Llandow Awards Night

Llandow Kart Club celebrated its 2008 season with the now-traditional awards night, held in the cosy surroundings of Wenvoe Village Hall on a wet and windy January evening.

With the decision to stage the prize-giving and buffet after the yearly AGM, a good crowd was present to debate matters pertaining to 2009, before the serious part of the evening got underway with circuit commentator Henry Beaudette doing his bit to build up the atmosphere as special guest – and multiple karting and FFord champion - Nathan Freke handed out the trophies.
 
As he has for several seasons, Macaulay Austin led the way as he collected his third club Cadet Comer title in as many years, and was joined on the dais by first year racers Jed Hicks and Morgan Rose, who celebrated second and third overall.

By contrast to the seasoned Austin, Harvey Lanaway is just starting out in the sport, but still took Cadet Honda honours in his first full year as just reward for the miles of travel he and his family have put in from the south of England to support the LKC series. Ross Chell and Marcus Lewis picked up the trophies for second and third.
 
Junior Honda also saw a new wave of trophy winners, as Jamie Warren claimed the biggest piece of silverware, and was joined in the celebrations by Ferdinand Ball and Lloyd Sealy.

After finishing fourth in 2006 and second in ’07, Sebastian Hutchinson finally claimed the Junior TKM 2-Stroke championship, ahead of Dilip Singh and Sam Morgan.

Junior TKM 4-Stroke was a different story, however, as Ryan Howells claimed a third straight title in what is rumoured to be possibly his final year of karting. Liam Jones edged cousin Zach for second overall and will be a hot tip for 2009.
 
Joshua Collings emerged as champion in a resurgent Junior Max class, beating off the challenges of series returnee JJ Wilson and Josh Gray, while Sam Marsh earned suitable reward for his efforts to visit Llandow from over the border as he won his first LKC title in the equally well-supported Minimax. Ryan Wheeler and Englishman Oliver Pidgley claimed the remaining silverware.

Senior Honda saw repeat titles in both classes, with a second crown – and clean sweep of LKC, Welsh and Celtic championships - for Gareth Lewis, who ended the year ahead of the youngest and oldest members of the field, Simon Evans and Paul Saunders, the veteran taking third spot for the fourth straight year.

The Heavyweight crown went, once again, to Hugh Jones, who saw off the challenge of  Graham Davies in a sadly depleted field. Both are expected to 'graduate' to the lightweight set if they return next year.
 
Where Senior Honda once held the crown as best-supported class at Llandow, Senior Max has emerged with the biggest fields and closest racing over the past year, and Matthew Dowers had to work hard to earn the crown, ahead of Chris Davis and Liam Revell in an excellent year-long battle.

In addition to the usual championship spoils, there were several annual awards to be handed out to mark individual performances, with Cadet Comer driver Ben Davies being named as the most improved graduate of Llandow’s renowned Race Academy.

Elsewhere, revered Welsh karter Peter Stephens named Junior Max champ Josh Collings as the most improved driver of the year, while Cadet Honda king Harvey Lanaway picked up the nomination as most improved driver in the Honda classes from club stalwart Ken Denscombe, who was a welcome addition to the night after some time away from the sport.

Paul Saunders won a new race helmet in the raffle, while Sam Marsh's dad Richard will get a seat of the pants ride in former LKC regular Nick Jones’ Renault Clio Cup car.
The club also honoured former steward Evelyn Maund, current club steward Kath Beaudette, timekeeper Margaret Evans, starter Jackie Rodde, secretary Sheila Jones and announcer Kath Denscombe, who was also returning to the club after a recent bout of poor health.

With little time to catch its breath, the club will now commence its tenth year of racing on the third Sunday in February.

Written By Craig Llewellyn/Henry Beaudette