We have been very innovative in relation to sport on the Isle of Man.

Coming up soon are the International TT races first run on the St John’s Course in 1907 and then on to the mountain circuit in 1911.

Motor sport commenced on the island in 1904 with the Gordon Bennett eliminating trial and in 1905 with the first Isle of Man Tourist Trophy for racing automobiles.

The opportunity had been taken because the UK authorities had speed and other restrictions.

The name Tourist Trophy has great historic value and the races have continued despite losing World Championship status after the 1976 event.

Many at the time forecast that the races would cease. They were wrong.

When I was Minister of Tourism and chair of the TT organisation between 1996 and 2006, lots of people commented that 2007, the centenary of the TT races, would be the last event and I spent a lot of time countering such suggestions.

Here we are on the eve of the 2023 TT and, in a ‘cotton wool’ world, individuals who seek more than the norm and who are no longer forced to compete for World Championship points do so for the challenge, which is like no other in motorcycle racing but has a number of similarities with other adrenaline sports.

It could be said that the TT was the original ‘extreme sport’ where like explorers or mountain climbers the event constitutes a challenge which cannot be resisted by those involved.

Comparisons with Superbikes or Grand Prix events are not valid, road racing is a very different discipline in motor sport.

My purpose today is to highlight the importance of sponsors to sport in all its forms.

From those far-off days at the start of the last century – and given the costs involved in obtaining the best machinery and preparation these days – it would be impossible for most without such support.

As an ‘also-ran’ in the Manx Grand Prix over a number of years from 1976 to my final race in 1998, I know I had to work day and night to be able to fund my racing. Now the costs are much in excess of when I started.

Back then there were a number of sponsors such as Des Collins from Wilson and Collins who, through their enthusiasm, enabled young riders who showed flair to maximise their opportunities through the best machinery.

Fortunately there are many organisations who get involved at different levels of sponsorship these days but a number of competitors still have to find imaginative ways of funding their sport such as ‘crowd funding’, or from the local pub or small business or friends and family.

We’ve just witnessed the spectacle of the 2023 Manx Youth Games, a real success story that started with my team at the National Sports Centre and in conjunction with the Isle of Man Sports Council in 2002.

Thousands of young people on our island have been able to try out one of the sports available and have gone on to great success at senior level.

From day one we were very fortunate to have the support of HSBC Isle of Man to offer financial and logistical support and for the last two events Sporting Club Isle of Man have provided the means to enhance the event alongside government and Isle of Man Sport.

The Island Games which coincided with the Isle of Man Year of Sport in 1985 and have since become firmly established on the international sporting stage are another example of business sponsorship coordinated with the host island.

The late Geoffrey Corlett and Noel Cringle, with others, can look down with pride at what has been achieved.

The principal sponsor is NatWest International and the last event was held in Gibraltar in 2019 with around 2000 competitors from 22 islands participating in 14 sports.

The next games in July this year, postponed from 2021, will be held in Guernsey.

It was a real thrill for all involved to host the first games of the new millennium in the Isle of Man in 2001. The games came home!

Isle of Man Sport over many years has financially supported off island travel, training, coaching and much more through Sport Aid a Manx registered charity established in 1991. The principal sponsorship for these activities comes the government via Isle of Man Sport.

There are a number of private sector partners who work in tandem with Isle of Man Sport.

Another highlight is the annual Isle of Man Sports Awards held at the Villa Marina, which commenced in 2002.

In that year Sportsman of the Year was Richard (Milky) Quayle and Sportswoman of the year Cheryl Done. Sports Administrator of the Year was Dot Tilbury who has the same enthusiasm today at the weekly cycling races at the NSC as she did back then and valuable sponsorship continues via RL360.

Many years ago when I was racing motorcycles I wrote to a number of potential sponsors including the then Sports Council who in my opinion ironically stated they didn’t consider motorcycle racing in their remit.

I was however more successful from my pleadings to the late John Cowley at Heron and Brearley who must have known I was a regular customer!

On a very minor level when I had the shop and since I’ve tried to help support sports people chasing their dreams.

I remember many years ago a youthful Conor Cummins talking to me and saying despite numerous letters he had sent out to potential sponsors he was getting nowhere. In fact some weren’t even replying.

We gave him some support and I was delighted that in the years that followed he went on to race for the Honda Team and currently Milenco by Padgetts.

The other ongoing commitment I’m involved in and have continued after the shop closed is the Annual Manx Fell Runners New Year’s Day fell race at St John’s.

Hundreds of people take part from serious athletes to those seeking a cold refreshing dip in the river after New Year excess!

The entry fees for the event are put towards charities each year with my minor support covering the admin.

Thousands of pounds have been raised for good causes over the years. I guess my involvement must be nearer 25 years than 20. Such a fun event and a great fundraiser!

As I’ve said before it’s always nice when someone comments on my weekly jottings here.

The latest was George Bannan when I was getting the shopping in this week.

An accomplished race walker in his day up to 20 miles, he told me a story from back in the 1960s.

He obviously travelled off island to compete in race walking events and told me he approached the Steam Packet as the travel away to compete was a significant expense for a young athlete.

He told me that he was successful and became the first to receive such support and even better they provided him with a five shilling (25p) luncheon voucher.

Now I don’t know if that covered the silver service luncheon on the old Steam Packet boats but George was very grateful for their support.

I wonder how many others going away to represent our Island in sport has benefited from such support over the years?