Motorcyclists from across the world got on their bike, revved up their engines and headed to Market Drayton last weekend.The ninth annual Shires Bike Show took place in Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, last Friday and Saturday and organiser Ted Campbell said the event “put Market Drayton back on the map.”
People turned up from as far afield as Australia, America, Canada and Sweden to attend the two day festival managed to raise over £5,530 for charity.
Organiser, Ted Campbell, said: “The event went really well. An awful lot of people enjoyed themselves. There was an excellent range of people and over the entire weekend I think about 4000 turned up. Everyone young and old had a really good time and so far we have had no complaints.”
The two day extravaganza raised £1,880 for the County Air Ambulance, £1,000 for Hope House Hospice, £1,000 for the Oswestry Spinal Unit, £1,000 for Help for Heroes, £300 for the Market Drayton Army Cadet Force and £150 went to the the Christian Motorcycle Group.
A selection of motorcycles were on display and a number of rock bands perfrormed including the Jalapenos and Girlschool.
Ted said: “ The amount of money we raised and the entire day was fantastic.
“The bike show was extremely good but the highlight of the show was the Jalapenos who were brilliant. Girlschool were also very good.
“The event went off without a hitch and it is obvious it is a huge benefit to Drayton’s economy. There must have been around 2,500 people who went into the town centre to do a bit if shopping or sit and have a cup of tea. It really does put Market Drayton back on the map.”
Market Drayton Town Councillor, Mark Whittle, said the town centre was the busiest he had seen it for years.
He said: “A lot of praise has to be given to Ted Campbell and his colleagues who really did put on an excellent show. It was really, really, good. There were thousands of people coming into the centre of Market Drayton and I am sure the traders made a lot of money.
“Not only do a number of charities gain from being given vast sums of money but the entire Market Drayton economy benefits. The show really is good for the town.”
Next year will be the 10th anniversary of the Shires Bike Show and Ted Campbell is promising something special. He said: “We are in the planning stages at the moment, so I am not going to say what we’re doing but it is going to be big.”
Pick up a copy of this week’s Advertiser for all the pictures from the event
