I WOULD like, through your letters columns, to send a heartfelt and massive thank you' to the many people who contributed in so many different ways to the incredible promotional success of the British Cycle Speedway Championships staged at Goshen Sports Centre on Bank Holiday Monday.

Mr David Chaytor, MP for Bury North, the Mayor Of Bury, Coun Jack Walton, The Queens of the Kasbah dance troupe who entertained the very large crowd estimated at well over 1,000 on the very difficult, wet and soggy grass of the track centre, and Miss Laura Rothwell, who sang the National Anthem so well. All of these enhanced what was already, a magnificent showcase for the actual racing on the track.

All of the 32 qualifying riders, 16 in each event, who had survived two days of intensive action on northern tracks to reach the final stages, produced some terrific track action on a superbly prepared surface which allowed them to really race, not always the case on these occasions.

Congratulations to the Open champion Lee Aris, who achieved the first ever 20 points maximum score from five rides, five wins, in the history of the championship in its 55th year.

Also all the numerous advertisers and sponsors, local and not so local, large and small, each one of whom provided the vital funds to support the very expensive promotion, more than supported by a very welcome grant from the Lottery Awards For All' which allowed the club to enhance its recruitment campaign.

We cater for all ages from seven to 70, also to send members on first aid and coaching courses, all so vital these days.

The multitude (well it seemed like that) of helpers on the day, members, families, friends, and even friends of friends, some we had never seen before, who toiled in awful conditions.

To everyone one involved on the day and for weeks before, preparing the track and equipment - a massive thank you.

Finally I should explain that the whole thing was financed by the club and it supporters, including paying out thousands of pounds to Sky Sports to come and film the event for future transmission in the Sport Nation programme.

Cycle speedway and the Bury club are totally amateur, run entirely by unpaid volunteers, and it has to be said that it was terribly disappointing, while not unexpected, that the contribution to this magnificent occasion both for the club, and the town of Bury, from our leaders at Bury MBC, was nil, zero....zilch.

A Mann Founder and club secretary, Bury Cycle Speedway Club