THOUSANDS of bikers rolled into Caldicot on Sunday, 8th October for the annual Hoggin’ The Bridge event, raising thousands of pounds for charity.

The event finished at Caldicot Castle for the first time after finishing in Chepstow since 2006.

After setting off from the Brightside Group PLC car park behind Severn View Services near Aust, the bikers made their way over the Severn Bridge before following a new route into Caldicot.

A total of 6,800 bikers descended on Caldicot Castle where the event concluded with music, food and traders.

Following last year’s event, members of the Hoggin’ the Bridge Club committee decided to hang up their helmets, handing the organisation of the event to Caldicot Town Team.

This year’s event is thought to have raised thousands of pounds for charity, with much of the support doing to meningitis charity Meningitis Now. Official figures are yet to be released, but the event has raised more than £100,000 in the previous seven years.

As always, the event attracted a wide range of participants from all over the country.

One pair taking part were 11-year-old Molly Jenkins from Bulwark, Chepstow, who came out for a ride with her father Micky.

Molly, a pupil of Chepstow Comprehensive School, said: “I love going out for a ride with my dad on his motorbike. I am a member of a Facebook motorbike group. 

Micky said: “I have enjoyed riding motorbikes since I was 17 years-old and I still love the sound, the power and the freedom.”

Also present at Caldicot Castle were members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association.

Mr Williams (Bristol group chairman) said: “Were are here to serve the biking community as part of our Christian faith. We do different things to help these events including running the Holy Joes Cafe.”

The ride finished with a parade of bikes right through the heart of Caldicot giving all the riders a chance to show off their finery and bikes.

Photos courtesy of Byron Calloway