Racing Club News
Castle Combe Marshal wins prestigious award
A marshal from the Castle Combe Racing Club has won the prized JLT Sport/MSA Marshal of the Year Award 2008 given by the UK's governing body of motor sport, the Motor Sports Association.
Steve Weston, from Warmley, Bristol, has been an active marshal at race meetings for nearly 20 years and recently took on the role of Child Protection Officer at Castle Combe. He has played an integral part in the recruitment and training of young cadet marshals, working with senior officials and devising a dedicated training programme of induction for new race marshals. As evidence of his ongoing commitment to training, Steve has undergone the MSA 'Training the Trainer' course and has embarked on the MSA Modular Training Programme as a Probationary Clerk of the Course.
"I'm completely shocked and surprised," said 45 year old Steve, who runs his own heating business during the week. "I had no idea I'd even been nominated until I got the call to say I'd won, but I'm delighted, of course. I got into marshalling as a way of getting involved with motor sport without having to spend a lot of money and I have always absolutely loved it. I got my son into it as soon as he was old enough and now he's 17, he's off marshalling on his own."
The Award recognises excellence by a volunteer marshal from any discipline of motor sport and the winner collects the prestigious trophy - as well as a cheque for £250 - at the MSA's annual Night of Champions awards evening. The ceremony is held at the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall in London during January and is attended each year by some of the most famous names in British motor sport.
Allan Dean-Lewis, Head of External Affairs at the Motor Sports Association commented: "Steve stands out as an individual who really epitomises what it means to be a marshal and he is truly an ambassador for the sport. He has demonstrated great maturity and professionalism, as well as a great deal of self-motivation. Steve's commitment extends right through the sport, beyond simply his own club, and the panel considered him to be an extremely worthy winner of this award."
In addition to Steve’s award, the Castle Combe Racing Club itself was awarded third prize in the JLT Sport/MSA Club of the Year. The Club receives an MSA Flag Trophy and £250, which will be formally presented at the Castle Combe Racing Club stand (7241 in Hall 7) during the Autosport International exhibition at the NEC in January.
In only its third year the club has been responsible for the recruitment of more than 100 new marshals and the training of more than 600. It has a policy of reinvesting surplus funds back to the sport with £20,000 recently being donated to marshals' welfare and approximately £100,000 of entry fees refunded back to competitors. Its 400+ members benefit from a range of discounts, including cheaper breakfasts on race days and reduced test fees.