Figures from finance and sports promotion are working together to raise the profile of the Isle of Man’s potential as a world-class competitive cycling destination.
Oliver Last, a retention and loyalty specialist with Scottish Widows, and Steve Shimmin, founder of SAS Events, are among the many in the Manx cycling fraternity with a vision to see the Isle of Man become a major player in hosting elite cycling events and are also keen to encourage all ages and abilities to take part in the sport.
Mr Last, a past chairman of the Isle of Man Cycling Association who also had a previous involvement with Isle of Man Cycling week and the Isle of Man Youth tour, was one of the lead organisers of the Blackfords Port St Mary Nocturne cycle races in September, for which Scottish Widows sponsored some of the prizes. He said: ‘This was the second Blackfords Port St Mary Nocturne event organised in collaboration with the local commissioners and marked a first for involvement from the Lloyds Banking Group, the parent company to Scottish Widows. The aim was to bring together businesses and the local community in a way that would promote cycling and also help raise funds for charity, this year Sport Erin - Southern Nomads Rugby Union football club - and Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation.’
Mr Last, who raced as a junior and is looking to get back in the saddle once more, family and work commitments permitting, continued: ‘This year’s nocturne attracted more than 120 entrants and the Microgaming Lighthouses Challenge about 250, so there’s clearly an appetite for cycling events in an island that’s been the birthplace of such sporting champions as Mark Cavendish and Peter Kennaugh. In the long term we’d like to see the Isle of Man firmly on the cycling map for hosting races that would attract top continental riders. For the more immediate future, though, we’re looking to grow the number of competitive local events, some of which will be aimed at attracting off-island competitors which will assist in providing a positive economic benefit to the Island, with the support of like-minded individuals from business, government and the wider community.’
Mr Shimmin explained: ‘When organising any type of sporting event there is a considerable amount of work involved that is perhaps not appreciated by the general public and participants. Risk assessments, logistics planning, road traffic plans, catering, financial and contingency planning to name but a few, all have to be completed prior to any event proceeding.
‘Ollie Last provides support to SAS Events with all the aspects of event promotion and it is difficult to imagine staging the events we do without his valuable enthusiastic assistance, insight and hours of work. Scottish Widows also provided support for the recent Blackfords Port St Mary Nocturne Criterium by way of sponsoring the prizes for the hotly contested youth categories in addition to allowing Ollie the opportunity to provide this type of support to the community. There are many events in the Island that simply would not take place without this kind of consideration to community projects that companies such as Scottish Widows provide.
‘SAS Events have plans to stage some very special larger scale promotions in the medium future and we will require all of Ollie Last’s skills and the continued support of Scottish Widows to make these happen for the Isle of Man.’
Scottish Widows’ managing director Juan Clarke added: ‘Scottish Widows has a long tradition of encouraging young people in their sporting endeavours. In the recent past we have supported junior golf at Peel Golf Club, a netball squad from Castle Rushen High School and visiting junior rugby teams. We have also lent support to two of our colleagues who took part in endurance cycling challenges through Europe.
‘We saw the Blackfords Port St Mary Nocturne as a good fit with our community engagement programme and were pleased to be associated with an event that highlighted the enthusiasm for cycling that exists at every level of ability and in every age group. I congratulate Ollie and Steve on their efforts to see the Isle of Man become recognised internationally as a centre of competitive cycling excellence.’
Further information about SAS Events can be found at www.sasevents.im.
Photo - Scottish Widows managing director Juan Clarke, right, and colleague Oliver Last, centre, with Steve Shimmin of SAS Events.
