Guernsey cat lover to ride the length of Britain in nine days

Thursday, 11 June 2026 10:15

By Euan Mahy

Ann Bowditch on the King Harry Ferry near Truro.

Former Commonwealth and Island Games cyclist Ann Bowditch expects the solo ride to be tough.

Ann Bowditch is a familiar name to cycling fans in Guernsey, having won multiple gold medals over 16 years.

She retired from the amateur cycling scene some time ago, so taking on the British 'End to End' will push her both mentally and physically.

She says her slight build will favour the early, hilly days in Cornwall and Devon, but as the route levels, she will find riding solo hard:

“Down in the south west, those first couple of days are really hilly.

"The way my route looks I think the first two days will be really really hard, but I’ll feel that once I’ve done those two days it’s gonna get a little bit easier, but obviously you’ve got those two days in your legs.”

"It’s out of my comfort zone and I don’t know 100% that I can do it, especially the time that I’ve set."

The aim is to complete the 900 plus miles in nine days, riding alone, but with a support vehicle carrying food, kit and spares.

She test rode the first two days in the West Country recently, but found her original choice of route too slow, so she has changed it to a faster, smoother diagonal.

One of Ann's seven rescue cats.

Her motivation is her love of felines and the charities both locally and nationally that look after and re-home them:

"I’m the crazy cat lady now so I’ve been supporting a particular organisation for four years (the Stray Cat Rescue Team West Midlands).

I’ve got seven cats from them and they’re an amazing rescue group and I’ve been wondering how I can raise money for them as well as some local charities, the GSPCA and Guernsey Lost and Found Pets."

Ann begins her ride on 27 June.