: Published: 13 October 2024

East Newport Logo

Well the good folk at East Newport CSC certainly made us feel welcome at this, the final round of the 2024 Orchid Euro-Vets Grand Prix series on Saturday 12th October and I can only add my own thanks to those E-V Boss Fred Rothwell offered over the tannoy at the end of the meeting. Even the weather behaved itself, and the other bright spot was the turnout which improved nicely on the previous two rounds. However, that was due to the massive home turnout (by which I mean riders from "The Polo" and near neighbours Newport CSC) together with our trusty regulars from Exeter and the ever-present Leicester Monarchs. Great people, great friends.

Congratulations to this year's overall series Champions Leicester's Kev Burns, Birmingham's Mark Winwood and the incredible double British Champ and lovely fella Richard Edge of Horspath who collected the Over35, Over 50 and Over 60 titles respectively, and with some aplomb. (oops, Mark and Kev are lovely fellas too!).

I have a few more pix to come but just for now, this: (shirts are catchy Geoff!).

Somehow this titchy, mainly one-line track does provide the odd good race and there were a couple of memorable ones today to spice things up. Great to have some new names to stick in the archives, and indeed to meet a few for the first time. I was badly let down by Lukasz Kaczmarek today though - in previous seasons he has been known to drop points through unnecessary falls but I thought he'd given that up this year - until the Over 35 "A" Final when he did just that in a cracking race (just kidding Lukasz, I love you!).

Here's my poor quality, shakey hands video

Continuing the People theme, thank you James Bailey for nicely controlling the meeting as Referee and Matt Davis for backing up Geoff Gamage as Pits Marshall.

Living in one of our great Sport's distant outposts (the Frozen North) I can see why support has seemingly evaporated over the last few years due to the cost and sheer physical resource of travelling hundreds of miles for a few laps, but also I think because we always, WITHOUT FAIL, have to settle for whatever dates are left after the other "factions" (for want of better) heve ignored because they don't suit anyone. Poor Fred has to suck this up every year but personally I'd just get out there first and stuff the rest (apologies, but this lights me up). Anyway, to all those riders listed in this year's results who haven't attended regularly, Thank You for the support you have offered, and I hope you may be able to return for more next season.

Please let me know via our FB page when, OK optimistically, IF you spot any errors on here.

Over35&Open Programme

Over50&60 Programme

The Finals

Over35&Open Results

Over50&60 Results

Here's the most special award of the day, Chic Mackie's Fair Play shield being presented by last year's recipient Kev Burns to this year's, his Leicester teammate Lucy Whitehead. Lucy has done an incredible job competing with the burlies over the last few years, and very successfully, but it's more about her attitude and input to the Sport that has earned her this prestigious award this year.

ChicMackieAwardToLucyWhitehead