ANCIENT bicycles and their owners got into gear on Sunday for the fourth annual Elgar Vintage Ride.

Based in Priory Park, the event this year had a special guest, composer Judith Weir, who is the Queen's Master of Music, a post held by Elgar in the 1920s.

"It's completely appropriate because Elgar was a keen cyclist, which is why we set up the event, and so is Judith," said Tanya Trotman, who organises the ride with her husband Nick.

"She absolutely loved it, she can't half ride a bike; she made the hills look like nothing. We're delighted that she took part," she said. "She had a German film crew following her around, making a film about Elgar."

The event was also a fundraising success, with between £600 and £700 collected which will be divided between the Midlands Air Ambulance and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Participants had the choice of taking part in the Elgar Sportive, which involved a 44-mile-course which took in Upton, Worcester, the composer's birthplace in Lower Broadheath and Martley, and the 5.9-mile family course around Malvern.

Winning the Sportive was David Charlesworth, who finished the course in two hours and 40 minutes.

Many entered into the spirit of the event by wearing Edwardian style outfits, including waistcoats, knickerbockers and tweed caps, and prizes were awarded for the best-dressed participants and best vintage bikes.

Nick Trotman said: "The day was fantastic and we had amazing prizes donated by Brooks of England, Gazelle, the Friday Beer Company Hiplock and Bern Helmets.

"A special thank you must go to Richard Hammond from Fruits of the Earth in Malvern Link, who every year has donated a basket of vegetables.

"And we also want to say special thank-you's to Julian Roskams and Tim Duncan for judging and giving out the prizes."

The date for next year's Elgar Vintage Ride is already fixed for Sunday, September 11.

Awards: Best Endeavour on the Sportive, David Charlesworth. Best gents vintage bicycle, Edwin Knight. Best ladies vintage bicycle, Cathy Spence. Best dressed male, John Bradshaw. Best dressed female, Millie Austin. Best dressed boy, Linus Burnage. Best dressed girl, Katherine Nisbet. Best vintage family, the Spence-Burnages. Judges choice award, Ron Harris and Ellie Waller. Best authentic bicycle award, Adrian Viner.