The company has been a sponsor of the Great Milk (stout) Ride for the last two years, as well as entering their own teams, (pictured after last year's ride). When a new sponsor for the medals and certificates was needed, Erudine agreed to fulfil that roll without hesitation. They have already registered a team of seven for this year’s ride and hope to win the new Patrick Bickers Memorial Corporate Trophy (see earlier blog) and are throwing down a challenge to other Harrogate corporate bodies to join them at the Nidderdale Agricultural Society’s Pateley Bridge show ground on 6th September and help the 17th Great milk (stout) Ride pass the £400,000 total, since its beginning in 1993.

Earlier this year YorkshireWater joined our sponsors offering to supply water for the riders as they finish and provide supplies at the two welcome drinks stops around the courses. Last year the Harrogate Software Systems company, Erudine were the latest to join this group. Based at Central House in the heart of Harrogate, Erudine is a highly innovative software development company. Started in 2002 by Pateley Bridge born brothers Martin and Phil Rice, Erudine is set to revolutionise the IT industry with its radical new technology - Erudine's Behaviour Engine. They join the expanding elite band of local and national sponsors

Peter Somerville of AMPS News Ltd., who has provided both vans and drivers to act as "sweepers" following the Rides to pick up any stragglers, suggested to Cliff Barton that it was time to put AMPS support on an official basis and they have now become the one of the latest to swell the ranks of local sponsors of the Great Milk (stout) Ride. They join other regulars who include Birchfield Ice Cream Summerbridge, Houseman International Transport of Darley, QPS Group Ripon, Cartridge World Harrogate, EW Smith & Company Skipton, Branch Autobodies Ilkley, Deakin Accountancy Ltd Glasshouses, The Cheridan Raithby Charitable Trust, Activ Computer Services Little Ouseburn, Ilkley Round Table. The Ride continues to benefit from local media support including the Ackrill Group, Stray FM, Fresh Radio for the Dales and BBC local radio.