1999 Was an important year for us, because the Welsh Team had no manager (Fiona Price had resigned after just 1 year) me and Gail decided to step in as Welsh Team Managers as we new that if we didn't then all of the funds that we raised for the Australia trip the previous year but had not been used, would be frittered away on other things. Well we set off with good intensions but things soon turned bad, first of all Simon Evans crashed and dislocated his hip so he was out of the race, The riders did two laps of the course each day and Wynne hope came in at the end of the first lap and said that his neck was hurting after a big crash but he was otherwise O.K. so he would continue, however at the end of the second lap he came to me so that I could have a look at his neck and I soon realised that he now  had a large lump sticking out of the top of his race shirt. We took him to the sick bay but were told that we would have to take him to hospital so we cadged a lift with the Army who were going to the hospital to visit Kev Murrey who had hurt his back, When Wynne arrived at the hospital they soon had him strapped to a stretcher and had him x rayed. By the time we arrived they had realised that he had a very serious break and they were amazed that he was still able to walk, the staff were very helpful and gave him very good treatment while he was there. Even though it was a university hospital the conditions were not very good and it just makes you appreciate what we have in the NHS. Wynne, Simon and Kev all made a full recovery (Kev had Broken his back and the Army air lifted him back to the U.K.)

The weather in Portugal was very hot right up until the final day when there was heavy rain and the final motocross had to be cancelled after a couple of races, however the Purple Helmets kept us entertained with their stunt riding. There was also a display from Steve Ireland who did a streak across the motocross track in just his MX boots accompanied by a loud cheer from the Croud.

Welsh Team Riders Neil Williams, Simon Evans, Wynne Hope, Mark Davies, Chris Price, Craig Bounds.

Welsh Team with Team managers Phill Hodges and Gail Lucas and Sponsors, Sue and Ray Hockey.

Parc Ferme

The BMW display Team

Seated riders Chris Price and Neil Williams

Team Supporters Big Jimmy, Julie Evans and Lynn Williams.

because of the Heat we needed to keep the mooses cool so we acquired a paddling pool but unfortunately we could not keep the riders out of it.

305 Neil Williams. Unfortunately Neil passed away while out on his mountain bike in 2014

Everyone waiting for the announcement that the final motocross would be cancelled.

The purple Helmets display Team