My eternal thanks to Geoff Gamage for the following report:
2025 kicked off as part of Newport's 50th Anniversary day, a few loose links were sorted throughout, firstly it looks like the demographic of Eurovets may have changed, with 21 riders 12 were 40/ 50, 9 were 60 , so that's what we went with as two groups , for the finals we have after popular request, now ring fence those categories, Over 40 / Over 50 / Over 60 even if as we think will be the trend 40/50 race together as today.
On to the racing on a very well prepared, quick track Steve Paver took charge of the 60's tho a very impressive Nicky Davies pushed him. Dennis Hubble gave it go but after two good seconds the back injury that kept him out for 12 seasons ended his day.
Over 60's scorers Steve Paver 16, Nicky Davies 15, Paul Timms 14, Andy Collett 13, Colin Simmons 12, Lee Johnson 10, Martin Glover 9, Phil Vanner 7 Dennis Hubble 6.
B Final Simmons , Johnson,Glover, Vanner
A Final Paver Davies Timms Collett
Over 40/ 50 the racing together 12 over 19 races. Old battles resumed the group worked well 5 races each , with ring fencing the categories looks like the way we will go now.
Scorers Craig Marchamt 19, Kevin Burns 18, Mark Winwood 18 Toby Millen 17,Andy Yard 16, Norman Venson 15, Lee Galley 15, Aaron Laing 13, Nicky Whitehead 13, Alan Nation 11, Matt Daviis 10, Dave Dart 9
Over 40 A final Laing ,Millen , Yard, Whitehead
B Final Davis
Over 50 A final, Burns, Marchant, Winwood, Venson
B final Galley, Nation, Dart.
So going forward each category rider will race in that category final only , which was actually proposed by the Over 50 riders.
Big thanks to Newport, especially Stuart Raven for his trackwork throughout the day.
And a few words from the Gaffer, Fred Rothwell that I've just found in my mailbox:
Off to a very successful start at Newport (round 1,2025). Some subtle changes........(x5 over 40s, x7 over 50s and x9 over 60s).......so we have raced off the over 60s in their own group (same as last year's over 40s), and grouped together the over 40s and over 50s. The demographics have changed and hopefully we will see similar number distribution at the other rounds.
Also, by consensus we have changed qualification to the category finals, to 'bands'........A & B finals for the 40 to 49 year olds, A & B finals for the 50 to 59 year olds, and A & B finals for the over 60s. These changes mean we see completely different podiums across the categories.Relevant this year as Craig Marchant, Kevin Burns, & Mark Winwood are over 50s and would also be strong contenders in over 40s........all 3 would have been in both the over 40 over 50 'A' finals yesterday. It will also help distribute the series prize money to different competitors, no one will get two 'prize envelopes'.
I was given the prize money yesterday by Phillip Vanner yesterday, so a big thank you to him for his wonderful sponsorship contribution and ongoing support in person.
Pic (courtesy of Nick Davies) of our generous Sponsor in action (left).
