NEWS: A&T presentation event well attended

Astley & Tyldesley Cycling Club staged their annual cycle speedway presentation event on Sunday afternoon. Around 80 club members, family and friends piled into the function room at the Astley & Tyldesley Miners’ Welfare Club. As ever, there was a splendid buffet to enjoy, video footage of racing from the past season, live entertainment provided by Chris Schofield, a guest speaker in former BMX professional and British Cycling Go-ride Coach, Dylan Clayton and numerous raffle prizes donated by club members, including a Liverpool football shirt signed by England u-17 captain Adam Phillips.

There was an impressive array of trophies, medals, tee shirts and certificates presented to the club’s cycle speedway riders for their successes during the past season, which included winning the Manchester League Division 2 and Northern League Division 3. The four special awards were presented to: Kieran Fallon (Rory Blackwell Cup for the Best Newcomer); Emily Burgess (North West Trophies Cup for Best Novice); Joe Quarmby (Most Improved Rider); John White (J. Fisher & Sons Young Rider of the Year).

Astley & Tyldesley encourage and develop new officials and volunteers each year and this time, no fewer than 26 volunteers received presents from the club, in recognition for their support during the past year. The Ron Hack Memorial Cup for the Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Janine Paine, for her sterling efforts at many roles during the year.

It was a great way to round off a very successful year, which has seen the club’s membership grow to 85 members, have another British Champion in u-8 Grand Prix winner John White, as well as British Championship silver medals won by the club’s u-10s team and by Emily Burgess in the Girls u-10s Final.

Photo attached shows the club’s Northern League Division 3 winning squad with their trophies. At the back are club founder Mike Hack (left) and British Cycling Go-Ride Coach Dylan Clayton (right). Photo courtesy of Len Priestley.