2007 Braveheart Fundraising Dinner

Saturday 27th October 2007

"The best yet" - that was the verdict on Saturday's fifth Braveheart Fundraising dinner, which - according to early estimates - raised in excess of £30,000 to help talented young Scottish cyclists in 2008.

The bidding was as frenzied as ever, with the auctioneer - the one and only Alan Hewitt - just as committed and entertaining, and occasionally insulting. If anyone can raise the bid by a last tenner then it's Alan - and he excelled once again on Saturday evening.

But one of the highlights of the evening was the reception afforded 18-year old Ruaridh Cunningham, the junior world downhill champion. The mountain biker was last into the room, entering behind a lone piper, wearing his world champion's jersey, and he received a spontaneous standing ovation from the 350 guests.

Cunningham, who donated his rainbow jersey to the Fund, was then presented with the Braveheart Rider of the Year trophy by one of the special guests, David Millar. Brian Smith, who established the Fund five years ago, said: "One of the great things about the dinner is that it brings people together. It doesn't matter if you're a roadie, a track rider or a mountain biker - we're all cyclists. The hero's welcome for Ruaridh, our first world champion, was fantastic."

Earlier, the other guests had been welcomed - Sean Kelly, returning for the third year in a row; Henrik Redant and Scott Sunderland, both returning for a second time; and Sean Yates, Allan Peiper and Millar, all making their first appearance. All reported that they enjoyed the evening, with Peiper enthusing about the ride earlier in the day. "They were absolutely beautiful roads," he told everyone.

While Peiper shone in the morning ride - escaping towards the end of a ride that definitely wasn't a race with the grizzled Scottish/Italian roadman Paulo Rentino - Yates, Kelly and Millar came into their own in the evening, holding court in the bar until the wee sma' hours. Indeed, eye-witnesses report that Millar was last to bed - some time around 6am. He may not have been in the best of health on Sunday, but he did promise to come back.

An honourable mention must also go to Celtic Spirit, who provided musical entertainment following the meal - but much else besides, with the self-proclaimed "Fat Drummer" reducing many in the room to tears of laughter with his banter between songs.