A panting but smiling Carnegie Smyth arrived in east London yesterday after competing 1,000 killometres or 750 miles in the saddle. He had been cycling around the UK in just 10 days raising awareness about using sport to tackle crime and obesity among deprived youngsters.

East London Advertiser: Carnegie Smyth arriving at Olytmpic Park after 1,000km marathon rides around UKCarnegie Smyth arriving at Olytmpic Park after 1,000km marathon rides around UK (Image: Sported charity)

The London business entrepreneur snapped the tape at the Olympic Park after a non-stop cycle from Oxford.

But his round-Britain bike challenge covered Northern Ireland, Scotland, North of England, Wales and the Midlands as well as London and the South.

He began in Belfast with the first leg to Glasgow, then day-by-day with stops in Moffit, Carlisle, Kendall, Chorley, Liverpool, Glyn Ceirog, Telford, Worcester and Oxford before making it to Stratford in east London.

But that wasn’t all. Not satisfied with cycling, Carnegie took part at the end of each day in boxing, archery and even chariot racing, finishing with a game of hockey at the Olympic Park with young members of east London’s FRE Flyers community group.

“I’ve taken punches in the boxing ring, hung on for dear life on the back of a chariot and played hockey in the iconic Olympic Park,” he said. “But they all provided a welcome respite from the cycling saddle.”

His energetic challenge raised £75,000 of Sported, the charity using sport to get youths off the streets and away from crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as helping youngsters with obesity eating disporers.

Its founder Sir Keith Mills, former deputy chairman of the London Olympics legacy organisation, said: “Sported was born out of the London 2012 Games, so it’s a fitting end for Carnegie to cross the finishing line at the Olympic Park.”

Carnegie took time off running Signia wealth management consultancy to tackle 1,000km in just 10 days. He is one of the Sported charity’s many business mentors helping youngsters in deprived areas find a fitter path to life through sport.