Pull the udder one … police find our stolen Cycling Moo Kay!

Surrey Police recovered Cycling UK’s fund-raising, fibre-glass cow today, just eight miles from the scene of the overnight theft last August.

Officers from the Mole Valley Policing Team executed a search warrant this morning (Wednesday 11 January) at a property in Newdigate, Surrey, in accordance with The Theft Act, 1968. A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of theft and is currently in police custody.

Before she was rustled from Box Hill, 'Cycling Moo Kay' was one of more than 60 brightly-coloured model cows put on show across the county last summer as part of the Surrey Hills CowParade.

Superbly painted with Surrey Hills cycling scenes by talented Dorking artist Charles Rowbotham, she proved a popular draw for cyclists after they tackled the iconic London 2012 Olympic climb up Box Hill. She was also set to raise valuable funds for Cycling UK, as all the CowParade beasts were rounded up for auction later in the year. 

Excuse the awful pun, but cattle do nicely! After so long, I really never thought we would see the original Cycling Moo Kay again.

Doug Clare, chairman of G-Bug - the Guildford Cycling Campaign

Cycling UK Chief Executive Paul Tuohy said: “We were over the moon to hear the great news from Surrey Police. Cycling Moo Kay was a real bovine beauty and played an iconic part in many of the South East’s cycling activities before she was stolen, including watching the thousands of people who pedalled past her on top of Box Hill during the RideLondon event.

“One of our members, Doug Clare, presented her to us last summer to not only help with some valuable fund-raising for our charity, but also to share a bit of the fun that is cycling.

“We were on the horns of a dilemma after the theft. But Surrey Hills CowParade organisers very kindly provided us with a replacement – Cycling Moo Kay II – which was again brilliantly painted by Charles Rowbotham, and fetched £4,500 at a charity auction at Hampton Court Palace in November.”

Artist and keen cyclist Charles was understandably delighted when he, er, 'herd' that his original masterpiece is available for grazing duty again. And there was the same reaction from Doug Clare.

Doug, chairman of G-Bug, the Guildford Cycling Campaign, said: “Excuse the awful pun, but cattle do nicely! After so long, I really never thought we would see the original Cycling Moo Kay again. Hopefully she can now benefit Cycling UK further – with her new sister, Moo Kay II, of course.”

Tim Metson, Surrey Hills CowParade Leader, said: “We are delighted that the original Cycling Moo Kay has been recovered. CowParade Surrey was an incredibly popular high-profile event that raised in excess of £200,000 for various charities in 2016. It is fitting that the event should be wrapped up with a very positive moos story!”

Above: Surrey Police bring Cycling Moo Kay home