MORT’S MISSION: AN UNEXPECTED FINALE

THE heroic fundraising ride from Cardiff to Wroclaw for the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund undertaken by Chris Morton, John Curtis and Derek Richardson took a dramatic and unwanted turn on Saturday night just before the Wroclaw Grand Prix.

Chris was taken ill just before they went out on track to be greeted by the huge crowd and to get the reception they deserved. He was taken to hospital and had an emergency hernia operation that night, as the condition was successfully dealt with. He has been in hospital since then and will be released today.

Fortunately SRBF secretary Stephanie Babb is a retired nurse and she was with Chris throughout, and has stayed on in Poland past her intended departure date. Chris’s wife Jackie is flying to Poland today. In the aftermath of the operation, Chris is not permitted to fly and so plans are being made to get him home by different means.

The cyclists did get out on track, minus Chris, at Wroclaw and by that time they had been joined by five time World Champion Ove Fundin (91) for the conclusion of the ride.

SRBF Chairman Paul Ackroyd said “Ove was the star of the show, signing autographs and posing for photos. They all got a tremendous reception on their lap of honour.”

Former Ipswich rider Savalas Clouting was another hero of the trip, driving the backup vehicle with his colleague Gavin Rackham, and they also are starting the long journey back.

Donations to boost the fund are still being gratefully received at https://gofund.me/e19faaab