Chester-le-Street octogenarian bids for cycling world record

An 83-year-old man is cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats in a bid to become the fastest octogenarian to complete the route.

Eddie McGourley, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, decided to take on the record attempt after a trip to the library, where he picked up a copy of the Guinness World Records book.

He is raising money for St Cuthbert’s Hospice in memory of his wife Winifred and hopes to complete the journey in 10 days and get to John O’Groats by 8 July.

Asked what his wife – who died three years ago – would have thought of the attempt, he said: “She would have been chuffed. When I used to race, she was my manager – I used to listen to her.”

In his youth, he was a successful competitive cyclist and was a North East champion three times.

A support team of five people is helping him along the route, including a younger friend riding alongside him.