Uptonogood was conceived with two goals in mind:
- To introduce people to the wealth of excellent riding available in the area
- To raise money for amenities within the village.
2010
The event was launched in 2010 and was a great success, with almost 300 riders and fantastic weather. There was a 5 mile family ride, a 25 mile leisure ride and the 45 mile endurance ride. The first to finish the 45 mile route was Didcot resident Mitch Purvis in 3hrs 14mins. The riders ranged from 4 to 69 years old travelling from as far afield as Suffolk to take part.
We raised £3,000 for Upton Village Hall, a further £500 for Blewbury Primary School and paid £250 to Didcot Air Cadets for their help with marshalling.
2011
In its second year the event was expanded to include a family 12 mile ride and more entertainment at Upton Recreation ground, including: a climbing wall; beer tent; live music and vintage bike display. Despite it being a wet and muddy day we had almost 500 riders and the first to finish the 45 mile route was Matt Wigley in 3hrs 17 mins, an exceptional achievement in extreme conditions.
We raised £3,000 for the proposed new Upton play space, a further £1,000 for Blewbury Primary School; £300 for the Upton Methodist church and again paid £250 to Didcot Air Cadets for their help with marshalling.
2012
In 2012 we attracted just short of 450 cyclists raising £3,000 for Upton’s “pump track” which will be officially opened at Uptonogood 2013, and a further £3,000 for Blewbury Primary School as well as £250 for Didcot Air Cadets.
2013
In 2013 the event expanded dramatically with over 800 riders raising almost £11,500 for local causes including: a further £2,000 for Upton’s “pump track”, £2,750 for UVHAT, £1,200 for marquees; a further £2,400 for Blewbury Primary School new year 6 classroom and £2,550 for Upton Village Hall, towards the new kitchen. In addition we invited each marshal to donate £20 each to their preferred charity and there were a range of these including £500 to Air Ambulance.
2014
In 2014 we launched the Uptonogood music festival with a proper stage and mixing desk and the wonderful By The Rivers headlining, supported by Invisible Vegas, Disfunktional, Tin Pan Band, Amy Ireson and Blewbury Brass Band. We set a capacity of 1,000 riders and sold out for the first time, raising a further £9,000 for local causes.
2015
In 2015 we continued the Uptonogood music event with another fine roster of bands including The Intercepteurs, The Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, Jali Fily Cissokho, Invisible Vegas, Disfunktional, Al Jenkins and Blewbury Brass Band. The cycle routes were reviewed with a new 18 mile distance introduced and the longest ride was reduced from 45 to 35 miles. The event was a sell out again and we raised just over £10k bringing the total raised to £47k for the 6 years the event has taken place.
2016
In 2016 we raised the profile of the music with the wonderful Hunter & The Bear headlining, supported by The Intercepteurs, The Epstein, Little Brother Eli, Dean Owens and Blewbury Brass Band. The cycle routes were the same as 2015. The event was a sell out again and we raised just under £10k bringing the total raised to £57k for the 7 years the event has taken place.
2019
In 2019 the event returned after a couple of years off and the music was excellent as ever with McFunky, The Sensational George Jack Band and The Rabbit Foot Spasm Band headlining, with the usual support from Blewbury Brass Band. The cycle routes were the same as 2016. Numbers were down a little following a couple of years off but we still raised just over £8.5k bringing the total raised to £65k for the 8 years the event has taken place.
2022
In 2022 the event returned after the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. Music was provided by the The Sensational George Jack Band, Mark Morris (of The Bluetones) and the internationaly acclaimed Kanda Bongo Man headlining, with the usual support from Blewbury Brass Band and Al Jenkins. Numbers were down again after the enforced two years off but we still raised just over £10.2k bringing the total raised to £76k for the 9 years the event has taken place.
