THREE former schoolfriends are likely to be slightly saddle sore over the coming weeks after yesterday (Monday, July 10) setting off from Taunton on an 18-day cycle ride.

James Clark, James Toomey and Charlie Collins, all 24, are biking to all 18 county cricket grounds in England and Wales over 18 days to raise £18,000 for charity.

They were given a send off by friends, family and sponsors, along with Somerset cricketer Tom Banton, who was at school with them at King's College.

The first leg of their challenge saw them pedal out of Somerset's base, The Cooper Associates County Ground, in Taunton, to visit Gloucestershire's home ground in Bristol before crossing the border into Wales, where they are due to drop in on Glamorgan's HQ today.

WATCH: Video of the cycling trio before they headed off on their mammoth challenge.

Most days they hope to cover over 100km as they visit other grounds in Worcester, Birmingham, Manchester, Durham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Northampton, Chelmsford, Lord's, The Oval, Canterbury, Sussex and Southampton before returning to the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton on Wednesday, July 26.

The trio have already raised almost £12,000 towards their target, which will go to Cancer Research UK and Chance to Shine, which aims to give all children the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket.

James and his friends were inspired to take part in the marathon ride in honour of his father, Charles Clark, the chairman at Somerset County Cricket Club at the time of his death from cancer aged 59 in June 2019.

Mr Clark's wife, Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, was among those seeing the group off yesterday.

Before leaving, James said: “Aside from his family and the countryside, my dad had a love for cricket which was a joy we were lucky to share.

"It was a massive honour for him to have been at Lord’s and to see Somerset win silverware at Lord’s for the first time in 14 years.

"It feels therefore a great challenge to take to our bikes and raise money for two worthy causes which mean so much."

The three cyclists will be staying with friends and family on their route and when they visit each county cricket ground they will be armed with buckets and card readers to collect cash and donations.

You can donate to their appeal via www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cycle4charles