Race History

The event started in 1970 as a means for Michael Jeggo and his late partner Doug Davies to publicise their new company, Davies and Jeggo Motors. It was first staged as a 109 miles road race over a 6 mile circuit, taking in Newport, Chetwynd Firs and Edgmond.

Later the course was improved by taking it through Newport High Street, over Cheney Hill to Edgmond and on to Lilleshall. Although the circuit was the same length, it was much more crowd friendly. Consequently the race grew in stature, attracting Britain's top Pro riders and generating the biggest crowds in the UK for a once day event.

Dave Lloyd wins the
1974 Davies & Jeggo Road Race

Gradually the race became less the Davies and Jeggo Road Race and more the Newport Road Race as more sponsors from around the area became involved. After several years as a mainstay of the National Pro Road Race Series, Michael Jeggo tendered for the National Road Race Champs. His bid was successful and the race was the best Championship for years.

The Championship came to Newport the following 2 years, until a new rule meant that no venue could hold the Championship for more than 3 years. This meant he had the problem of producing an event to top the National Championships! One day his son Nick was driving on the A1 to Yorkshire and noticed the huge industrial lights illuminating the road works and the idea for a Nocturne was born.

The Nocturne was run in 1989, '90 and '91 in front of massive crowds. Unfortunately the recession meant that a couple of major sponsors were subsequently lost and rather than stage a second rate event, the '92 event was cancelled.

10 years on and Newport Town Council approached Michael Jeggo to help put the town back on the map. Their generous grant gave him the foundation to attract new sponsors and re-stage he event.

After the success of the 2001 race, the event caught the attention of the Shropshire Star newspaper. In 2003, the newly named "Shropshire Star Newport Nocturne" attracted around 14,000 spectators. The massive crowd was due, in part, to the massive amount of support given by the newspaper, but also to the appearance by cycling superstar, Sean Kelly. Kelly was generously brought over for the event by Parker International, Britain's top cycling retailers.

2005 saw the added attraction of the One Lap Challenge for Britain's Olympic track riders. This unique showpiece event made the 2005 Nocturne one of the best ever despite the rain.