Somerset Rebels’ rider Olly Allen was voted their rider of the year at the club’s end of season presentation night.

THE curtain finally came down on the 2014 season for all connected with the Cases Somerset Rebels, when they staged their end of season presentation night.

The three main awards as voted by the fans went to Olly Allen (rider of the year), Charles Wright (most improved rider of the year) and Brady Kurtz (most entertaining rider of the year), while Pontus Aspgren was voted as riders’ rider of the year.

Additional awards were presented to Todd Kurtz (Fred Fountain Memorial Trophy), with Olly Allen (Merv Marsh Memorial Award for the track staff rider of the year), Charles Wright (SREF Rider of the Year) and Brady Kurtz (Bob Taylor Memorial Trophy for the fastest time of the season), all making it a brace of trophies for themselves.

Speaking of his award, which was presented to him by ex-rebel James Wright, Pontus Aspgren said to the packed Oaktree audience that “anyone of the team could have won this award, but it is something special when your own team-mates vote you as their rider of the year.”

Rider of the Year Olly Allen said after being presented with his award by representatives from Cases Ltd, the club’s main team sponsors: “It has been a fantastic season, I am thrilled and humbled to have been voted the fans’ rider of the year. I was completely shocked to have won the award, it means so much to me.”

There was also a special award made to Somerset mascot Henry Atkins, it being presented to him by Paul Starke, the 13-year-old Atkins having won the British Intermediate 250cc British Grasstrack Championship in his debut year in the 250cc class, in addition to which he also won two area grasstrack titles.

The final word of the night went to Somerset Promoter Debbie Hancock who said: “Despite just losing out in the championship final to Edinburgh we still had a great season and have ended the year with two trophies to our name which sit proudly here in the Oaktree.

“The lads in the team have been fantastic all year and a credit to the club and you can ask no more of that from your riders.”