Note: this column was originally written for the first planned staging on 23rd March
There’s a new look and a new feel to the Supporters Club in 2023. Not only do we have a snazzy new logo and snazzy new shirts to go with them, we’re also offering a few new things for the new season.
This year we’re offering the opportunity to become a member of the Supporters Club, and your membership comes with a whole host of benefits. We’ll be offering members discounts on OSSC travel, like the annual pilgrimage to Cardiff for the British SGP, and we’ll be offering members money off entry for every one of the SGP barbecues we host throughout the season at the Ampleforth in Risinghurst. If that wasn’t enough, by signing up as a Supporters Club member you get an OSSC ballpoint pen to fill in your programme, a reusable OSSC cotton tote bag to put your programme in, and a limited edition, exclusive for 2023 OSSC engraved steel travel mug. What’s the price for all of this good stuff, I hear you ask? A measly ten pounds. Membership packs have been selling fast, so to secure yours come and see us in the upper bar next to the track shop and we’ll take your details. If you’re reading this at home after the meeting, you can email us at info@ossc.me.uk to reserve your membership pack for the next meeting.
Also new for 2023 is the OSSC Rider of the Night award. At every meeting one of the home riders will be selected as Rider of the Night and receive a trophy and a gift from the Supporters Club. What will make the Oxford Rider of the Night award different to other clubs’ awards, though, is that on the nights where the award isn’t sponsored, it won’t be the Supporter’s Club committee making the decision. You’ll remember that last year the promotion donated a centregreen experience as a money-can’t-buy prize for our Raceday Jackpot draw. This year the lucky winner of the centregreen trip will also have the opportunity on selected nights to nominate their rider of the night, and present the award to their chosen rider on the centregreen once the meeting is finished. This is a truly fantastic opportunity that I don’t think you can get at any other track in the country, and all you need to do to get involved is spend a couple of pounds on Raceday Jackpot tickets.
Some things, however, never change, and 2023 sees the return of both Mark Dean’s Cheetahs Chronicle and the OSSC Coach to Cardiff for the British SGP. This month’s Chronicle includes another fascinating mix of articles, interviews and statistics that you won’t get anywhere else, and all for only £2. Mark will be selling in the upper bar on racenights, and all proceeds go to the Chargers. We’re about to start taking bookings for the Cardiff trip, so if you want to go to the biggest meeting of the year (at least, the biggest meeting of the year that’s not held at Sandy Lane) come and see us and get your name on the list. Don’t forget that OSSC members get a discount on the coach as well…
And so to tonight, where the new look Cheetahs take on a Swindon Robins side that features a couple of very familiar faces. It’s a real shame that for all the success of bringing Oxford back last year we haven’t been able to share the track with our nearest and dearest rivals from just down the road. If you’re one of the Swindon faithful and you’re here to support your boys, we hope you have a good time tonight, and we hope this won’t be the last time we see you this year. Here’s to a close meeting with excellent racing. And a win for the boys in blue.
Go Cheetahs
Gavin