Weston Beach Race 2009...Is this the end?
By TMX Archives on 15th Oct 09
THE main Weston Beach Race, the biggest single event in the British off-road calendar, was halted and eventually cancelled last Sunday following a multi-rider crash on the main straight soon after the start as around 800 machines thundered away from the line. As the leaders, led by Shaun Simpson, sped down the straight towards the opening dunes, totally oblivious to what was happening behind them, marshals and medics were rushing to to the aid of those caught-up in the melee.
In total, 17 riders involved in the incident were in need of medical attention and the majority were taken to and treated in hospital in Weston. One rider, who was later confirmed as being Ty Kellett, son of well-known off-road rider Nibs Kellett, was seriously injured and was transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. T+MX understands that the 16 year-old, competing in his second Weston Beach Race, suffered head and leg injuries. Ty's condition was later described as "serious” and following an operation he was being kept under observation in the hospital's intensive care unit.
Weather conditions were fine on Saturday when the main Quad and Sidecar race was run, although the start was delayed by half an hour as a strong wind was hindering the tide's efforts to go out. On Sunday, the weather had deteriorated and strong winds were driving rain down the beach and once again the tide was struggling to ebb and was encroaching onto the start straight.
SAID freelance journalist, Simon Evans, Trials and Motocross News' reporter on the main race, which he was to carry out with assistance from Bryan Atkinson. "I was situated down at the bottom of the course while Bryan was on the main straight. The race started just five minutes late at 12.35pm. Neither myself nor the several thousand spectators in this area knew anything about the crash, nor it would seem did many of the riders. I would say around 100 or so competitors cleared the first dunes before they choked-up with riders, as they do.
"I then moved back to the start straight to await the leaders but it was then obvious there had been an incident as I could see blue lights flashing up near the start. At the bottom of the course we had no idea what was going on as there was no tannoy and I saw no red flags.
"Bryan then contacted me by phone and said that the race was to re-start at 2pm with a rolling start. This message was relayed to spectators.
"Then came a message that there were serious injuries and the race would now re-start at 3pm with race duration shortened to two-hours.
"Finally, at 2.25pm news reached us that the race had been cancelled.
"I made my way back to the start and witnessed heated scenes at the ticket office where a number of spectators were trying to get their money back while others were seeking news on the injured riders.”
FREELANCE photographer Bryan Atkinson was on the spot at the time of the accident and was taking pictures of the mass start while the accident happened. Said Bryan: "I have no idea what happened, I was concentrating hard on the job and it just happened in front of me. The police then approached me and asked if I had photographs of the incident and could they have my memory card to copy.
"Of course I gave them the card but when I opened the file when I got home I found that the pictures had been deleted. Whether this was deliberate or not I don't know. I'm not upset as I wouldn't want to see them printed.”
IN an initial press release, issued on Monday morning, outlining the incident Gareth Hockey, director of the Beach Race promoter RHL Activities Limited stated: "It was immediately obvious that the crash was a serious one and that a number of the injured riders would require medical attention on the track. As a result there was no hesitation in stopping the race to allow the medical teams safe access to the injured riders. Unfortunately, one of the riders involved in the crash sustained more serious injuries. At this time we haven't received any additional information as to the extent of these injuries.”
Conditions were far from perfect at Weston on Sunday as this pre-race picture shows.