Berwick boss "couldn't be prouder" after KO Cup glory

BERWICK owner Jamie Courtney admitted he “couldn’t be prouder” after his side landed their first KO Cup for 37 YEARS.

The Bandits drew 45-45 at Plymouth to secure the silverware on an emotional night in Devon. 

They achieved glory in front of over 300 fans who made the 500-mile trip from the Borders despite losing No.1 Peter Kildemand in an opening race horror crash. 

The Dane sustained a broken wrist but stayed in the pits to help out his team mates wrap up the biggest result for the club this century. 

Courtney, standing in for Stewart Dickson after the Scot was unable to travel due to a viral infection, was full of praise for the side which lifted the cup they last won when his father, Mark, was Berwick’s top rider in 1989.

He said: “I couldn’t be prouder of the boys, or more delighted for the fans who travelled in huge numbers and created a quite unbelievable atmosphere.

“Losing Peter was a huge blow and I am so upset that his career has ended this way. But he remained in the pits and helped keep the boys focused on the job in hand.

“We knew Plymouth would come hard early on but we weathered that and in reality had the answer for everything they threw at us.

“Nick was immense, Jordan too but all seven riders gave everything for me and the club tonight and thoroughly deserved their reward.

“There’s no doubt 37 years is a ridiculous wait to lift the trophy and the task for everybody at Berwick is to ensure that this is the start of something and not just a one-off trophy.

“Jye (Etheridge) scoring the points that clinched the win was the icing on the cake. Back in Berwick the Black and Gold was full to capacity watching on the big screen.

“Jye’s getting the party he spoke about at the start of the season and I’ve a feeling it will be going for some time yet!”

Words by Phil Lanning. 

Images by Taylor Lanning.