Date for 2024 Hoggin’ motorcycle ride across the Severn Bridge announced
The date for a charity motorcycle ride that sees hundreds of riders cross the Severn Bridge has been announced.
Caldicot Motorcycle Club and Gympanzees have announced that the annual charity Hoggin' motorcycle ride will take place on Sunday 13 October 2024. The 2024 Hoggin' event - with a 1970s theme - will start from the car park at Gympanzees[1] at the top of Severn View Services on the M48 motorway at Aust, south Gloucestershire. The Hoggin' cross-border charity motorcycle event, taking riders from the English side of the old Severn Bridge on the M48 and across the bridge into Wales, has been a fixture in the motorcyclist's calendar since 2000, attracting thousands of riders from across Wales and England.
Gympanzees, a charity that provides facilities for exercise, play and friendship for disabled children, young people and their families, has bought a 14-acre site above Aust Services. It's now raising GBP10.8 million to create a purpose-built facility by 2026. Caldicot Motorcycle Club stepped in at the last minute to organise the Hoggin' event in 2023, and are fully in charge this year.
Caldicot Motorcycle Club members and their motorcycles at Aust Credit: Leonie Roberts Photography
Caldicot Motorcycle Club secretary, Dawn Jones, said: "Hoggin' has been a big part of the biker community for many years.
"Unfortunately, it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid, and then fell by the wayside the following year. We were all so disappointed. "So Caldicot Motorcycle Club stepped in for the 2023 event.
We couldn't let it die without a fight. Due to bridge closures, we weren't able to ride across the bridge last year, but Chepstow Garden Centre very kindly allowed us to use their car park as a starting point, and around 500 riders took part, raising GBP1,300 for Wales Air Ambulance. "We're delighted to announce that this year's Hoggin' will start at Aust Services.
Watching the faces of the children from Gympanzees light up with joy and excitement at seeing the motorcycles today has been fantastic. "We're so grateful to Gympanzees for saddling up with us and making this possible."
(From front row right) Caldicot Motorcycle Club President Colin 'Bear' Jones; Leila Rogers from Gympanzees and her son Tyler, Lucy Spielberg and Irene from Caldicot Motorcycle Club. Credit: Leonie Roberts Photography
Fran Garland, chief operations officer for Gympanzees, said: "We're absolutely thrilled to be the starting point for the Hoggin' 2024 event. We know the site means a lot to the club and we're delighted to welcome them 'home'.
We're sure many of the families we support will be very excited to see such a spectacle at Gympanzees." Caldicot Motorcycle Club President, Colin Jones, said: "Caldicot celebrates 50 years of town status this year - and that's where Hoggin' will be ending, in Caldicot town centre, with music and fun for all the family. "There's something really special about riding in convoy with thousands of other bikers.
The noise, the spectacle, the people lining the streets to cheer and wave, and bikers waving back. It's noisy, yes, but it's also very moving, very visual and something which bikers and non-bikers can share. "The Covid years were tough on us all.
We're a family-run motorcycle club, we support local causes, and we're keen to kick-start better times here in our home town of Caldicot. This year, we're determined to fill Caldicot with bikes, to get people out and about enjoying our lovely town, and to put a smile on people's faces. "All profit from the Hoggin' event will be divided between the Wales Air Ambulance, who give so selflessly when our fellow humans are in need, to Caldicot Food Bank who support our townspeople, and to Gympanzees to support their amazing plan for disabled children and their families.
All accounts and receipts will be available for scrutiny after the event. "Everyone is welcome at Hoggin' - start working on your 1970s costumes now. We at Caldicot Motorcycle Club hope to see you all at Aust Services on October 13th for a great day of riding, music and fun for all."
Buy tickets for Hoggins' 2024
'Hoggin' tickets will be on sale from July from the event page here[2].
You can donate to the Gympanzees appeal here[3].
References
- ^ the car park at Gympanzees (maps.app.goo.gl)
- ^ event page here (www.facebook.com)
- ^ Gympanzees appeal here (www.gympanzees.org)