FOUR golfers have swapped their clubs for saddles and embarked on a gruelling 1150 mile cycle challenge in support of two cancer charities.

The group, who are all members of Northcliffe Golf Club in Shipley, are on a nine day cycling challenge which takes in all 13 Ryder Cup host venues in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

As part of the Tour de Ryder Cup challenge, Andy Crowther from Ilkley, Rick Gillgrass from Halifax and Darren Tordoff and Andrew Walker from Bingley aim to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK and Melanoma UK and have already topped £8,500.

The foursome will be supported by fellow Northcliffe member Mark Heptonstall who will act as the team’s tour manager and driver.

The challenge was inspired by the death of the riders’ mutual friend Simon Ashdown from Bingley who died in December 2012.

Mr Tordoff, 53, said: "Simon lost his battle with skin cancer just two days before Christmas. He was a passionate golfer and a friend to all of us."

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/teams/tdrc.

The team set off on Monday and is currently in Ireland.