Hot pursuit in ride to Broome

A group of 20 bike riders rode more than 800km last week in a gruelling journey to raise money for fallen members of the “blue family”.

The annual Karratha to Broome bike ride, now in its 26th year, saw local police officers and community members take on the long ride. The ride raises money for Police Legacy, a charity that supports the parents, widows, widowers and children of deceased police officers.

The riders made the journey in two teams of 10, with David Gannaway and Jay Ravat taking on the team captain roles.

After departing from Karratha Police Station at 7am last Wednesday, the group took advantage of the tailwinds and made their safe arrival in Broome about 12.45pm the following day, in one of the fastest times in recent memory.

Roebourne police officer-in- charge Sen. Sgt Mark Barratt said while the ride was tough, it was for a good cause.

“Police Legacy is obviously very important for us and the blue family. Raising money for deceased police officer’s families is very important that’s why we are all here today,” he said.

“Every rider tries to raise about $1000 each, but if we get more than that that’s a bonus.

“You do question your logic at about 3 in the morning on the push bike doing a 100km leg but it doesn’t take much to rationalise the fact that it’s going to a very worthwhile cause.”

Sen. Sgt Barrat has participated in the ride for the past six years.

“This year we are down on riders because of COVID and it was a bit of a last minute decision to get the ride back on track again,” he said.