A strong band of talented motorcyclists were presented with their awards at the 63rd Annual dinner of Mildura Motorcycle Club last Saturday night.

The well attended dinner was held in the Auditorium of the Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club, the major sponsor of the Motorcycle Club, in keeping with the now long established tradition of mutual co-operation between the two bodies.

Individual presenters paid tribute to the various recipients in the particular categories of achievement in the Motorcycle Club.

The competition clubman, “Rigby Trophy” was made to Club Captain, Brock Gates, who has completed an excellent season, riding and excelling in every discipline offered in the Club.

The Motorcross, “Stevenson Trophy,” was presented to Life member and Club Motorcross stalwart, Rohan Hollis, who continues his riding activity at the top level well into middle age.

In what was an impressive roundup of awards to the younger Sedgmen brother, Justin, who is now riding in England and Europe professionally, he was awarded the “Nemstas Trophy”, speedway solo aggregate, while the Byren Gates and Mick O’Loughlin Sidecar team took out the “Teague Trophy,” for the speedway Sidecar aggregate. Gates and O’Loughlin finished their season in fine form, taking a sixth place in the 2010 Australian Title meeting in Newcastle over the Easter weekend.

The Dirt Karters Trophy went to the most highly decorated driver in the country when Rob Latta took the award. Rob has two National Titles as well as many State Championships and podium positions to his name, in what has been a memorable, even if well travelled season for him and his family.

The newest Trophy in the list was the initial awarding of the Quad Racers trophy, which went to Club committeeman, Troy Mills. Mills has been most active in getting and assisting recruits to the Quad discipline, which includes, even three generations of his own family. The category continues with good growth and great entertainment.

Both the Karts and Quads have been a welcome addition to the Olympic Park program and their individual racing is enjoyed by many speedway fans around Sunraysia.

The two major Club awards for the night are the Competition excellence award, the “Winton Shield,” which went to Justin Sedgmen, in recognition of the stellar start to his professional riding career both in Australia and overseas. Sedgmen, even at the time of the dinner, was in Krsko, Slovenia, waiting to take part in a semi-final of the World Under 21 Championship, the ultimate results of which saw the young Sedgmen finish just out of a place to progress to the World Title series in the coming months. The award to Justin was well recognized by all in attendance as an indication of further things to come for the Merbein youngster.

The Best Club member award, the “Gaulke Trophy,” went to committee member and energetic worker John Willcock, who is the Club’s liaison with the State’s DSE as well as the local CMA. John’s continued work, especially in the management, husbandry and re-afforestation of the Johnston’s Bend site, has been well recognized by the departmental and State agencies. John continues to encourage all members through his work and commitment to the future of the Club.

In what turned out to be a great night for the Sedgmen family, there were Life Memberships awarded to both Garry Watt and Gavin Sedgmen in recognition of their many years of valued service to the Club. Both members were delighted to receive their Life membership badges and join some of the elite members in the Club’s history. Both men were elected to Life membership even thought hey have concentrated their efforts in different areas of Club activity.

The Sedgmens join the Crumps in having both father and son as Life members of the club. These latest two members complete a list of only forty five members who have ever been awarded the ultimate prize in the sixty three year history of the Club.

Representatives of the Clubs major sponsors were official guests with Directors of the Coomealla Club, Deputy President, Garry Harding and Norm Simms, the current MRCC Deputy Mayor, Cr. Sue Nicholls and former Mayor, Cr. John Arnold as well as WinTV Manager, Ms. Tess Lane and Sunraysia Riverland Refrigerated Services, Tania and Terry Meredith along with Noddy and Alison Riordan, from Riordan’s Paint and Panel and Director of North West Funerals, Mathew Spain, representing the Club’s most recent naming rights and season sponsor.

A great night was held and all members are looking forward to the new season coming, which will again see the Club hosting the final round of the 2011 Australian Solo Title as well as being the venue for the recently announced, Leigh Adams Testimonial, which will probably be the biggest meeting ever staged at Olympic Park.