OLLIE Allen took the coveted rider of the year award at the Somerset Rebels end of season presentation.

Charles Wright took the Most Improved Rider of the Year award and Brady Kurtz was awarded Most Entertaining Rider of the Year, while Pontus Aspgren was voted the Riders’ Rider of the Year.

Additional awards were presented to Todd Kurtz (Fred Fountain Memorial Trophy) with Olly Allen (Merv Marsh Memorial Award for the track staff Rider of the Year), Charles Wright (SREF Rider of the Year) and Brady Kurtz (Bob Taylor Memorial Trophy for the fastest time of the season) all made it a brace of trophies.

Speaking of his award, which was presented to him by ex-rebel James Wright, Pontus Aspgren said to the packed Oaktree audience that “anyone of the team could have won this award, but it is something special when your own team-mates vote you as their rider of the year.”

“I have had my best year ever of riding in the UK, I’m really happy with the way things have gone and riding for Somerset has made me a much better rider.”

Rider of the Year Olly Allen said after being presented with his award by representatives from Cases Ltd, the club's main team sponsors: “It has been a fantastic season, I am thrilled and humbled to have been voted the fans’ Rider of the Year. I was completely shocked to have won the award, it means so much to me.

While it may have been Brady Kurtz’s first Presentation Night, event compare Spencer Bishop commented on the fact it was the second time that suit Kurtz was wearing had made a previous appearance at a Somerset End of Season Dinner.

“Yes,” Kurtz confirmed after receiving his award from Sam Abbott of Somerset team partners TQ Exel, “Josh Grajczonek lent me the suit, it being the one he wore to last season’s Presentation Night and as he got a couple of awards I thought wearing it might bring me a bit of luck.”

“I’ve had a great year riding here [for Somerset], it was just a pity that I couldn’t be out there with the rest of the team for that Championship Final, but hopefully I’ll make up for it next year.”

There was also a special award for Rebels mascot Henry Atkins, presented by Paul Starke.

Henry, 13, won the British Intermediate 250cc British Grasstrack Championship in his debut year in addition to winning two area grasstrack titles.