Tuesday 11th June 2013
TT Press Office
Douglas, Isle of Man.
The longest serving TT marshal collected the 2013 PokerStars 'Spirit of TT' Award on behalf of the Isle of Man TT Marshals Association ahead of Friday's PokerStars Senior TT.
Eric Alexander from The Isle of Man, who will celebrate his 80th birthday next month, first marshalled in 1952 at the age of 19. He was a former Chief Sector Marshal and Deputy Sector Marshal on Sector three, between Greeba Castle and Ballig Bridge.
Eric had to interrupt his stint on duty at Gorseleigh on Friday to collect the award as the presentation was made at the TT Grandstand. He was picked up in one of the TT course cars after the bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight TT before being returned to his position ahead of the PokerStars Senior TT.
Commenting on the award Gary Thompson, MBE, BEM, Clerk of the Course said: "The award is a tribute not only to Eric but to all the Marshals for the work they do to make the event possible. This year they have been faced with all kinds of conditions but have been in place ahead of every qualifying session and race and ensured that the schedule can run to plan. The whole operation has run extremely well and that is a tribute to everyone who has signed up for the Orange Army."
Representatives from the Isle of Man Government's Motorsport team, TT rider liaison officers Richard Quayle and John Barton, ACU Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson and PokerStars Head of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser judged the award.
The award is given to the person or team who best represent the ethos and values of the TT Races. Previous winners of the award have included Paul Owen in 2010, Conor Cummins in 2011 and sidecar duo Ben and Tom Birchall who won the award in 2012.
PokerStars Director of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser commented: "It has been a very successful TT Races this year and there were a number of deserving candidates both on and off the track but it's highly appropriate that Eric and the Marshals have been recognised this year. They are a real local community based organisation that receives great support from the visitors every year and are an integral part in the event's success."
