The 27th annual trophy presentation evening for the Portland District Motor Sports Club was held on Saturday night, June 2, with around 80 competitors, volunteers and supporters dressed in a wild west theme enjoying a superb dinner at the Portland RSL Sporting and Recreation Club, trophy presentation, fun awards and giant raffle.
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Master of ceremonies was club president Ray Healey, who told the gathering of another great year of speedway racing with plenty of outstanding performances by club drivers throughout the rain shortened eight to seven race meeting season.
Mr Healey also congratulated the myriad of open wheeler classes,which included the Microsprints, Quarter Midgets, Vintage Speedcars, Speedway Karts, Compact Speedcars, Vintage Modifieds, Grand Prix Midgets and the Modlites for making Cullen Bullen their home track and contesting their respective NSW State Championships at the track – a smorgasbord rarely seen at country tracks.
The sensational Series Class gave the yearly pointscore victory to Shanyn Duggan of Portland at the wheel of her flat black Shocker Commodore on 374 points from Peter Simmons of Blayney in his sideways Commodore with 250 points while Sarah Bradley stepped up from the Junior class to take third place with 158 points also driving a Commodore – trophies presented by Coates Hire Wallerawang.
After totally dominating the ‘New Star’ class last year, 12-year-old Jaiden Healey of Portland won of the Junior ‘All Star’ class at the wheel of his Honda with 798 points over Jackson Goldie of Orange who amassed 619 points at the wheel of his Corolla while diminutive Max Essai of Canberra had 444 points in his Corolla for third spot – trophies presented by John Swadling a Junior Trainer.
The new Junior ‘New Star’ Class was dominated by 11-year-old Jake Clark of Sydney in his Honda with 410 points from young Tyler Burnham of Richmond who drove his Corolla to gain 289 points. Debutant Dean Giffin of Sydney filled third place with 268 points driving his Hyundai Excel. Trophies were presented by junior trainer Sue Healey.
The RSA Street Stock class was again hotly contested but the winner was Portland’s Mitchell Duggan driving his Commodore to rack up 784 points from Andrew Blackley of Cullen Bullen in second spot with 486 points. Kevin Sawdy of Portland piloted his Commodore to 306 points for third. Trophies were presented by Margaret Downey of Portland Newsagency.
Honda driving Kiel Swadling of Orange claimed the Four Cylinder pointscore laurels with 688 points from Josh Goldie of Orange just 34 points in arrears with 654 points in second place driving the Corolla he shares with son Jackson while John Spicer also of Orange drove his Ford Laser to take third place with 369 points. Trophies were presented by Kings Auto Parts.
Taking home the magnificent green granite Glady and Clive Rochester Memorial Trophy for the Battler of the Year award was young junior driver Dean Giffin of Sydney at the wheel of his Hyundai Excel.
A surprised Jake Clark of Sydney collected the Rookie of the Year Trophy after an outstanding season driving his Honda in that very hotly contested ‘New Star’ Class.
Talented junior driver Jaiden Healey gave his trophies away to other young speedway fans to claim the good sportsmanship award, presented by John Spicer Mechanical Repairs of Orange.
Voted the most improved driver of the season was young Jake Clark of Sydney, taking the beautiful Bill and Hazel Williams Memorial Trophy home.
Leaving the most important trophy until last – the Club Person of The Year. The amazingly hard working Sharon Duggan took home the trophy after all the member's voting slips were counted.
Fun trophies were awarded to Shane and Shanyn Duggan, Andrew Blackley, Tyler Burnham, Kevin Spencer, Josh and Jackson Goldie, Brett Williams, Sue Healey, Chris Marino, Mitchell Duggan, Ray and Sue Healey, Bruce and Sarah Bradley, Jake Clark and Peter Simmons.
Thank yous for valued sponsorship gifts were presented to McFadden Ice Supplies, Kings Auto Parts, Phil and Marg Downey's Portland Newsagency, Suez Environmental Solutions, Coates Hire Wallerawang,Portland Automotive,Lithgow City Council,Portland RSL Club and Centennial Coal.
Valued appreciation certificates were awarded by Charlie Dodson to Phil Downey, Hans Roeleven, Mark Willis, John Ferris, Ray Healey, John Swadling, Shane Duggan, Anthony Davis, Ray Blackley, Kevin Blackley, Andrew Blackley, the late Bob Sawdy, Kevin Sawdy, Mitchell Duggan, Allan Brazel, Kevin Spencer, Kevin Coleman, Charlie Dodson, Rob Stephenson and Les Taylor, canteen workers Marilyn Stone, Leigh Roeleven, Dee Cummins, Margret Downey, Sharon Duggan and Secretary Sue Healey, for organising, conducting and presenting the speedway racing at ‘the action attraction of the central west’, the Cullen Bullen Raceway.
Club supporters donating gifts for the monster fund raising raffle included Kings Auto Parts, Portland Automotive Services, Williams and Sons Butchery Portland, Brakepro Lithgow, Jo.Co’s Hair Design and Retail Wilberforce, John Spicer Mechanical Repairs Orange, Sharon Duggan, Repco Lithgow, Portland Post Office, Orange Automatics and Portland Newsagency.
All in all it was yet another great year with the new season commencing on Saturday, September 30, while the Portland District Motor Sports Club annual general meeting will be held on Saturday, July 7 upstairs at the Portland RSL commencing at 6pm