Some Comments & Feedback

There are very many reports and photographs  on websites.
 Here's a few Shropshire Star - British Cycling - BBC Shropshire

Web Forum Comments:

"Velocista":  a note to Nick Jeggo too, Nick it was an awesome race, such a blueprint for how a cycling should be showcased to the non cycling public, definitely the BEST race in the whole of the UK, I hope we can see more races follow the same format next year. I think its taken a few years to get there but the more people that attend the Newport Nocturne and take ideas away with them (I am talking about possible race organisers here) has finally transferred into the emulation of the race across the country, you only have to look at the Smithfield Nocturne to realise that they were trying to bring the same thing to the centre of London. AWESOME!!!

"Richard" - that was an amazing night and everyone who was involved in the promotion of it should be justifiably proud. It really sold bike racing as a great spectator sport and is a shining example of how to do things professionally and for the crowd. Roll on 2009!

"Charlie Jackson" - What a fantastic event... thoroughly enjoyed it.
Congratulations to the whole organisation they certainly have a winning formula there. It certainly does sell the sport in a very positive way.
Why is it so good?
Can it be copied in other towns?
Can we have more like it?
Ps Congratulations to Holty too he rode well. Did you see the work he did and then only just get pipped by Russ in the bunch sprint?
 

"De Rosa" - The thing that really was noticeable, apart from the superb organisation, was the fact that the organisers had got real "buy in" from all the town, its community and its shops etc. We arrived early and walked around as they were setting up (very slickly) all the crash barriers etc. All the shops had something to do with bikes in their windows. Posters everywhere. And when you went into any of the local, privately owned shops - most of them open late - they were all doing great trade which obviously creates a virtuous circle for the next event. It really is a superb blueprint for how an event should be run. It seems to make more sense to run events like these in small to medium "market" towns rather than big cities which can seem quite impressive but somehow seem less sustainable and which lack the atmosphere. I have been to many crits in The Netherlands (as a spectator ) with real local commitment but I think Newport holds its own with the very best. Just fantastic.

On the negative side I think it is an absolute scandal it only runs every other year!

Emails:

Nick

Congratulations on a fantastic night of events, very well organised and in my mind the best so far. What a great advert for Newport and great for local business too, many I noticed stayed open late, and not just the chip shop! 

Any thoughts of making it an annual event? 

regards

 Steve Murphy


Thanks Nick & Mick for another brilliant night of racing.  Possibly the best yet, but then I probably say that every time!  Barras and Elliott were just tremendous on the night and were deserved winners of the races.

Well done, too, for getting the TdF stars to turn up and clearly enjoy themselves.  No doubt they had heard from their fellow riders what a great evening it is.
 
Many, many thanks once again
 
Alan Ferriday

Dear Nick
Hope you and Dad [and rest of family] have enjoyed a well deserved lie-in today!
What a triumph last night was!
Amazing entertainment, superb organisation and a taste of that, oh so rare, community spirit.  The Nocturne was marvelled at by the people I brought along and I am writing to thank you for such a wonderful evening in my old hometown.  Newport is so luck to have you!
Well done again,
Best regards
Fay
 
Fay Easton
Projects Director
Shropshire Enterprise Partnership Limited
 

Nick
Well done on a great night on Saturday, attendance was good as was the
format. Fantastic!
Regards
Andrew

 
Hi nick
 
terrific event - best by far.
We are really really on board next time round in 2 years and want to be associated with what you guys are doing - so if you could put us on your list that would be great!
 
best wishes
 
Andy Morgan

Dear Nick

Just thought I’d email to say what a fantastic event and thanks for organising!!  My husband and I really enjoyed ourselves and will make it a definite date in the diary every couple of years.  As a Shropshire Lass (living/working in London), I can’t believe I haven’t managed to get to it before, but will make every effort to attend in future years................ 

All in all, a very good event, thanks once again and keep up the good work.  Here’s to 2009!

Jill


Hi Michael & Nick
 
Absolutely brilliant evening! Amazing line up of stars and great racing. Porter & Jeggo double act should be on Eurosport! Hope injured rider and spectator are ok. Thanks again for organising such a great event.
 
Best regards
 
Paul Lingwood

Hi Nick,
Thanks for a great night! Everyone I've spoken to had a fantastic evening. Just wanted to tell you what an amazing job I think you and your dad do putting it all together. Keep up the good work eh ??
See you soon.
Yours
Angie Lukehurst
 
Nick,

Great event (again), I had a cracking afternoon/evening and was able to introduce a friend
to the abiding memory of my childhood, the potato scallop - luckily scoring the last 2 available (no more to be produced during the evening run) in that top-class chip shop a bit past the TT start ramp, followed by a good meal there. My friend was suitably impressed by the events and ambiance and thought it well worth the trip up from London and the 3am arrival home even though he had to go to work the next day.
........ it was good to see Malcolm Elliott ripping the legs off quality youngsters
like Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish as well as the silghtly more mature class acts like the Downings, Chris Newton etc.)
I'm going to try to encourage the club to organise a group outing for the next one - we have quite a few non-racing older members who I think would thoroughly enjoy it. There was a date clash with the (postpond) club track champs this time round, but hopefully that won't be the case in 2009!
Once again, thanks!

Regards,

Nigel Scales

Great event - really enjoyed it and thanks for the excellent job you did of promoting it.
 
Jonnie Woodall
Central Area Coordinator
www.i-Team.cc

Nick, 

I would just like to say a big THANKYOU for allowing me to ride the Nocturne; it was a great experience although a very short one with the main field, I didn’t want to leave the course when lapped riders were asked to leave - what a great experience. So many people were cheering us on, there wasn’t a place on the course were people were not shouting out my name it was amazing.

It was a great event, and the most amazing bike race I have ever ridden during the short time I have been involved in this sport. All my family had a great time and wanted to pass on their thanks also.

Take care and once again a BIG THANKYOU

Ken (Paramount CRT)


Hey, what a great evening. Absolutely fantastic mate.

I am trying to get Blackpool Council to move the Friday night event next year away from the circuit on the prom and we think we have them (and the police) convinced that it would be good to close the Golden mile and race there. So, I’d love some statistics to hit them with like : revenue to the town, police comments, any trouble, plus any other benefits you may have used to sell the concept. I’ll talk to you at some stage if you’ll be so kind.

 Thanks again – Fantastic. 

Charlie

Charles Jackson
Managing Director
Preston Recycling Ltd


 

Nick, would just like to say thanks for the ride last night, although I only did 35-40 mins the atmosphere was electric. To say it is a must ride for all cyclists is an understatement! Once again many thanks and I hope to see you for the next nocture.
 
kind regards
 
Simon Blythe

Hi,
firstly a big thanks for putting on such a great event. I went to school in newport for 7 years and its fantastic to see the town holding such a prestigious event. 
Thanks,
Jon Burrage


Dear All,
Just a quick note to confirm how much the staff and I at Clarkes Solicitors enjoyed the Newport Nocturne. Personally, I have never been before to the event and thoroughly enjoyed it especially the Battle of Beijing time trial lap race which was very exciting.
We were proud to be sponsoring such an event and as a result opened the office which was a great success.
You should be very proud of the amount of people that attended, its an asset to Newport - and what a successful and most enjoyable night it was
Best Regards Sue Whitticase
Practice Development Manager, Clarkes Solicitors