Scott's Ben Fund Thoughts
Latest News Wednesday 5th March 2025, 8:00am
Twelve names are already known for the Ben Fund Bonanza at Oxford on Sunday 23rd March (6pm) and the lineup is reckoned to be the best for the event since at least the Rye House staging of 2010. Tickets are already on sale via the Oxford or SRBF websites.
Oxford's captain of the past three seasons Scott Nicholls, who won't be fit in time to ride in the Bonanza, has stressed the importance of clubs and riders supporting the Ben Fund in an article he has done for the meeting programme.
He said "I think there's a lot of riders out there who are not actually aware of how much the Ben Fund put in to the sport. What they provide and how much passion they have. It's a shame because what they do is unbelievable. I think the Bonanza is something that every rider should do, maybe not contractual but I think it should be highlighted to them just how important the Ben Fund people are, and how much they do.
"I think it's something that the promoters should be more aware of promoting, and also notifying the riders just what they do. Sometimes it seems an imposition to go out for the Ben Fund collections during a match, when you are trying to do a job, but if it was emphasised just how much they actually give, the riders would probably say "No problem at all!." It is awesome what they do, it really is, and I think a lot of riders would be absolutely screwed without it.
"I think every club should have the Ben Fund on the race suit. They could have something on their websites detailing what they do, because a lot of people will not actually be aware what it is. It's only right that they tell people what it is and what it supports."
No new names have been confirmed this week for the remaining places but they won't be long delayed.
The Bonanza will be a landmark event for Scottish referee Jim McGregor. It's become an honour to referee the Ben Fund and Jim is the first to be asked to officiate twice, having previously done the 2014 meeting at Leicester. This will be his final meeting as he has passed the current upper age limit.
Jim said "That's 32 years I've been involved as a referee. I will miss it because I did thoroughly enjoy refereeing. It's all got to come to an end at some point. I was quite honoured when Paul phoned me and asked me to do the Bonanza again. I said "Paul I've done it before," and he answered "I know that but I thought it would be a really good meeting for you to finish on," so I said "Well I'm delighted to accept."
A fund raiser for the Ben Fund is set to take place at the Wheatley New Club, 3 Blenheim Lane, Wheatley, Oxfordshire OX33 1NJ on Friday (March 7) at 7.30pm. It will a Race Evening / Social Night, where participants can choose a rider (similar to horse racing race evenings). There will be eight races, plus an auction race at the end of the evening. The event is being organised by Oxford supporter Neil Ramsden. The Ben Fund mascot will be present at the event.
Ben Fund Bonanza 2025 field so far: Jason Doyle, Charles Wright, Sam Masters, Danny King, Tom Brennan, Erik Riss, Tobiasz Musielak, Adam Ellis, Freddie Lindgren, Lewis Kerr, Max Fricke, Maciej Janowski.
