Latest news with #OultonPark
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Racing drivers prompt safety concerns on west Lancashire by-pass
Cars racing along a major road in Lancashire are prompting concerns from residents and local racing on the Rainford Road by-pass in Bickerstaff is happening mostly on Sunday nights during quieter hours, councillor Adrian Owens road, which straddles Lancashire and Merseyside, has a 60mph (96.5 km/h) limit and has been the scene of several serious accidents in the Constabulary has urged witnesses to report any sightings of speeding on the road. Owens said: "It's a relatively straight road, there are roundabouts so they have sections, they can time themselves, have races along those sections and that's what they've been doing."The councillor said residents had raised concerns about the issue and appealed for any drivers who want to race to do so safely at a dedicated track."Go to Oulton Park, go to one of the racetracks that we've got in the North West and do it safely and professionally on a proper racetrack," he Constabulary said: "We always take reports of speeding and anti-social driving seriously and will carry out speed checks and have patrols in areas where concerns are raised." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Revealed: Steve Rider's 20-year grudge with Gary Lineker after ex-Match of the Day host 'took his job' - as iconic broadcaster sends parting shot following retirement
Broadcasting great Steve Rider has sensationally claimed that former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker 'took his job'. Rider's 48-year-career in the industry came to an end on Sunday as he was part of ITV4's presentation team for the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park. He became a familiar face on British TV screens after becoming a regular presenter on BBC 's Grandstand. Rider also led coverage for rugby, golf, motorsports and rowing events for the BBC, along with Sports Personality of the Year. He then left the BBC in 2005 to join ITV, where he became the anchor of their F1 and World Cup coverage. Now his feud with ex-Match of the Day anchor Lineker, which stretches back two decades, can be revealed. When he returned to ITV in 2005, Rider was said to be unimpressed by the BBC's decision to replace him as its leading golf presenter with Gary Lineker. Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: 'Most other observers knew that Gary was the wrong man in the wrong job.' Rider also expressed surprise at Lineker's zeal to become involved with politics while working for the organisation. He added: 'To put forward his opinions so energetically, you need to step outside the framework of the BBC. 'That message was never convincingly conveyed to him by the BBC, and that's where they are at fault. 'He needed people looking after him before he pressed the button on some fairly volatile retweets. He needed to be saved from himself. So, there was a kind of inevitability about it.' Those comments come a decade after he described the R&A - golf's governing body - of being 'pompous' and acting as though they were 'superior beings'. Further scathing comments to The Golf Paper in 2015 saw him state: 'For four years, the R&A and most other observers knew that Gary was the wrong man in the wrong job. Hazel Irvine has just delivered once again at the Open presentation skills of the highest quality. 'Not many people can do that and Gary certainly came up short. 'Roger Mosey, the head of sport, knew Gary was a golf fanatic and was further encouraged by Gary apparently volunteering for the Masters vacancy within a few minutes of my exit from Television Centre. 'But if Mosey thought long and hard before offering Gary the golf job, it's even more baffling. Match of the Day is scripted and rehearsed.
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
BBC and ITV broadcaster retires after 48-year career with tributes pouring in from sporting icons
A BBC and ITV broadcasting legend has retired after his 48-year career in the industry came to an end. Steve Rider, 75, bid farewell for the final time after being part of the presentation team on ITV4 for the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park. Ryder's contributions to Formula One were recognised in the form of a two-minute montage that featured tributes from the likes of Lando Norris, Jenson Button, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell and David Coulthard. He became a familiar face on British TV screens after becoming a regular presenter on BBC's Grandstand. Ryder also led coverage for rugby, golf, motorsports and rowing events for the BBC, along with Sports Personality of the Year. He then left the BBC in 2005 to join ITV, where he became the anchor of their F1 and World Cup coverage. In an interview with Mail Sport in April, Ryder expressed his disappointment about how the BBC 'dismantled' its coverage of golf, a sport he was synonymous with during his time there. The broadcaster last had live coverage of The Open in 2015 and the Masters in 2019. 'It has been a bit of a surrender,' insists Rider. 'I really don't think there are too many hard-fought battles taking place with the BBC trying to defend their position. 'The one thing that they do have is that ability to deliver a sizeable audience, so why not offer that up for the last day of the Ryder Cup or the Masters? 'The whole landscape has changed hugely, but I do think BBC Sport went with a bit of a whimper, which is a shame.' After being diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 2023, Ryder underwent emergency surgery, which successfully stopped the tumour from spreading. He told BBC Breakfast: 'They took one look and said ''we're going to operate in two weeks''. 'No messing around. We did Brands Hatch for ITV on the Sunday and I had the operation on the Thursday. So it slotted into the schedule quite nicely!'
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Legendary BBC and ITV commentator retires after glittering 48-year career as sporting icons say goodbye
ICONIC broadcaster Steve Ryder is hanging up his mic after 48 years. The 75-year-old worked at both ITV and the BBC during his nearly five-decade career. 3 3 3 Ryder signed off for the final time on Sunday at the British Touring Car Championship from Oulton Park. He bid farewell to broadcasting after the race weekend, which was shown live on ITV4. A host of drivers from the past and present recorded messages for Ryder. The two-minute montage featured a host of famous names from the world of F1. Lando Norris, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Jenson Button and David Coulthard all contributed to the emotional goodbye. Ryder is best known for hosting the BBC sports show Grandstand. He also fronted coverage of rugby, golf, motorsports and rowing for the Beeb, as well as Sports Personality of the Year. Ryder left the BBC in 2005 to join ITV, where he has since taken charge of their F1 coverage and World Cup broadcasts. Speaking about his decision to retire, he told The Mail: "The biggest emotion as you get into the last two minutes of something like that is, 'For God's sake, don't c**k it up!' "Because you'd be thinking about that for the next 20 years. Lando Norris punished by F1 bosses with five-second penalty after being snitched on by rival Max Verstappen "I've probably outstayed my welcome. I've been hugely lucky with the places that the career has taken me. "But it's close to 50 years now, so the cracks are showing." Ryder was diagnosed with prostate cancer in October 2023. He underwent emergency surgery, which successfully prevented the tumour from spreading. He told BBC Breakfast: "They took one look and said, 'We're going to operate in two weeks'. "No messing around. We did Brands Hatch for ITV on the Sunday and I had the operation on the Thursday. "So it slotted into the schedule quite nicely!"
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Podium for Smiley as McLaughlin retakes title lead
Red Bull Junior driver Fionn McLaughlin reclaimed the lead in the British F4 championship after he won the opening race at Oulton Park. The teenager from Northern Ireland won the first race on Saturday after jumping championship rival Martin Molnar at the start. McLaughlin came into the fifth round of the season behind Molnar in the standings but he reclaimed the championship lead by finishing seventh in race two, while the Hungarian driver retired. In a repeat of the opening race, McLaughlin got past polesitter Molnar heading into the first corner in the final outing of the day and looked set for a dominant vicotry. However, a heavy rain shower caused a number of drivers to slide off the road, including McLaughlin and Molnar, and that allowed Thomas Bearman into the lead. McLaughlin recovered to sixth before a number of safety cars and a red flag halted the race early and half points were awarded. Hitech Racing driver McLaughlin now leads Molnar by 5.5 points ahead of the sixth round of the season in his first year of car racing, McLaughlin also leads the rookie championship by 82.5 points over Bearman, who is the younger brother of Haas Formula 1 driver Ollie. In the British Touring Car Championship, Northern Ireland's Chris Smiley collected his best result of the season by finishing third in race one. The Restart Racing driver qualified second and dropped to fourth on the opening lap, but passed championship leader Ash Sutton on the final lap to take a podium spot. Smiley dropped back to 14th on the slower hard tyre in race two, and an electrical problem forced him to retire from the third and final race of the day. The Carrickfergus driver is ninth in the overall championship and leads the Independent championship after a strong start to the season after five rounds.
