Celebrating the club’s 48th year, 200 guests arrived at the stunning Royal Maritime Hotel in Portsmouth for the Portsmouth MX Club Annual Presentation and Awards Ceremony. Despite the lack of qualifying riders this year, there was still enough silverware to sparkle in the lights, all ready to be handed out to the club’s riders.
Report by Kay Kennedy – Images courtesy of Click466.com
A difficult year for the Club who only managed to host 8 rounds, with COVID obviously playing a major part in the lack of meetings, along with them losing their beloved treasurer Sherry Rogers mid-year, and other personal matters getting in the way, the Club still felt they needed to honour those who had dedicated their time to ride at each meeting throughout the year.
Perpetual trophies were awarded, with some very surprised riders being awarded shields and cups; Mark Morris, Mark Atkinson, Michael Anthony, Charlie Cook, Marley Alder, Toby Bond and Leo Adams picking up two awards each, all receiving the Consistency Award along with their Championship trophies, with Michael Anthony also coming away with the MX1 Trier Shield.
Then it was time to hand out championship trophies, and celebrate all the riders, including the newly crowned champions! Congratulations to Leo Adams, Toby Bond, Marley Alder, Charlie Cook, Luke Southern, Michael Anthony, Mark Atkinson and Mark Morris for all being crowned Champions in their respective classes. It was also great to see so many girl riders across the classes in 2021, two stealing the boys thunder in the 50cc Auto class, Summer Holt finishing in 2nd overall with Alexis Whelan in her first year with the club, finishing in 3rd!
But it was Youth MX125/250F rider Luke Southern who was the star of the night. Stacking up a staggering SIX awards on the night, including not only the Youth MX125/250F Club Championship award, but also the Consistency award for his class, the Aaron Morgan Holeshot trophy, the Most Consistent Rider of the Year award for scoring the highest points in the entire club, plus with dad Garry, notching up the most points for the Parent & Child trophy, he was most recognised for scoring a massive 23 out of 24 race wins, the only one he didn’t come first, he finished second!! This amazing talent and brilliant riding on the track rewarded him with the Rider of the Year, the most prestigious award of the evening. Well done Luke!!
Praise must go to the organisers of the event, Secretary Kay Kennedy, Chairman Martin Bradbury, Steve Rogers, Lisa & Richard Milsted and the rest of the Committee and Officials who helped organise such an amazing night and for all their hard work throughout the year!
Here’s to year 49, let’s hope the club can go bigger and better in 2022!!
Winners:
Club Champions: 50cc – Leo Adams, 65cc – Toby Bond, SW85 – Marley Alder, BW85 – Charlie Cook, Youth MX125/250F – Luke Southern, MX1 – Michael Anthony, MX2 – Mark Atkinson, VMX – Mark Morris.
Consistency Trophy – 50cc – Leo Adams, 65cc – Toby Bond, SW85 – Marley Alder, BW85 – Charlie Cook, Youth MX125/250F – Luke Southern, MX1 – Michael Anthony, MX2 – Mark Atkinson, VMX – Mark Morris.
Triers Shield – 50cc – Alexis Whelan,65cc – Dottie Hopwood, SW85 – Charlie Sanders, BW85 – Max Hopwood, Youth MX125/250F – Rhys Hopkins, MX1 – Michael Anthony, MX2 – Jack Jones, VMX – Tim Mitchell.
Most Improved Rider – Reece Sanders
Most Improved Auto – Alexis Whelan
Most Promising Newcomer – Rylie Cox-Adams
Most Consistent Rider – Luke Southern
Girl Trier – Milly Cox
Girl Rider – Summer Holt
Holeshot Award – Luke Southern
Most Improved Rookie – Samuel Upton– James Kirby
Parent & Child – Luke & Garry Southern
Rider of the Year – Luke Southern
