Cycling heroes were today praised for battling through the elements to raise thousands of pounds for The Argus Appeal.

More than 100 riders cycled 105 miles between Eastbourne and Winchester in the first Argus Appeal South Downs Way Challenge.

Appeal co-ordinator Elsa Gillio said: "It was a tremendous three days. Everyone had to battle against the odds as the weather was so bad. People have asked if we are going to do it again and we are seeing if we can make it an annual event."

About £15,000 is expected to be raised for the Appeal.

WINCHESTER TO EASTBOURNE CYCLISTS: Iain Everett, Mark Bishop, David Bennett, Richard Newton, Wayne Andrews, Ian Taylor, Vernon Welsh, Alan Ross, David McConnell, Angela Everest, Tim West, Stuart Heaysman, Janet Haswell, Mark Buckle, Louis Thompson, Barry Cocum, Peter McDonneld (Neddy), Nick Harvey, Tim Mack, Roy Seamer, Andrew Gully, George Paterson, Tom Gatford, Nigel Haines, Rosie Sayers, Helen Herbert, Dorinda Dodd, Steve Dodd, Paul Yates-Smith, Bruce Faulkner, Raymond Savage, Nick Robertson, Sue Smith, Wendy Nurse, Ian Woodroffe, Raymond White, David Grimes, Karl Robinson, Matthew Posgate, Caroline Hodgson, Brian Holden, Brian Millar, Ian Waterman, Guy Litchfield, Andy Chrismas, Daniel Hughes-King, Wayne Marmont, John Stockford, Dan Baverstock, Nick Hoare, Paul Slater, Paul Strangeways, Martin Wilyman, Justin Hooper, Conrad Hamer, David Vickers. The Argus staff: Howie Blanks, Denise Blanks, Dan Cronin, Joe Slater, Peter Brock, Simon Gardner (driver) and Kerry Walford.

EASTBOURNE TO WINCHESTER CYCLISTS: Catherine Kempton, Michael Diver, Louise Weston, Janine Thomson, Simon Turvey, Suzie Davies, Caroline Ridley, Kevin Richardson, Deirdra Connelly, Ben Goulding, David Goulding, Colin Brades, Sigrun Hoppmann, Debra Crisp, Nicholas Payne, Andrew Burchett, Rob Windsor, Sean Burke, Nick Osbourne, Nigel Francis, Dave Blow, Mathew Osbourne, Chris Clayton, Warren Clayton, Terence Skeels, Luke Skeels, Steve Harbutt, Tanya Bocking, Emily Obrien, Martin Obrien, John Frenchum, Debbie Bucciarelli, Helen Beeches, Adrian Linssen, Roddy Crockett, Chris Thornton, Pippa Tomsett, Jayne Spencer, Anthony Sharman, Nerina Parr, Susanah Marshall, Jim Apted, Claire Monkhill, Justin Harvey, Peter Ridley, Wayne Simpson, Katie Everstein, David Wright, James Wright, Neil Parker. The Argus staff: Kevin Howe, Lee Pascoe, Andy Wright, Mark Gage, Alan May (driver), John Bridger (driver), Terry Burns (driver).

SPONSORS: John Dunford of Outdoors Ltd, Lancing, for 60 tents; Brighton Rugby Club for the campsite; Goldin Nash Associates, Brighton, for St John Ambulance cover; Legal & General, Hove; Syd's Bikes 2, Hove, and Sydney Street Bikes, Brighton, for cycle maintenance; Asda, Brighton, for food.

OTHER HELPERS: Elsa Gillio, Keith Winsper, Dave Browne and Vicki Sharman from The Argus, Midhurst Cycles, Pyecombe Golf Club, St John Ambulance, RDC Removals, Graffham Camping and Caravan Site, Brighton and Hove Buses, The George and Falcon, Warnford, The Queen Elizabeth Country Park and The South Downs Way Trail Officers, Handprint T-shirts, Brighton, Chichester Police.

Sixth Hove Scouts set up campsites and manned checkpoints. They were Jeanette, Nigel and Gareth Hollingdale, Tony, Shirley and Jason Reeves, Hilary Bennison, Mandy and David Gamon, Peter Bennison, Jamie Knowles, Sharon, Neil, Rachael and Marcus Bennison.