at Cornwall Services where bikers mistakenly came off the A30.
The reason is currently being investigated but in an official statement posted on the Martin Jennings Facebook page, Mr Saunby said it appears that bikers mistakenly took a person in a high vis jacket to be directing them into the services. He also said there should have been a direction marshal at Fraddon but there wasn’t.
“We (the MJMA) will be looking into the matter why there wasn't because a lot of work goes into the planning of an event of this size, and even the best laid plans can go wrong, and I apologise,” he said in a statement.
“It wasn't until 45 minutes later when I pulled into Cornwall Services that something was wrong, thinking the run was behind me.
“I can understand people getting upset, and I am just as upset as those who have criticised the marshalling and I would hope that this is a just a blip in the 36 years I have been organising the Jennings Run, and that I will see you all again next year for the 37th Martin Jennings Memorial Motorcycle Run.”
Mr Saunby told the Packet: “After 36 years organising The Martin Jennings Run there was always going to be a minor hiccup at some point, unfortunately this was one of those years but after lunch we got it all together with a fantastic ride to the finish.
“There were virtually no hold-ups between Carland Cross and Chiverton came straight through as traffic was very light and I’ve never seen so many people in Beacon Square, I’ve never seen it so full before.”
Hundreds of people still enjoyed the spectacle of thousands of bikers driving along the A30 from the over bridges.
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The bikers came down as far as Camborne West, passing through Camborne, and then up to Beacon (Martin Jennings home village) for a brief stop in the square for a minute's silence held in memory of Martin Jennings who tragically died competing in the 1987 Manx GP, and also other fallen bikers who have lost their lives on the roads in Cornwall.
They then rode through Rame, Longdowns, Treliever and along the Penryn By-pass before doing a lap of honour around Falmouth and finally finishing at the Falmouth Recreation Ground, where the rock band Loco entertained the bikers.
This year’s run was to raise money for The Stroke Association after one of the biker community Ivor Uren of Redruth suffered a massive stroke last September resulting in a bleed on the brain .
So far over £7,800 has been raised. You can still donate to the JustGiving page HERE
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