Thanks to Bryn for this latest update from the Wightlink Islanders. Ed
As deserved, after putting in countless hours of hard work whilst putting together our very exciting looking side for the 2013 National League season, our management duo of Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd are eagerly looking forward to a rest and enjoying the Christmas festivities.
However one of their winter signings, 19 year old Tom Perry, is looking beyond Christmas Day already to New Year’s Eve in fact, for that’s when he really intends to celebrate in style as doctors at his local hospital have told him that’s the day the plaster on his injured wrist will finally be coming off.
Preparing in earnest for 2013
And once that happens he can get down to preparing in earnest for 2013, a year that is going to be another action packed one for the Wolverhampton based youngster as he’ll also be riding Premier League with Somerset for a second successive season as well hopefully helping the Islanders achieve National League success.
“New Year’s Eve can’t come quick enough as far as I’m concerned,” he said eagerly, “because once the plaster’s off I can not only look, at long last, for some kind of employment to take me up to the start of the season and earn me some money, but can also get down to doing some serious training and get back into top shape.”
“Had to be patient”
Tom went on to say, “I had hoped that the break to my scaphoid sustained in a crash against Mildenhall would have healed quicker but I’ve just had to be patient and having to take an enforced rest has probably done me good if I’m honest.
“I say that for looking back to the lead up to my injury, at one stage I rode something like a dozen meetings in just over a fortnight and was feeling very drained at that stage but now I can’t wait to get back into action.”
Up for the challenge
“Riding for both the Isle of Wight and Somerset will keep me very busy I know but I’m up for the challenge and have, as much as this cast on my arm has allowed, been grafting away in the workshop on the bikes.” said Tom.
He finished by saying, “I’m also actively seeking and hoping to obtain some measure of sponsorship between now and the start of the season because, having not been able to work because of the injury, I really could do with some help in that respect and I’d work hard to repay any backing I might receive by not only repaying it by riding well but publicising any such backing as much as possible.”
And most certainly he’s amongst the several emerging young Brits within our sport who deserve some measure of backing if feasible for as his record in the sport so far demonstrates, he really is a fine prospect.
Good track record
In 2012 alone he finished runner up in the British Under 21 championship, qualified for the World Under 21 semis and became the first rider ever to win the British Under 21 Grasstack champion for a third successive year.
Messrs Hunt and Shepherd are looking forward to working with Tom and the rest of the exciting young Wightlink Islanders side they’ve put together in 2013 but, prior to that the management duo have a simple message for all the club’s fans – that being, “MERRY XMAS!”
Image: © Dudley Heathens
