Former Law Society chief executive Catherine Dixon does not shrink from a daunting challenge – whether it be managing hefty negligence claims at the NHS Litigation Authority, or reforming governance at Chancery Lane.

Dixon left the society in 2017 for more bucolic climes – Askham Bryan College near York, which teaches agriculture. But now she is on her bike again. Literally. And this time she may be taking on her toughest task yet.

Dixon is stepping down as chief executive at Askham to attempt a world record tandem ride, with fellow sports enthusiast Rachael Marsden. Starting this summer, the pair will attempt to cycle up to 100 miles a day, covering 18,000 miles across five continents, all within 320 days. Their route crosses Europe and Asia, taking in India, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, then takes them through Australia, New Zealand, North America and North West Africa, before they pedal back to the UK through Spain and France.

The duo’s odyssey has been registered with the Guinness Book of Records and they will be raising funds for Oxfam and the Motor Neurone Disease Association. They are also looking for sponsorship: catdixon1@me.com

Dixon told the Yorkshire Post: ‘It’s incredibly exciting and it will be amazing to set the world record. I know it will be really tough to cycle 100 miles day after day [and] I hope this will encourage our students to grasp opportunities, to be brave and to follow their dreams.’

Obiter, whose battered old Raleigh never makes it further than the garden gate, finds it all to exhausting to think about. But we wish the pair ‘bon voyage’. Let’s hope they remember to pack a puncture repair kit.

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