08-05-2025
‘A heck of a ride and fitting tribute': cyclist's epic challenge in friend's memory
Peter Smith, left, completed the challenge in memory of his late friend Stuart Norris, right, who died suddenly last April aged 49 after suffering a heart attack (Image: Peter Smith and Supplied)
A cyclist has said climbing a North Yorkshire hill more than 50 times – scaling the same height as Mount Everest – was a 'fitting tribute' to his late friend.
Peter Smith, from Haxby, completed the 134-mile (215km) challenge in 21 and a half hours at Wass Bank, in the North York Moors near Helmsley, on Saturday (May 3).
He has raised more than £2,900 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance through his efforts.
Peter took on the challenge in memory of Stuart Norris, who died suddenly last April aged 49 after suffering a heart attack.
Stuart Norris before setting off on a charity cycle from London to Edinburgh (Image: Supplied) Stuart, a married father of two from Stamford Bridge, worked at Huntington-based Portakabin for 25 years and founded the company's cycling club during his time there.
He raised more than £60,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance through cycling challenges throughout his life.
Peter, who is a member of the Portakabin Cycling Club, described Stuart as 'one of the world's most genuine and honest people', adding that his 'love of cycling was infectious – he got everyone at it'.
'He's someone I will think of every time I set off on my bike,' he said following Stuart's death.
Peter Smith joined by other Portakabin Cycling Club cyclists during the challenge at Wass Bank, in the North York Moors near Helmsley, on Saturday (May 3) (Image: Peter Smith) Peter said he had previously spoken to Stuart about 'Everesting' – scaling a hill repeatedly until reaching Mount Everest's height of 8,849m (29,028ft) – and 'guessed that one day we might do it together and try to raise a few quid for his favourite charity'.
Following Stuart's death, Peter said he decided to take on the challenge – now in his friend's memory.
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He told Karen Norris, Stuart's widow, about his plan, and the date of the climb was set for May 3.
Peter said he decided that Wass Bank's distance of 2.2km (1.3mi) and average gradient of 7.5 per cent made it the ideal location.
Peter Smith in his winter kit during the final stages of the challenge at Wass Bank, in the North York Moors near Helmsley, in the early hours of Sunday (May 4) (Image: Peter Smith)
Ben Rawlings, from Pocklington, volunteered to take on the challenge with Peter but was diagnosed with the early signs of a hernia the day before.
Despite this, however, Ben 'was going to give it his all', Peter said, and, along with other cyclists from the Portakabin Cycling Club, joined for part of the ride.
'A heck of a ride'
Peter's climb started at 4.15am with an initial plan to scale the hill in blocks of six then stop for refreshments.
More riders joined him throughout the day and friends and family arrived to cheer them on from the roadside.
Ben completed 38 climbs of the hill before the pain grew too severe that he had to stop, leaving Peter to complete the challenge solo.
Peter Smith, right, was cheered on by other cyclists during the challenge at Wass Bank, in the North York Moors near Helmsley, on Saturday (May 3) (Image: Peter Smith) 'Head torch was on and with 12 reps to go I was back in the winter kit, the darkness was a blessing, you couldn't see the hairpin and steepest bit of the climb approaching,' Peter said. 'The last few reps seemed to fly by and before I knew it I was down to two reps [of the hill climb].
'The last rep I didn't need a full ascent, so I watched the Wahoo [tracker] tick over 8,857m of elevation gain and I was done. A heck of a ride and fitting tribute.'
